My Summer with Programming

Hello Everyone!

As a Master's student in Bioinformatics, now stepping into my third semester, I have realized just how much hands-on practice matters in this field. Whether you are new to bioinformatics or somewhere along the way like me, I want to share something that really boosted my learning this summer: the NASA GeneLab On-Demand Course.

It's a fantastic, self-paced program that introduces core bioinformatics tools using real-life space biology data. And yes it’s completely beginner-friendly.

Why I Chose #GL4U?

Even as a graduate student, it’s important to keep refreshing the fundamentals especially when dealing with Unix, R, and data analysis environments. What stood out to me about the #GL4U course is:

1. It breaks down big concepts into approachable lessons.

2. It uses actual NASA datasets, which makes the learning feel meaningful

3. And best of all, it now offers GL4U Office Hours every Monday and Thursday for extra help! 🧑‍🏫

If you're just getting started or feel a little stuck, don't worry. These office hours are a great space to ask questions and move forward confidently.

My Learning Toolkit (So Far!)

Here are some key commands and functions I have been using regularly, summarized into easy-to-digest tables for anyone who needs a quick reference:

Common Unix Commands

Basic R Functions

Common Dataframe Manipulations in R

What Makes Jupyter Notebooks Special?

One of my favorite tools introduced in the course is Jupyter Notebook. It is great for writing, running, and visualizing your code all in one place. You don’t need to switch between terminal, code editor, and output. You can code and comment in the same document, which is amazing for learning and collaboration.

Whether you're a fellow master's student, an undergrad, or an independent learner, diving into a course like #GL4U can be a game changer. The structure, support, and real-data applications make it more than just an intro; it is a launchpad for real bioinformatics skills.

If you need a starting point or want a peer to learn alongside, I am here for it! And don’t forget those Monday & Thursday Office Hours. Take advantage of them.

Let’s keep learning together!

P.S: This blog was drafted with the help of AI for clarity and structure, but all the experiences and learnings shared are entirely my own. Using AI helped me express my journey more effectively and support fellow learners starting out.

#GL4U #Bioinformatics #SummerLearning #NASA #JupyterNotebook #DataScience #Rstats

~ Naisargi