This course is designed for individuals with backgrounds in math, computer/data science, or bioinformatics. The course aims to cover the basics of algorithms and data structures, and will give students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of current trends in computational biology. Throughout the course, students will expand their knowledge of algorithms, build their biological vocabulary, and make connections with bioinformaticians and others.
The central problems of the course will be sequence alignment and pangenomics․ The course will cover topics such as dynamic programming, and graph algorithms, as well as concepts such as complexity, runtime and scaling, and approximate vs exact algorithms.
The students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world sequencing data. Programming assignments will be required and will be submitted on rosalind.info. Additionally, genetic algorithms and research tasks will be available as bonus topics for students who are interested in further exploration.
Pesho Ivanov, PhD Student, ETH Zurich
Pesho studied applied mathematics and informatics in Sofia and Moscow. He enjoys solving and discussing olympiad informatics problems. In the last 10 years, he is mostly interested in modeling and solving biological problems using combinatorial algorithms. Pesho used to work as a teacher and a programmer, and happened to do projects on single-cell RNA-seq on T-cell receptors, phylogenetic tree intersection, and assembly scaffolding. Currently finishing his PhD program in ETH Zurich with a thesis on Optimal sequence alignment using the A* shortest path algorithm.
For the completion of the course, it is required to know how to code quicksort in any programming language. The course will be in English, so language knowledge is also a must.
The course is for those who have both biology and informatics/math backgrounds and are interested in deepening their knowledge of algorithms for computational biology.
Below is a summary of the topics covered in the course.
Algorithms: Brute force, Dynamic programming, Divide and Conquer, Greedy, Combinatorics, Graphs (Shortest paths, Spanning trees), Strings, Hashing
Concepts: Invariants, Complexity, Runtime and Scaling, Approximate vs Exact algorithms
Central problem: Sequence alignment, Pangenomics
Data: Sequencing data
Applications: Each algorithm will be applied to a basic biological problem
Programming: You will be asked to submit your solutions on rosalind.info
Bonus: Genetic algorithms, research tasks on request
In order to get enrolled in the course, you need to solve 3 basic problems (it can take you around 1h). Please use this link to enter the class and solve the tasks (you will be asked to register at rosalind.info).
In case of issues with the control tasks, write to ivanov+abi@pesho.info
Course Fee
Course fee – 10 000 AMD via Donation.
Bachelor students and ABI interns get 50% discount.
NOTE: Make sure to solve the problems and only then transfer the fee.
Please make sure to add comment and or description to your transfer by using this form:
“NAME SURNAME: ALG_COMPBIO”
Screenshot or save the transfer confirmation/receipt since it must be attached to the form of registration.Fill out the registration form.
The registration deadline is February 1st, 2023, 12:00 PM Yerevan time
Contacts: karine.shahgaldyan@abi.am
*You are invited to sign up at the ABI Student Chapter for more information and activities like this.
Location: ABI, Ezras Hasratyan 7, Institute of Molecular Biology, 3rd floor
Start date: February 2
Tue: 19:00—21:00
Thu: 19:00—21:00
Sat: 11:00—17:00
Duration: 2 weeks, February 2 – 17
