Universität Wien
Warning! The directory is not yet complete and will be amended until the beginning of the term.

300160 UE Practical introduction to programming for biologists (2025W)

10.00 ECTS (6.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 16 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The first course date is also going to serve as the general introduction to the course.

  • Wednesday 01.10. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 03.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 06.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 08.10. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 10.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 13.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 15.10. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 17.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 20.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 22.10. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 24.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 27.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 29.10. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 31.10. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 03.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 05.11. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 07.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 10.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 12.11. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 14.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 17.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 19.11. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 21.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 24.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 26.11. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 28.11. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 01.12. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 03.12. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 05.12. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 10.12. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 12.12. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Monday 15.12. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Wednesday 17.12. 13:15 - 15:30 Seminarraum 1.2, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.004, Ebene 1
  • Friday 19.12. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.8, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.007, Ebene 1
  • Friday 09.01. 09:45 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1.3, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.005, Ebene 1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course aims to provide a gentle introduction to programming and related technical skills for students with little or no experience. At the end of the course, students should be able to

- use a UNIX-style terminal to carry out basic functions
- create and use version control repositories
- implement solutions for simple problems in Python
- test and demonstrate the validity of their solutions
- communicate their solutions effectively

In particular, the course will cover the following topics:

- introduction to the UNIX shell (navigating files & directories, working with files & directories, pipes and filters, loops, shell scripts)
- introduction to version control with git (setting up and using repositories, licensing, merging)
- programming basics (data types, variables, lists, loops, control flow)
- functions and programs (writing functions, scopes, python scripts, command line options, test-driven development)
- documentation and code communication (literal programming, Jupyter Notebooks, commenting/documenting)
- AI and its responsible use (workflow augmentation, limitations)

The first half of the course will consist of short theory-practice sessions, using examples from various domains of biology as well as programming puzzles. As the number of concepts to discuss gets progressively smaller, the focus will instead increasingly lie on problem-solving. Students will be handed frequent homework assignments; results and questions will be discussed in the course.

Prior knowledge in UNIX, version control, or programming (in any language) is helpful, but not required.

Assessment and permitted materials

participation in the course, completion of homework assignments

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Presence in the course is required. The grades will depend on course participation (60%) and homework assignments (40%). Students should bring their own laptop; please contact the course administrator in case this is not possible.

Examination topics

Presence and active participation in the course are required. Homework assignments must be completed in a timely manner. Self-assessment assignments must be completed correctly for full marks.

Reading list

to be announced

Association in the course directory

MZO W3, MZO4, MBO 7, MAN 3, MEC-9, MZO2, MES5

Last modified: Mo 22.12.2025 16:08