Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics from Coursera

This course introduces tools that help enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics. It uses hands-on exercises to demonstrate in practical terms how to get acquainted with these tools but is by no means meant to be a comprehensive dive into these tools. The course introduces tools and their concepts such as git and GitHub, code review, Docker, and GitHub actions.

Target Audience

The course is intended for students in the biomedical sciences and researchers who use informatics tools in their research. It is the follow up course to the Introduction to Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course. Learners who take this course should:

- Have some familiarity with R or Python

- Have take the Introductory Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course

- Have some familiarity with GitHub

Motivation

Data analyses are generally not reproducible without direct contact with the original researchers and a substantial amount of time and effort (BeaulieuJones, 2017). Reproducibility in cancer informatics (as with other fields) is still not monitored or incentivized despite that it is fundamental to the scientific method. Despite the lack of incentive, many researchers strive for reproducibility in their own work but often lack the skills or training to do so effectively.

Equipping researchers with the skills to create reproducible data analyses increases the efficiency of everyone involved. Reproducible analyses are more likely to be understood, applied, and replicated by others. This helps expedite the scientific process by helping researchers avoid false positive dead ends. Open source clarity in reproducible methods also saves researchers' time so they don't have to reinvent the proverbial wheel for methods that everyone in the field is already performing.

Curriculum

The course includes hands-on exercises for how to apply reproducible code concepts to their code. Individuals who take this course are encouraged to complete these activities as they follow along with the course material to help increase the reproducibility of their analyses.

**Goal of this course:**

To equip learners with a deeper knowledge of the capabilities of reproducibility tools and how they can apply to their existing analyses scripts and projects.

**What is NOT the goal of this course:**

To be a comprehensive dive into each of the tools discussed. .

How to use the course

Each chapter has associated exercises that you are encourage to complete in order to get the full benefit of the course

This course is designed with busy professional learners in mind -- who may have to pick up and put down the course when their schedule allows. In general, you are able to skip to chapters you find a most useful to (One incidence where a prior chapter is required is noted).

Each chapter has associated exercises that you are encourage to complete in order to get the full benefit of the course

What's inside

Syllabus

Getting started in this course

This section describes the rationale and context for this course as well as its target audience.

Defining Reproducibility

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Helps equip learners with reproducibility tools such as Git, Docker, and GitHub actions

Increases efficiency for everyone involved by equipping researchers with skills to create reproducible data analyses

Designed for learners with some familiarity with Git, GitHub, R, and Python

Provides hands-on exercises for applying reproducible code concepts

Suitable for students in biomedical sciences and researchers using informatics tools

Assumes some familiarity with GitHub and Python or R

Reviews summary

Practical reproducibility for cancer informatics

According to learners, this course offers a highly relevant and well-structured approach to reproducibility in cancer informatics. Students particularly appreciate the hands-on exercises, which facilitate learning essential reproducibility tools like Git, GitHub, and Docker. While providing valuable skills for applying concepts to existing analyses, learners should be aware that it's not a comprehensive dive into each tool. The course is best suited for those who meet the prerequisites, which are crucial for success.

Introduces key tools without exhaustive detail.

"The course provides a solid introduction to Git, Docker, and GitHub Actions, which are critical tools."

"It's not a deep dive into every nuance of Docker, but it covers enough to get you started with reproducible environments."

"I now have a clear understanding of the purpose and basic usage of these reproducibility technologies."

Designed for busy professionals with modular content.

"The modular design is perfect for someone with a demanding work schedule; I could pick it up and put it down easily."

"I appreciated the ability to skip directly to relevant chapters without feeling lost, truly professional-friendly."

"This course respects your time and lets you learn at your own pace, which is a huge plus for researchers."

Enhances understanding through practical activities.

"The exercises really solidified my understanding of how to implement version control and Docker."

"Completing the hands-on activities made the abstract concepts of reproducibility concrete and manageable."

"I appreciate the balance between theory and practical application; the labs were excellent."

Directly applicable for research in cancer informatics.

"I found the concepts immediately applicable to my ongoing research projects in cancer data analysis."

"The focus on applying reproducibility to existing analyses was incredibly valuable for my work."

"This course equips researchers with skills essential for robust and verifiable scientific work."

Assumes prior knowledge in R/Python and GitHub.

"Ensure you have a good grasp of Python or R and GitHub basics before starting; it moves quickly."

"As a follow-up, it truly builds on the introductory course, so don't skip that one."

"I struggled a bit with the pace on GitHub sections because my prior familiarity was minimal, which was my fault."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics with these activities:

Organize Course Resources

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Organizing your course resources will help you stay on top of the material and easily access important information.

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Create a dedicated folder or notebook for course materials
Download and save all relevant lecture notes, slides, and assignments
Categorize and label your materials for easy retrieval

Review Version Control

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Reviewing the concepts and fundamentals of version control in advance will help you complete code challenges more effectively.

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Read the documentation of the version control tool you plan to use for this course
Watch a video tutorial on version control
Install the version control tool on your computer
Create a new repository and commit your changes
Fork and clone an existing repository

Find a Kubernetes Mentor

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Finding a Kubernetes mentor can help you navigate the course material more effectively and gain valuable insights from an experienced professional.

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Identify potential mentors through online platforms and professional networks
Reach out to your mentors and express your interest
Establish clear expectations and a meeting schedule

Eight other activities

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Show all 11 activities

Guided Tutorials: Docker

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Engaging in guided tutorials will help reinforce your understanding of Docker by providing you with hands-on experience.

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Find and access a relevant and reputable tutorial on Docker
Set up your development environment
Follow the tutorial to create your first Docker image
Run your Docker image and verify its operation

Solve Docker Exercises

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Sharpen your Docker skills by completing practice exercises and reinforce the concepts covered in the course.

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Find online Docker exercises or tutorials
Solve exercises to create and manage Docker containers

Code Review Practice

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Practicing code review will improve your ability to critically evaluate and identify areas for improvement in your own code.

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Find resources and tutorials on code review best practices
Identify a codebase or project where you can contribute code reviews
Review and provide feedback on code changes
Incorporate the feedback you receive on your own code

Explore GitHub Actions Tutorial

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Enhance your understanding of GitHub Actions by following guided tutorials and deepen your knowledge beyond the course materials.

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Find and follow a comprehensive GitHub Actions tutorial
Build and test a workflow using GitHub Actions

Write a Docker Tutorial

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Creating a Docker tutorial will deepen your understanding of the subject and reinforce your ability to explain complex concepts clearly.

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Identify the specific topic or aspect of Docker you want to cover
Research and gather relevant information and resources
Outline the structure and content of your tutorial
Write the tutorial, ensuring clarity and accessibility
Publish and share your tutorial with others

Mentor a Junior Coder

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Mentoring a junior coder will reinforce your knowledge of the course material and enhance your communication and teaching skills.

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Identify a junior coder who is interested in learning about reproducible code practices
Establish a regular meeting schedule and communication channel
Review their code, provide constructive feedback, and guide their learning
Share resources, articles, and tutorials to support their growth

Build a Reproducible Analysis Pipeline

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Apply the concepts learned in the course by building a reproducible analysis pipeline for a real-world dataset.

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Choose a dataset and define the analysis goals
Write a code script or notebook for the analysis
Containerize the analysis environment with Docker
Automate the pipeline using GitHub Actions

Contribute to a Docker Project

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Contributing to an open-source Docker project will give you valuable hands-on experience and allow you to learn from the best in the field.

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Identify an open-source Docker project that aligns with your interests
Review the project's documentation and codebase
Identify an area where you can make a contribution
Submit a pull request with your proposed changes
Collaborate with the project maintainers to refine and merge your contribution

Career center

Learners who complete Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Bioinformatics Scientist

A Bioinformatics Scientist develops software tools to collect, manage, analyze, and interpret biological data. Studying the Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bioinformatics Scientist

Computational Biologist

A Computational Biologist uses computational tools to analyze and interpret biological data. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computational Biologist

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. Studying the Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Research Analyst

A Research Analyst conducts research and analyzes data to provide insights and recommendations to clients. Studying the Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Analyst

Research Scientist

A Research Scientist conducts research to advance scientific knowledge and develop new technologies. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics, which may be useful for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Statistician

A Statistician collects, analyzes, interprets, and presents data to provide insights and make predictions. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics, which may be useful for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer designs, develops, and deploys machine learning models to solve real-world problems. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Health Informatics Specialist

A Health Informatics Specialist uses health information technology to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics, which may be useful for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Informatics Specialist

Quantitative Analyst

A Quantitative Analyst develops and implements mathematical and statistical models to analyze data and make predictions. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. Studying the Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Database Administrator

A Database Administrator designs, develops, and maintains databases. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, processes, and analyzes data to extract meaningful insights. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst designs, develops, and maintains computer systems. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics, which may be useful for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

User Experience Designer

A User Experience Designer designs and evaluates user interfaces to ensure that they are user-friendly and efficient. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Web Developer

A Web Developer designs, develops, and maintains websites. The Advanced Reproducibility in Cancer Informatics course may be useful, as it can help build a foundation in using tools that enhance reproducibility and replicability in the context of cancer informatics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer