Description:
The follow-up to Beginning Perl for Bioinformatics (GPBA3011), this course introduces object-oriented programming for biology research. As with the prerequisite course, GPBA3012 provides hands-on experience and builds competency in biological research using Perl. This course is designed for individuals with a computational background or related experience in engineering, programming, and computer science, but who lack experience in Perl.

Course topics include writing object-oriented Perl bioinformatics programs and a brief introduction to relational databases and web programming. GPBA3012 is structured as a combination of lectures and computer lab work. Course material is based on James Tisdall's book Mastering Perl for Bioinformatics, which will be provided to students.

Course registration for both GPBA3011 and GPBA3012 is by invitation only. To be admitted, students must agree to attend both classes. Participation is limited to 20 students from academia and 20 students from biopharma and related industries.

Mr. Tisdall began programming in a computer music studio and worked at Bell Labs Speech Research. While with the Human Genome Project, he was one of the first to use Perl in bioinformatics. Since then he has worked as a computational biologist for Mercator Genetics, a company working with human disease genes, and has also served as the manager of the Computational Biology Group at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Currently, he works in genetics research at DuPont and operates his own consulting company, Biocomputing Associates.