Class FAQ's for new visitors

1. How often is this class offered?
A. This class is usually offered once every *two* years in the Fall, but there is no guarantee it will always be offered. Therefore, if you wish to take this class, take it now!

2. How many students can register for it?
A. The class size is limited at 25 but students may get the instructor's signature to oversubscribe it. If you wish to take this class you need to register earlier.

3. Must I be a computer guru to take this class?
A. No, this class is designed to accommodate people who knows the basics about how to use a computer but otherwise don't know much about programming. Actually, this is your great opportunity to become a computer guru without much effort; just do all the projects!

4. Must I be a biology student to understand bioinformatics?
A. No, most genomic data processing jobs can be formulated as simply string processing even if you don't know much about the underlying knowledge such as DNA or genome. Of course, these concepts will be covered in the class systematically.

5. Will there be very heavy course work; I am afraid I will fail this class because there are so many projects?
A. This class is project-oriented, meaning that you should expect to devote a considerable amount of your time on it. To better learn the material hand-on computer experience is needed. Although there is no guaranty of one's grade, historically, most students can finish this class with a B or better grade if they finish all projects.

6. I am afraid I can't take this class for its heavy projects; can I just sit-in?
A. All students must register for this class, or else this class may be canceled and there will be no class to sit-in at all. Postdocs, visiting scientists or faculty who cannot register for classes at ISU are welcome to sit-in, but please inform Dr. Chou about your attendance so we can find a bigger classroom to accommodate all people if necessary.

7. I am going to register for the class, but can I just audit it instead of taking the three credits, again, due to fear of the projects?
A. If you absolutely must avoid the projects, auditing the class may be an option; however, doing the projects is the only way to truly learn and benefit from the class. I suggest you to take the class first and change it to an audit if you find yourself cannot keep up with its projects later.

8. I am a biology student, so what benefits can I really gain from this class?
A. You will become computer-savvy after you take this class. You will be able to go beyond word processor, spreadsheet and your browser to handle your research data. You can conveniently and comfortably create quick solutions to process your own data and make use of available bioinformatics tools and web services when you see fit. Your boss will rely on you to handle the project data for the lab, and you will be able to finish analyzing your data and publishing your research work faster and more accurately with the help of computers.

9. I am a computer science or mathematic student, so what benefits can I gain from this class?
A. You will understand what's bioinformatics, the hot topic of this decade! You can learn the bioinformatics needs of modern biological research problems and the specialized computer science solutions to these problems which are often not covered by classical computer science curriculum. With this knowledge, you can find jobs in agriculture, pharmaceutical and medical sciences industries as well as the more traditional computational and informational sciences industries, greatly expanding your career choices and opportunities.

10. OK, so I am interested in this class, where can I learn more about it?
A. You are already looking at the right place! The class information syllabus has already been updated for the Fall 2007 semester. In addition, the previous project pages can give you some ideas what kind of projects you may be assigned in the class. These project pages will be revised later for the new semester. If you have more questions, feel free to email Dr. Chou, .