Queries specific to the BIC-NNP-Tree Genome Workshop during 31st August 26 to 4th September 2026

1. Do I need to carry my laptop?

Ans: Absolutely. Without your own laptop, you will be unable to participate in the hands‑on exercises. 

2. What are the duration and timing of the workshop

Ans: The workshop will commence each day at 9:30 AM, subject to road conditions. On the first day, the program will begin with registration followed by an introductory interaction. Subsequently, sessions will be conducted in both theory and hands‑on formats. 

3. Is attendance mandatory?

Ans: Daily attendance will be recorded for all participants. Certificates will be awarded upon successful completion of the workshop. 

4. What are the other things I need to know about this workshop?

Ans: This workshop is funded by the Department of Bioinformatics with the objective of upskilling students and young faculty members, both from within CSIR‑IICB and from outside the institute. In line with its mandate, the program will cover the fundamentals of bioinformatics, scripting, and tree genomics. The detailed schedule of the workshop has already been posted on the website. 

5. What to expect and what not to expect from this workshop?

Ans: By the end of the workshop, participants will have acquired a basic understanding of Linux commands and scripting, learned fundamental imaging techniques using Python, and gained working knowledge of gene prediction principles as well as the use of several commonly known genome browsers. While this five‑day program is designed to provide essential skills and exposure, it is important to note that it will not make anyone an expert in these areas. Continued practice beyond the workshop will be necessary to strengthen proficiency and achieve mastery. 

6. How do I install Python and R studio in my laptop

Ans: Here is a step by step guide on how to install R studio in your laptop:

01 

Install R (Required Before RStudio)

RStudio depends on R, so you must install R first.

Visit https://cran.r-project.org → Download R for Windows

• Click base under 'Download R for Windows'

• Download the latest R installer (e.g., R‑4.x.x-win.exe)

• Run the installer and follow the setup wizard (default options are fine)

02

Download RStudio Installer

Get the official RStudio Desktop installer for Windows.

Go to https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/

• Choose the free RStudio Desktop version

• Download the Windows installer (.exe file)

03

Run the RStudio Installer

Install RStudio using the downloaded setup file.

• Double‑click the RStudio installer file

• Accept the license agreement

• Choose installation folder (default is recommended)

• Click Install and wait for completion

04

Launch RStudio

Ready to Use

Verify installation and start using RStudio.

• Open Start Menu → RStudio

• Confirm RStudio detects your R installation

• Begin creating R scripts or projects

Here is a step by step guideline on how to install Python in your laptop running windows:

01

Download Python Installer

You need the official installer from Python.org.

Visit https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/

• Click on the latest stable release (e.g., Python 3.x.x)

• Choose the Windows installer (64-bit) option

02

Run the Installer

Launch the downloaded installer to begin setup.

• Double‑click the installer file

• Check the box Add Python to PATH (important!)

• Click Install Now for default settings

03

Verify Installation

Confirm Python is installed and accessible from the command line.

Open Command Prompt (Win + R → type cmd)

• Type python --version → should display installed version

• Type pip --version → confirms package manager is installed

04

Optional: Install IDE

Recommended

An IDE makes coding easier and more efficient.

• Download and install PyCharm, VS Code, or use IDLE (comes with Python)

• Configure interpreter to point to your installed Python version

Once installed, you can start writing and running Python scripts immediately. For best practice, keep Python updated and use virtual environments (python -m venv env) to manage project dependencies.

General FAQ about the rolling workshop

1. Who is eligible to attend the workshop?

Ans: Any candidate working in the field of computational biology, or demonstrating a strong interest in this area with documentary evidence, is eligible to apply. Knowledge of programming in C/C++, Python, Perl, and Unix will be considered an additional advantage. 

 2. Is there an age limit for application?

Ans: No

 3. What is the minimum requisite qualification?

Ans: B.Tech/M.Tech in any branch of engineering and M.Sc/PhD. in biological  sciences with proficiency in bioinformatics, programming etc.

 4. Will there be a training given?

Ans: After a training session, the participants will work on a defined problem from any of  the given broad categories based on their area of expertise.

5. What is the mode of selection?

Ans: Candidates will be selected entirely based on their qualification and research experience provided.

 6. What is expected out of the participant?

Ans: The participants will be given problems in or around the core area (already mentioned in project details section). They are expected to complete the assignment by the end of the duration of the workshop.

 7. Are we going to be provided with computers?

Ans: You are expected to bring your own laptops with you. We will provide you access to our servers where you will work. Most of the programs are pre-installed. But in case you want a particular software to be installed, we will be happy to install it for you.