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DTSTART:20260527T090000Z
DTEND:20260528T170000Z
DESCRIPTION:## Overview\nLarge Language Models (LLMs) are creating a shift 
 of paradigm in how we interact with data across domains. Bioinformatics is
  one of the fields most prominently impacted by the advent of LLMs\, start
 ing with biodata exploration\, via [LLM-based AI assistants](https://www.b
 iorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.31.578275v1)\, towards enabling full sc
 ientific discovery pipelines via [novel agentic frameworks](https://resear
 ch.google/blog/accelerating-scientific-breakthroughs-with-an-ai-co-scienti
 st/). But how are these models trained? How do we choose among the plethor
 a of options for a target use case? And how do we adapt an existing model 
 to our needs?\nThis two-day course will give a gentle introduction into LL
 Ms\, going from theoretical concepts towards practical\, hands-on experien
 ce interacting with LLMs for exploring biodata through a series of exercis
 es provided in [Google Colab Notebooks](https://colab.research.google.com)
 . These will include programmatically interacting with an LLM to construct
  agentic applications for answering biological questions using existing SI
 B resources.\n\n\n## Audience\nThis course is designed for PhD students\, 
 postdoctoral and other researchers in the life sciences from both academia
  and industry who are interested in LLMs and who already have prior experi
 ence using Python\, for example through Google Colab or Jupyter Notebooks.
 \n\n## Learning outcomes\nAt the end of the course\, the participants are 
 expected to:\n* **Understand** the basics of Large Language Models\n* **Ex
 plore** the interplay of LLMs and bioinformatics knowledge bases \n* **Dev
 elop** tools and skills to enable AI agents to interact with bioinformatic
 s knowledge bases\n* Programmatically **interact** with LLMs in a Python N
 otebook \n* **Build** a simple agentic application for answering questions
  over biodata\n\n\n## Prerequisites\n##### Knowledge / competencies\nThis 
 course is designed for beginners. Participants should meet the learning ou
 tcomes of the course [First Steps with Python in Life Sciences](https://ww
 w.sib.swiss/training/course/FSWPY) and have at least one year of additiona
 l experience using Python.\n\n##### Technical\nYou will need access to a c
 omputer with WI-FI enabled. \n\nParticipants are requested to set up a git
 hub account if they do not already have one. This will be needed for impl
 ementing and running applications from the Github codespaces. And also to 
 create a free account (in order to get an API key) from Mistral / OpenAI o
 r Claude\, if they do not have one already. This will be useful for progra
 mmatically interacting with an LLM during the course.\n\nThe practicals wi
 ll be shared via Google Colab Notebook (no prior installation needed). \n\
 n\n## Application\n\nThe registration fees for academics are **200 CHF** a
 nd **1000 CHF** for for-profit companies.\n\nWhile participants are regist
 ered on a first come\, first served basis\, exceptions may be made to ensu
 re diversity and equity\, which may increase the time before your registra
 tion is confirmed.\n\nApplications will close on **13/05/2026**  or as soo
 n as the places will be filled up. Cancellation after **13/05/2026** will 
 not be reimbursed. Please note that participation to SIB courses is subjec
 t to our [general conditions](https://www.sib.swiss/training/terms-and-con
 ditions).\n\nYou will be informed by email of your registration confirmati
 on. Upon reception of the confirmation email\, participants will be asked 
 to confirm attendance by paying the fees within **5 working days**.\n\n\n#
 # Venue and Time\nThis course will take place at the University of Zurich\
 , on the Irchel campus.\n\nThe course will start at 9:00 CET and end aroun
 d 17:00 CET.\n\nPrecise information will be provided to the registered par
 ticipants in due time.\n\n\n## Additional information\nCoordination: Diana
  Marek\, SIB training group.\n\n\nAt the end of the course\, we will provi
 de a *Certificate of Attendance* or a *Certificate of Achievement* recomme
 nding 0.5 ECTS credits (given a passed exam).\n\nYou are welcome to regist
 er to the SIB courses mailing list to be informed of all future courses an
 d workshops\, as well as all important deadlines using the form [here](htt
 ps://lists.sib.swiss/postorius/lists/courses.lists.sib.swiss/).\n\nPlease 
 note that participation in SIB courses is subject to our [general conditio
 ns](https://www.sib.swiss/training/terms-and-conditions).\n\nSIB abides by
  the [ELIXIR Code of Conduct](https://elixir-europe.org/events/code-of-con
 duct). Participants of SIB courses are also required to abide by the same 
 code.\n\nFor more information\, please contact [training@sib.swiss](mailto
 :training@sib.swiss).
SUMMARY:Building Agentic AI Applications for Biodata Exploration
URL;VALUE=URI:https://www.sib.swiss/training/course/20260527_BAIBE
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