Streamlining Your Laboratory with Python, an Introduction

February 25 - March 1, 2023

San Diego, CA, USA

Streamlining Your Laboratory with Python, an Introduction

Python is one of the most popular multi-purpose, cross-platform programming languages due to its ease of use, rich library and broad range of applications. This introductory hands-on course will teach the basics of Python programming and how to use it to solve authentic tasks commonly encountered in a scientific laboratory. Topics covered include data handling, analysis and report generation and task automation.

Who Should Attend?

Scientists working with data of all types
Laboratory managers interested in reducing data to interpretable results
Integrators with a need to monitor automated system operation
Students with a desire to learn how to wrangle and present their results

Course Benefits

Learn the basics of Python programming from seasoned instructors
Learn to load data from a variety of sources and transform it into analyzable data structures
Perform basic data analysis and be introduced to Python’s statistical capabilities
Discover how to monitor the file system for changes and process data automatically
Learn how to use Python to generate reports in various formats
Learn how to communicate results automatically

Course Topics

Introduction to Python and its Role in a Scientific Laboratory
Data Types and Expressions
Sequencing of Tasks, Conditional Execution and Iteration
Accessing Data from Files, Spreadsheets, Databases and Web Services
Data Munging, Basic Statistics and Scientific Plotting
Creating Word and Excel Files
Running a Program in Response to Changes on a File System
Sending Notifications Automatically

Instructors

Mark F. Russo. Ph.D.
Department of Computer Science
The College of New Jersey

Mark Russo received a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering in 1989. He has held positions in the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industries in the fields of scientific computing, laboratory automation, data system design and development and software architecture. Mark has been involved in SLAS for many years as a short course instructor, session and track chair and the Executive Editor of the Journal of Laboratory Automation (JALA). Mark has published extensively on topics related to scientific computing and laboratory automation, including scientific articles and book chapters. Currently, Mark works in the pharmaceutical industry in enterprise information management. Mark also teaches computer science at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ.

William Neil
West Belmar, NJ

William Neil received a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Biology from Trenton State College in 1981. For several years he worked with the Toxicology Division of Mobil Oil Corporation where he developed his interest in computer programming and laboratory automation. In 1987 he wrote his first application to automate data collection from a liquid scintillation counter and installed his first robotics system to automate a Packard biological oxidizer. He then took a two-year sabbatical to focus entirely on laboratory automation at International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), where he automated fragrance sample compounding. It was at IFF where he learned how to ensure a 24/7 operation. William has been employed in the pharmaceutical industry since 1995, where he has written several applications in Python, C#, Visual Basic, VBA and numerous vendor scripting languages to automate the Drug Discovery process, particularly in the area of instrument integration.