Data science is a tool that can be applied to many domains. This course explores the application of computational techniques to analyze biological data at the molecular level. Students will learn tools for processing DNA, RNA, and protein sequences, as well as analyzing biomolecular structures. The course covers navigation of essential databases like NCBI GenBank, UniProt, and PDB, and introduces common algorithms used in molecular biology data analysis. Relevant topics include sequence alignment, structural analysis, and phylogenetics. Students will engage with real-world problems in bioinformatics and develop skills in data manipulation and interpretation. The course culminates in an independent research project, allowing students to apply their knowledge to a specific area of interest in computational molecular biology. Prerequisites: STATS DATASCI 200, DATASCI DATASCI 112 or STATS DATASCI 202, and ENGR 108 or MATH 104 or STATS DATASCI 203. Enrollment limited to senior undergraduates and graduate students. This course fulfills the capstone requirement for the Data Science BS and MCS.
3 units · Letter (ABCD/NP)
Data science is a tool that can be applied to many domains. This course explores the application of computational techniques to analyze biological data at the molecular level. Students will learn tools for processing DNA, RNA, and protein sequences, as well as analyzing biomolecular structures. The course covers navigation of essential databases like NCBI GenBank, UniProt, and PDB, and introduces common algorithms used in molecular biology data analysis. Relevant topics include sequence alignment, structural analysis, and phylogenetics. Students will engage with real-world problems in bioinformatics and develop skills in data manipulation and interpretation. The course culminates in an independent research project, allowing students to apply their knowledge to a specific area of interest in computational molecular biology. Prerequisites: STATS 200, DATASCI 112 or STATS 202, and ENGR 108 or MATH 104 or STATS 203. Enrollment limited to senior undergraduates and graduate students. This course fulfills the capstone requirement for the Data Science BS and MCS.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.