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Research IT Training
Follow us on twitter (@uclrits) or sign up to our mailing list for announcements about research IT training opportunities at UCL and elsewhere.
Our courses
You can complete our expression of interest form if you would like to be notified of future classroom based instances of these courses when they become available. You can also use the form to suggest topics you would like us to consider covering in future. Most of the courses are also available as a self-paced option on Moodle.
- Introduction to the Unix Shell
An introduction to command line interaction with the Unix shell.*
* Software Carpentry Workshops and the Introduction to High Performance Computing course also teach the basics of using the shell.
- An Introduction to Research Programming using Python
This course will introduce fundamental programming concepts and is aimed at researchers who want to use Python to manipulate and analyse data.
- HPC Carpentry for UCL central clusters
This course introduces the essential things you'll need to know in order to access UCL's research computing clusters, use the command line, transfer files, load pre-installed software packages using environment modules, and submit jobs on the cluster using a scheduler.
Next instance: 10am-1pm, 17th-19th May, 2021
Information and registration: UCL HPC Carpentry- Software Carpentry Workshop
Software Carpentry aims to help researchers get their work done in less time and with less pain by teaching basic research computing skills. This hands-on workshop will cover concepts and tools, including program design, version control, data management, and task automation. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and to apply what they have learned to their own research problems.
Next instance: 10am-1pm, Mar 9-12, 2021
Information and registration: UCL Software Carpentry
Webinars
For new researchers (or those who are just new to our services!) we will be running a series of weekly webinars next term. These will take place on Wednesdays at 1pm using Zoom, and will last around 45 mins including an opportunity to ask questions. Details will be announced on this page and in our newsletter soon.
| Title | Presenter | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tips and techniques for developing research software, or how not to be slated by the media | Jonathan Cooper | 1pm, Wednesday 14th October 2020 | Recording available on Mediacentral |
| Storing and sharing your research data | James Wilson | 1pm, Wednesday 25th November 2020 | Recording available on Mediacentral |
| Efficient and secure use of the UCL compute clusters | Owain Kenway | 1pm, Wednesday 20th January 2021 | Recording available on Mediacentral |
| Open Science and the future of research applications | Donna Swann and Kirsty Wallis | 1pm, Wednesday 3rd February 2021 | Recording available on Mediacentral |
| Information Governance, sensitive data and the Data Safe Haven | Trevor Peacock | 1pm, Wednesday 10th February 2021 | Recording available on Mediacentral |
Recommended Online Courses
| Title | Provider | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials 4 Data Support | Research Data Netherlands | An introductory course for those who (want to) support researchers in storing, managing, archiving and sharing their research data. |
| Research Software Engineering with Python | Research IT Services | These are the course notes from a module we teach as part of the Scientific Computing MSc. Aimed at intermediate level programmers, the course moves beyond programming, to explain how to construct reliable, readable, efficient research software in a collaborative environment. |
| Machine Learning | Coursera | Excellent course on the basic but still powerful and relevant methods in machine learning, easy to follow. The course is an intermediate level, and Andrew Ng has a great way of explaining complicated concepts in a simplified and practical way. |
| Deep Learning | Coursera | A follow up on the Machine Learning course above, with focus on Deep Learning, presented in the context of the main applications such as Computer Vision and NLP. Highly recommended! |
| Managing Big Data with R and Hadoop | Futurelearn | An introduction to the MapReduce paradigm for distributed data processing on a cluster. Some experience with R, statistics and matrix operations is recommended. |
| Python in High Performance Computing | Futurelearn | Learn how to analyse Python programmes and identify performance barriers to help you work more efficiently. |
| Supercomputing | Futurelearn | An introduction to the theory and practice of parallel computing. Provides a good explanation of different computing architectures and the pros and cons of each. |
| Introduction to HPC | ARCHER | A collection of YouTube videos, slides and exercises from ARCHER's introductory high performance computing course. The course explains the theory and practice of parallel computing with a nice variety of practical examples. |
Other research IT training providers
ARCHER2
ARCHER2 is a national UK supercomputing service which also provides a range of training courses at sites around the UK which are free for UK academics. See their training page for details.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning provides video tutorials covering a wide range of IT skills including programming, data analytics, web development, data visualisation, continuous deployment and more – all free to UCL staff and currently enrolled students. See ISD Learning & Teaching Services for details.
UK Data Service
As well as providing access to a range of social and economic data, the UK Data Service run regular training events and webinars covering a wide range of tools and methods for working with qualitative and quantitative data. See the UK Data Service YouTube channel for recordings of past webinars.