Building Agentic AI Applications for Biodata Exploration

Overview

Large 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, starting with biodata exploration, via LLM-based AI assistants, towards enabling full scientific discovery pipelines via novel agentic frameworks. But how are these models trained? How do we choose among the plethora of options for a target use case? And how do we adapt an existing model to our needs? This two-day course will give a gentle introduction into LLMs, going from theoretical concepts towards practical, hands-on experience interacting with LLMs for exploring biodata through a series of exercises provided in Google Colab Notebooks. These will include programmatically interacting with an LLM to construct agentic applications for answering biological questions using existing SIB resources.

Audience

This 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 experience using Python, for example through Google Colab or Jupyter Notebooks.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the participants are expected to:

• Understand the basics of Large Language Models
• Explore the interplay of LLMs and bioinformatics knowledge bases
• Develop tools and skills to enable AI agents to interact with bioinformatics knowledge bases
• Programmatically interact with LLMs in a Python Notebook
• Build a simple agentic application for answering questions over biodata

Prerequisites

Knowledge / competencies

This course is designed for beginners. Participants should meet the learning outcomes of the course First Steps with Python in Life Sciences and have at least one year of additional experience using Python.

Technical

You are required to bring your own computer with an Internet connection. The practicals will be shared via Google Colab Notebook (no prior installation needed).

Application

The registration fees for academics are 200 CHF and 1000 CHF for for-profit companies.

While participants are registered on a first come, first served basis, exceptions may be made to ensure diversity and equity, which may increase the time before your registration is confirmed.

Applications will close on 13/05/2026 or as soon as the places will be filled up. Cancellation after 13/05/2026 will not be reimbursed.

You will be informed by email of your registration confirmation. Upon reception of the confirmation email, participants will be asked to confirm attendance by paying the fees within 5 days.

Venue and Time

This course will take place at the University of Zurich, on the Irchel campus.

The course will start at 9:00 CET and end around 17:00 CET.

Precise information will be provided to the registered participants in due time.

Additional information

Coordination: Diana Marek, SIB training group.

We will recommend 0.5 ECTS credits for this course (given a passed exam at the end of the course).

You are welcome to register to the SIB courses mailing list to be informed of all future courses and workshops, as well as all important deadlines using the form here.

Please note that participation in SIB courses is subject to our general conditions.

SIB abides by the ELIXIR Code of Conduct. Participants of SIB courses are also required to abide by the same code.

For more information, please contact training@sib.swiss.