Introduction to Statistics and Data Visualisation with R

Overview

This course is designed to provide researchers in biomedical sciences with experience in the application of basic statistical analysis techniques to a variety of biological problems.

The course will combine lectures on statistics and practical exercises, during which the participants will learn how to work with the widely used "R" language and environment for statistical computing and graphics.

Topics covered during the course include: reminders about numerical and graphical summaries, and hypothesis testing; multiple testing, linear models, correlation and regression, dimensionality reduction such as principal component analysis, heatmaps and the basis of clustering algorithms. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the analysis of their own data. 

Audience

This typical profile is a biologist needing to perform statistical analyses using R.

Learning outcomes

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

• choose the right method to summarize a dataset, graphically and numerically
• perform basic hypothesis tests on a datatest
• assess whether different variables are linked, using correlation and regression analysis
• use the R statistical package to run statistical analyses and interpret their outcome
• use dimensionality reduction to overcome problems of big data
• perform clustering on datasets
• visualise complex data using heatmaps
• use dimensionality reduction such as principal component analysis to overcome problems of big data

Prerequisites

Technical:

• A laptop with a wifi connection
• Software to be installed PRIOR to the course: R, R Studio

• No prior statistical knowledge is required in order to attend the course
• Participants do not need any experience in R before the course

Application

The registration fees for academics are 400 CHF and 2000 CHF for for-profit companies.

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.

Applications close on 14/01/2026. Deadline for free-of-charge cancellation is set to 14/01/2026. Cancellation after this date will not be reimbursed. Please note that participation in SIB courses is subject to our general conditions.

Venue & Time

The course will take place at the University of Lausanne.

It will start at 9:00 and end around 17:00 every day.

More information will be provided to the participants in due time.

Additional information

Coordination: Grégoire Rossier

We will recommend 1 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.