Fall Courses

BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS (BIOINF) FALL COURSES
(as of August 2024)

BIOINF 2010
Biomedical Informatics Colloquium
The Biomedical Informatics Colloquium is a weekly series of seminars focused on current research in biomedical informatics. Guest speakers come primarily from universities, but also government labs and the private sector. Registration is not required for seminar attendance but is required to take the course for credit. Grading is based on the extent of active participation throughout the semester.
Instructor:  Erik Wright, Ph.D.
Term:  Fall and Spring
Days/Times:  Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Location:  407A BAUM, 5607 Baum Blvd.
Expected class size:  10-20

BIOINF 2032
Biomedical Informatics Journal Club (ISSP 2083) (1 credit)
Biomedical informatics is a broad field encompassing many different research domains. What all of the domains have in common is the need to review and publish scientific papers and to give talks that present research to different audiences. The aim of this journal club is to expose students to recent research in various topics of biomedical informatics and to teach students how to critique a research article, present research from a research study; and critique a verbal presentation of research.
Instructor:  Lujia Chen, Ph.D. (fall term) and Ye Ye, Ph.D. (spring term)
Term:  Fall and Spring
Days/Times:  Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location:  536B BAUM, 5607 Baum Blvd.
Expected class size:  5-10

BIOINF 2062
Foundations of Algorithms (3 credits) 
The course serves as an introduction to core methods and topics in algorithms. Course content will include the traditional key components of an algorithm course, together with a flavor of newer technologies such as advanced data structures. Time complexity analysis is an important matter and will be discussed where it fits throughout the course.
Instructor:  Madhavi Ganapathiraju, Ph.D.
Term:  Fall
Days/Times: Tuesday/Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location:  536B BAUM, 5607 Baum Blvd.
Expected class size:  5-10

BIOINF 2070
Foundations of Biomedical Informatics 1 (3 credits) 
This course serves as an introduction to core methods and topics in biomedical informatics using the context of the Learning Health System (LHS). A LHS combines data and information managements, discovery, and application of discoveries to clinical and population health. Discussion of the challenges associated with the construction of a LHS will be used to contextualize and motivate content to be covered in the course (people, data and knowledge, and evaluation). 
Instructor:  Richard Boyce, Ph.D. and Rafael Ceschin, Ph.D.
Term:  Fall
Days/Times:  Tuesdays/Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Location:  407A BAUM, 5607 Baum Blvd.
Expected class size: 5-10

BIOINF 2105
Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Informatics (3 credits) 
This course provides the required introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) for all Biomedical Informatics students in the Department of Biomedical Informatics. It is designed to complement the two Foundations of Biomedical Informatics courses by providing a rigorous and practical education on fundamental AI topics. While the lessons are on AI subjects that not specific to the biomedical domain, the course will point the students to problems and applications from biomedicine relevant to each AI subject. The course is practical in the sense that the homework assignments will give students hands-on experience applying the AI methods covered throughout the course.
Instructor:  Richard Boyce, Ph.D.
Term:  Fall
Days/Times:  Mondays/Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Location:  407A BAUM, 5607 Baum Blvd.
Expected class size: 10-15

BIOINF 2132
Special Topic Seminar in Medical Informatics (1-3 credits)
This course is designed for faculty to offer small groups of students a study course on a topic of mutual interest and concern in the faculty member’s area of expertise.
Instructor:  Department of Biomedical Informatics Faculty (will vary)
Term:  TBA
Days/Times:  TBA/TBA
Location:  407A BAUM, 5607 Baum Blvd.
Prerequisites:  Discuss with Instructor
Expected class size:  5-10
This course could be offered in any given term — check with Toni Porterfield (tls18@pitt.edu)

BIOINF 2134
Publication & Presentation in Biomedical Informatics (3 credits)
This course provides a practical overview of how to write a research manuscript and how to give a scientific talk. It is usually taken after completing the Project Course (BIOINF 2014). Students taking this course must have a completed research project that can be used to complete the course exercises. Each week, we will target a specific section of the manuscript or scientific talk. Didactic sessions describing common problems and approaches will alternate with student presentation and peer critique. The course also covers the details of the publication process. At the end of the course, a special presentation workshop gives students the opportunity to improve their talks using videotaping and debriefing methods. By the end of the course, students will have completed a research paper and a finalized colloquium presentation.
Instructor:  Harry Hochheiser, Ph.D.
Term:  Fall
Days/Times:  Mondays/Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location:  407A BAUM, 5607 Baum Blvd.
Prerequisite: Completed data collection for study in research project with approval of both research advisor and course instructor.
Expected Class Size: 5-10

BIOINF 2480 (1-6 credits)
Masters Thesis/Project Research

BIOINF 2990 (1-6 credits)  
Masters Independent Study

BIOINF 2993 (1-6 credits)
Masters Directed Study

BIOINF 3990 (1-6 credits)
Doctoral Independent Study

BIOINF 3995 (1-6 credits)
Doctoral Directed Study

BIOINF 3998 (3 credits)
Doctoral Teaching Practicum

BIOINF 3999 (18 credits)
Doctoral Dissertation Research

NOTE:  Students registering for Full-time Dissertation Study must register under the School of Medicine’s Course Number:   FTDS 0000 (0 credits)