CRUK: Experimental Design

Modern technologies are able to deliver an unprecedented amount of data rapidly. However, without due care and attention early in the experimental process, such data are meaningless if they cannot adequately answer the intended research question. This course is aimed at those planning high-throughput experiments and highlights the kinds of questions they should be asking themselves. The course consists of a lecture and small-group discussions led by a member of the Genomics or Bioinformatics Cores.

This event is part of a series of training courses organized in collaboration with the Bioinformatics Core Facility at CRUK Cambridge Institute.

Please note that if you are not eligible for a University of Cambridge Raven account you will need to book or register your interest by linking here.

• Graduate students, Postdocs and Staff members from the University of Cambridge, Affiliated Institutions and other external Institutions or individuals
• Please be aware that these courses are only free for University of Cambridge students. All other participants will be charged a registration fee in some form. Registration fees and further details regarding the charging policy are available here.
• Further details regarding eligibility criteria are available here

No previous experience required

Number of sessions: 1

After this course you should be able to:

• Identify sources of variability (technical and biological) in your data
• Identify any potential confounding factors in your experimental setup
• Prepare for a Experimental Design Meeting between yourself and the Genomics and Bioinformatics Cores

During this course you will learn about:

• Why perform experiments?
• Why think about experimental design?
• What makes for a well-designed experiment?
• Aspects of experimental design
• Experimental variables
• Power, variance and replicates – Bias, confounding factors, randomisation and controls
• Experimental design types
• Experimental design at CRUK. C.I.

Presentations and practicals

• Free for registered University of Cambridge students
• £ 50/day for all University of Cambridge staff, including postdocs, temporary visitors (students and researchers) and participants from Affiliated Institutions. Please note that these charges are recovered by us at the Institutional level
• It remains the participant's responsibility to acquire prior approval from the relevant group leader, line manager or budget holder to attend the course. It is requested that people booking only do so with the agreement of the relevant party as costs will be charged back to your Lab Head or Group Supervisor.
• £ 50/day for all other academic participants from external Institutions and charitable organizations. These charges must be paid at registration
• £ 100/day for all Industry participants. These charges must be paid at registration
• Further details regarding the charging policy are available here

1

Several times a year

• Introduction to R for Biologists (IN-PERSON)