Initiation to python programming
Graduated Program in Life Science, Department of Biology, ENS-PSL
| Initiation to python programming (ENS/Biology)
Year and Semester : PhD and Postdocs | S1
Where : Department of Biology of ENS, room 321, 3rd floor, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris.
Duration : 6 weeks
Schedule : on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from November 13th to December 18th, 2025
Hours : 17:00-19:00
Maximum class size : 16
Coordination
Denis Thieffry, Department of Biology, ENS
Credits
3 ECTS
Keywords
Python | Programming | Linux
Course prerequisites
Knowledge of basic Linux commands and a whole lot of motivation !
If you have no Linux/Unix background, you can check the first sections of the following online course : https://www.tutorialspoint.com/unix/index.htm
Course objectives and description
Aims : The objective of the course is to initiate young life-science scientists to python programming from scratch, fostering self-learning practice.
Organisation : The course will include two classes per week, each about two-hours long, over a period of six weeks, in November-December 2025.
A large part of each class will be devoted to practical coding exercises.
Regular attendance to the classes should be completed by two to three hours of homework per week.
Assessment
• The participants will be regularly asked to explain their code during the classes.
• Coding exercises will be proposed over the duration of the course, to be finalised at home and submit for evaluation by the teaching team.
Course material
The course will be based on the textbook published by Whitington (2023), as well as on online resources from the python community.
Linux desktops will be provided for the classes, but participants can also bring their personal laptop, with a recent version of python 3 installed.
Course material
in relation with the module content
Whitington J (2023). Python from the very beginning. Cambridge : Coherent Press (2nd ed).
https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/
https://docs.python.org/3/
