Launched in 2023, the bootcamp is designed to empower undergraduates with the skills needed to excel in data-driven fields, fostering a generation of scientists and professionals ready to engage with cutting-edge technology. Offered each semester, the bootcamp draws approximately 50 students per term from academic backgrounds such as psychology, biology, computer science, applied mathematics and biomedical engineering. All are eager to explore the intersection of coding, scientific discovery and artificial intelligence.

The bootcamp is gaining popularity across campus, with the most recent program drawing the highest number of attendees to date. The addition of Session 3 provides students with exposure to real-world applications of AI in life sciences and healthcare. Throughout the program, dedicated teaching assistants support students through hands-on exercises on real-world use cases (such as RNAseq analysis and X-ray classification) and help solidify their understanding of complex topics. 

The bootcamp has received enthusiastic feedback, particularly from freshmen and sophomores eager to begin their academic journey with high-impact, in-demand topics like AI and programming. I had little to no experience in Python before, but this bootcamp helped me grasp the basics quickly and apply them to real-world problems, said a participant (in a survey) from the Department of Biology. 

Participants have gone on to engage in AI-driven medical research, enroll in advanced courses offered by the department or even pursue a master’s degree in biomedical informatics. Another surveyed student from applied mathematics remarked, The exposure to machine learning and bioinformatics has given me a fresh perspective on how coding can be used in scientific research.

Source: https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/from-python-to-bioinformatics-and-deep-learning-preparing-the-next-generation-of-ai-ready-healthcare-innovators/