Introduction to R: An interdisciplinary approach to data analysis training

As research increasingly generates large and complex datasets, the ability to analyze data computationally is no longer optional, it’s essential. Yet despite being one of the most widely used programming languages in research, R  is still absent from many undergraduate and graduate curricula.  

Recognizing this gap, SPP-ARC offers a hands-on Introduction to R workshop that gives trainees practical, immediately usable skills. The workshop is designed to make programming more approachable and help participants work more confidently with their data.

The January 30 session, hosted by Laura Gray-Steinhauer, brought together trainees from across the university for an interactive learning experience. Participants worked through real examples, learning syntax, debugging techniques and how to build and use functions — tools they can carry directly into their own projects. For Julia May, a postdoctoral fellow in the Baldwin and Noyce labs, the impact was immediate. She is now using what she learned to “build a workflow to automatically plot data from high-content spectral flow cytometry, which normally takes a great deal of time to analyze manually.”

By offering workshops like this, SPP-ARC continues to support interdisciplinary training that helps trainees build confidence, expand their skill sets, and succeed inside and outside the lab. To learn more about upcoming activities and training opportunities, join our mailing list or follow us on LinkedIn. 

Trainees working on their data during a work period. 

 Dr. Laura Gray-Steinhauer