BINF 739 – CUDA Enabled Scientific Programming

Course Time : Mondays 4:30 - 7:10 pm
Course Location : Room 327, Occoquan Building, Prince William Campus
Instructor : Saleet Jafri, 703-993-8420, sjafri@gmu.edu
Office Hours : By appointment in Occoquan Building Room 328G
Course Web Page : http://www.binf.gmu.edu/jafri/binf739-CUDA-SP/
Prerequisites: Knowledge of a programming language (C, C++, Python, or FORTRAN).
Required Textbooks: None
Reference Textbooks: CUDA By Example by Jason Sanders and Edward Kandrot. 2011. Addison-Wesley.

Course Description
In recent years, there has been a explosion in the amount of biological information available due to technology developed by efforts such as the Human Genome Project. Bioinformatics is the field that includes the development and implementation of mathematical and computer techniques to analyze this data. In this course, the fundamental mathematical and algorithmic theory behind current bioinformatics techniques will be taught. The student will implement these methods. They include hidden Markov models, the dynamic programming algorithm, genetic algorithms, simulted annealing, neural networks, and information theory. The biological background will be provided in the course.

Grading Policy
The course grade will be determined as follows-

Problem Sets - 50%
Final Projects - 50%

Problem sets will be assigned as homework several times during the semester. They will be due two weeks after they are assigned. The assignments will be posted on the course web page. Late homeworks will not be accepted.

All students are expected to complete the final project and make a presentation at the announced time.

Academic Honesty Policy:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. This includes cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of academic records. That being said, you can help each other out on the homework (this does not mean that you can copy each other's homework).

Important Dates:
Monday, January 23, 4:30 - 7:10 pm - First Day of Class
Monday, February 29, 4:30 - 7:10 pm - No class
Monday, March 12, 4:30 - 7:10 pm - No class due to Spring Break
Monday, March 19, 4:30 pm - Final Project Proposals Due
Monday, April 30, 4:30 - 7:10 pm - Final Project Presentations
Monday, May 14, 4:30 - 7:15 pm - No Final Exam

Sage Advice: If you want to do well in course: 1) Do all the problem sets. 2) Read the text book and any other assigned reading. 3) Ask questions in class and office hours. 3) If you are having difficulty doing the problem sets, be sure to get help. I encourage the students discussing the course material and problems, but require everyone to do the work - NO COPYING.


Saleet Jafri
Wed Jan 25 15:27:00 EST 2012