Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!) about DIBSI 2019

--- tags: dibsi, dibsi2019 --- # Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!) about DIBSI 2019 [TOC] ## I don't have any computational experience; should I attend the ANGUS workshop? We are particularly happy to teach people with no previous computational experience of any kind! If you want to get a jump on things before coming, a great place to start is with [this introduction to the command line](https://astrobiomike.github.io/bash/bash_intro_binder) :) ## Are undergraduates welcome? Yes! However, you should come with research biology questions in mind; this is an intro computational workshop and we assume a strong background in biology. ## How do I apply for financial aid? We're sorry to say that this year we have no financial aid to offer. In previous years we were generously supported by the NIH, but the funding lapsed in 2017. We do our best to keep total costs low, and we are happy to offer letters of support granting late admission upon receipt of a fellowship. ## Do I need to apply, or can I just register? This year, for the first time, we are simply accepting all comers! So please go ahead and register! Do note that the registration deadline is June 1 and we have a limit of approximately 75 people total. Hope to see you there! ## What does registration cover? Registration is available with and without housing. The $950 registration fee for ANGUS covers tuition, snacks and drinks for the workshop itself, but does not cover room and board (or lunch), or housing. Fee for the workshop plus single-occupancy dormitory housing is $1955 and includes breakfast and dinner. ## I need to withdraw my registration; can I get my registration fee refunded? If you pay by credit card, your registration fee will be charged immediately and can be refunded until May 1st without any problem. After that we can make exceptions for extenuating circumstances. If you pay by grant, the grant will not be charged until the course is over. ## How much is housing? The $950 registration fee for ANGUS covers tuition, snacks and drinks for the workshop itself, but does not cover room and board (or lunch). The housing for ANGUS is $1005 for two weeks ($1955 with the workshop). Check-in is Sunday, June 30th, and check-out is Saturday, July 13th; costs includes room, breakfast and dinner (but not lunch). ## When can I check in? What about after hours check in? Check in will start by 4pm on Sunday, but you can come by Valley Hall before then and we'll have people to watch your luggage. You can check in at any time after that. ## I need to withdraw from housing; can I get my housing fee refunded? Housing is refundable until May 1st; after that we cannot refund housing fees. ## Can I get specific/customized documentation for reimbursements, authorizations, or visas? We are happy to provide documentation in the format of your choice -- please email dibsi.training@gmail.com with details about your needs. For documents needed after the workshop, we suggest sending requests in advance so we can be sure you have what you need before you leave. ## How much microbial ecology and metagenomics do you teach? Our workshop focuses on the computational aspects of high-throughput shotgun sequencing data analysis in general, and we talk much more about RNAseq and genomics than we do about metagenomics and microbial ecology. This is for several reasons, including the challenge that the processing pipelines in that area are quite different from RNAseq and genomics. (Note that we don't cover 16s or amplicon analysis at all.) If you are interested in courses specifically on microbial ecology and/or amplicon sequencing we suggest [STAMPS](https://www.mbl.edu/education/courses/stamps/) and [EDAMAME](http://www.edamamecourse.org/). That having been said, much of what we teach is of broad utility in bioinformatics, and many of our instructors and TAs _do_ work in microbial ecology. So you can probably get quite a bit of advice from them on the side! ## Can I print a poster for the poster session in Davis? Davis has several print shops in the downtown area, which is a 15-20 minute walk from the dorms. Copyland is a local favorite; there is also a Fedex / Kinkos. Turn-around time can vary so be sure to call and verify if you're squeaking it in at the last minute! ## Don't see your question here? Don't forget to check the [venue page](http://ivory.idyll.org/dibsi/VENUE.html)! Otherwise, send us an email at dibsi.training@gmail.com.