The fall 2026 workshop program brings together sessions on research computing, AI tools, data analysis, statistics, bioinformatics, and SBDC training. The program runs from September through November and includes Zoom, hybrid, and in-person sessions.
The schedule below was cross-checked against the source program calendar and the detailed workshop sheet. For past session recordings and related materials, visit ITS Research Training.
Fall 2026 Workshop Schedule
| Date | Time | Workshop | Presenter(s) | Format / location | Registration / link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 1:00-2:30 PM | Introduction to Unity | Farhang Naderi | Zoom | Register / join |
| Monday, September 21, 2026 | 1:00-2:00 PM | Bioinformatics: sequencing data preprocessing | Leann, Cecile | Zoom | Register / join |
| Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 10:30-11:30 AM | R: Introduction | Shay Sahraei | Zoom Recorded and posted to ITS Research Training | Register / join |
| Friday, September 25, 2026 | 12:00-1:30 PM | AI Tools: For Researchers | Aila Chin | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 10:00-11:30 AM | OpenCode/Codex | Borano | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Friday, October 2, 2026 | 12:00-1:30 PM | AI Tools: Programming | Aila Chin | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 10:30-11:30 AM | SPSS: Beginner's Course | Shay Sahraei | Zoom Recorded and posted to ITS Research Training | Register / join |
| Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 10:00-11:30 AM | Prompt Engineering | Borano | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Friday, October 9, 2026 | 12:00-1:30 PM | AI Tools: Video & Music | Aila Chin | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 1:00-2:30 PM | Introduction to Unity | Farhang Naderi | Zoom | Register / join |
| Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | SBDC Training | Indrani, Liam | Welcome Center | Details forthcoming |
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | 12:00-1:30 PM | AI Tools: Image & Art | Aila Chin | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Monday, October 19, 2026 | 1:00-2:00 PM | Bioinformatics: sequence assembly | Leann, Cecile | Zoom | Register / join |
| Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 10:30-11:30 AM | R: Putting Data | Shay Sahraei | Zoom Recorded and posted to ITS Research Training | Register / join |
| Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | SBDC Training | Indrani, Liam | Welcome Center | Details forthcoming |
| Friday, October 23, 2026 | 10:00-11:30 AM | OpenCode/Codex | Borano | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Friday, October 30, 2026 | 12:00-1:30 PM | AI Tools: Writing | Aila Chin | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | 10:30-11:30 AM | SPSS: Beginner's Course | Shay Sahraei | Zoom Recorded and posted to ITS Research Training | Register / join |
| Friday, November 6, 2026 | 10:00-11:30 AM | Prompt Engineering | Borano | In person TBD and Zoom | Register / join |
| Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 1:00-2:30 PM | Introduction to Unity | Farhang Naderi | Zoom | Register / join |
| Monday, November 16, 2026 | 1:00-2:00 PM | Bioinformatics: variant calling | Leann, Cecile | Zoom | Register / join |
| Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 10:30-11:30 AM | R: Exploratory Data Analysis | Shay Sahraei | Zoom Recorded and posted to ITS Research Training | Register / join |
Workshop Details
Introduction to Unity
This monthly workshop walks participants through getting started on Unity, a high-performance computing cluster hosted at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and available to URI researchers. Geared toward new users, the session covers requesting and setting up a Unity account, connecting to the cluster over SSH, navigating the filesystem and understanding storage and permissions, loading software modules, and submitting and monitoring jobs with SLURM. Attendees will also learn where to find documentation and how to reach the Research Computing team for further help. While the material is aimed at newcomers, the session is adapted to the experience level of those attending, so returning users are welcome to bring specific questions about their own workflows.
Prompt Engineering
This workshop introduces participants to the art of communicating effectively with large language models. Attendees will learn the fundamentals of prompt structure, including how to write clear instructions, provide context, and use examples to guide model output. The workshop covers key concepts such as context and context windows, and how understanding these limitations can improve the quality and relevance of AI-generated responses. Participants will also explore techniques like chain-of-thought prompting, role assignment, iterative refinement, and strategies for reducing ambiguity and hallucination. Through hands-on practice, attendees will gain skills for crafting effective prompts for academic and personal applications.
OpenCode/Codex
This workshop offers a hands-on introduction to OpenCode, a University-affiliated gateway to large language models. Participants will learn how to sign up for access and set up OpenCode locally, with guidance on using it across multiple environments, including the desktop app, terminal, and VS Code extension. The session will walk through configuration and setup step by step, followed by guided use-case demonstrations that participants can follow on their own devices. Attendees will leave with a working local setup and practical experience using OpenCode.
AI Tools
AI Tools provides a comprehensive introduction to artificial intelligence for students and researchers across disciplines. Sessions introduce tools that can enhance academic work, research skills, study habits, and creativity. Through interactive sessions and hands-on activities, participants will gain practical knowledge for using AI tools in academic and personal work.
Bioinformatics
This series is intended for anyone using bioinformatics software on the Unity high-performance computing platform. Across three sessions, participants will explore software available on Unity to preprocess sequencing data before analysis, perform sequence assembly, and conduct variant calling. Each workshop includes a demonstration on how to use these tools efficiently.
R Programming
This workshop series provides a beginner-friendly introduction to R and RStudio for data analysis and visualization. Participants will learn how to import data, perform basic data manipulation, create simple graphs, and run introductory statistical analyses. Through hands-on exercises, attendees will gain foundational skills for using R in coursework and research.
SPSS
This workshop introduces participants to IBM SPSS Statistics for data analysis. Attendees will learn how to install and license SPSS, manage datasets, perform basic statistical analyses, and interpret results. By the end of the session, participants will have the confidence to use SPSS for coursework, research, and everyday statistical tasks.
SBDC Training
SBDC training sessions are scheduled as in-person workshops at the Welcome Center.