Unlocking data with R: A hands-on introduction to data science

The Applied Workshop series, hosted by the Career Corner, provides a variety of training sessions that allow you to gain knowledge from highly qualified and experienced instructors, while also providing you with practical experience through real-world applications on each topic.

These sessions are a great opportunity for you to quickly acquire in-depth technical skills, and are exclusive to you as a University of Ottawa student. These extra-curricular workshops are offered at a reduced cost, making them an accessible way to invest in your future.

Unlock data with R

Curious about data science? Join us for a two-day workshop that will introduce you to the basics of R, a powerful programming language for data analysis.

Places are limited, so register now!

February 17, 2026 and February 18, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

• $225 for both days
• This event takes place during reading week

About the workshop

Over 12 hours, you’ll explore R’s interface, learn how to import and clean data, work with Excel and CSV files, and create simple but effective data visualizations using ggplot2. We’ll also cover the basics of writing functions to make your work easier. 

Whether you’re new to programming or just looking to learn a new skill, this workshop will give you the tools to start working with data in R. No prior programming experience needed!

About the Instructor

Alexa Keeshan is a doctoral candidate studying epidemiology at the University of Ottawa. In her graduate work, she has investigated the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the overall population and among key clinical groups, such as the immune compromised and obese. She is commencing a CTN+ postdoctoral fellowship aimed at characterizing the evolving transmission dynamics of HIV coinfections with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis in Canada over the past three decade through a syndemic lens. Her research interests include longitudinal data analysis, Bayesian modelling, cohort studies, infectious diseases, STBBIs, Long COVID & ME/CFS.