Empowering Graduate Students Through Peer-Led Learning

The Graduate Professional Council (GPC) SkillXchange is a peer-to-peer learning initiative designed to provide Mizzou’s graduate and professional students with valuable technical and research skills. This program fosters collaboration, professional development, and hands-on learning, allowing students to teach and learn from each other in an interactive and supportive environment.

Organized by the GPC Director of Professional Development and backed by the Graduate School, SkillXchange provides workshops, hands-on practice, and mentorship opportunities to help students build essential skills for research and professional careers.

Fall 2024: R for Statistical Computing

The Fall 2024 sessions focused on R programming for data analysis, equipping students with fundamental skills in:

R IDEs & Object Structures – Setting up and using R for research.

Data Import & Cleaning with Tidyverse – Managing and processing datasets efficiently.

Data Visualization with ggplot2 – Creating effective and professional research visuals.

Regression Analysis & Model Building – Applying statistical techniques in research.

These workshops were held with the Center for Applied Statistics and Data Analysis (CASDA) and included hands-on practice with real-world data.

Spring 2025: Python for Research & Automation

For Spring 2025, SkillXchange will focus on Python programming, introducing students to fundamental and advanced applications in data analysis, automation, and research tools.

Course Breakdown

Session 1: Python Basics & Control Flow (2 Hours)

Introduction to Python & Environment Setup – Installing Python & setting up the coding environment (PyCharm, Jupyter Notebook, VS Code, Google Colab)

Understanding Variables & Data Types – Strings, Integers, Floats, and Booleans

Conditional Statements & Loops – If-Else statements and Loops (for, while)

Session 2: Functions, Lists & File Handling (2 Hours)

Functions in Python – Defining & calling functions

Lists & Basic Data Structures – Creating lists & accessing elements

File Handling – Reading & Writing files

Quick Introduction to Dictionaries (30 min) – What is a dictionary? (Key-Value Pairs)

Session 3: Object-Oriented Programming & Final Project (2 Hours)

Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) – What are classes & objects?

Final Project – Apply all concepts learned to build a simple, practical Python project.

Why Participate in GPC SkillXchange?

Peer-to-Peer Learning – Engage with fellow graduate students in a collaborative environment.

Hands-On Experience – Apply concepts directly using your research data.

Professional Growth – Gain technical skills that enhance academic and career opportunities.

Networking & Collaboration – Connect with students and faculty from various disciplines.

Date: February 27, 2025 | 5:00 PM

Venue: Arts & Science, Room 233

Upcoming Sessions: Workshop dates and registration details will be announced soon.

Would You Like to Get Involved?

GPC SkillXchange is always looking for experienced graduate students willing to share their expertise. If you are interested in leading a session or suggesting a new workshop topic, reach out to us today!

Join us in building a community of graduate students dedicated to learning, sharing, and leading!

For more information or to get involved, contact:

Felix Michael Oguche – GPC Director of Professional Development

Email: muoslprofdev@missouri.edu