The Value of User-Friendly Computational Methods

Making computational methods accessible to others is crucial for scientific progress. Jean Fan, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, developed a method called STdeconvolve to analyze spatial transcriptomics data. She made the code available on GitHub and simplified installation through Bioconductor. She also shared a video of herself live-coding a spatial transcriptomics data analysis on YouTube and shared blog posts and tutorials to support students. By increasing accessibility, STdeconvolve is easier to maintain and use, and students can provide feedback and build communities.