Course Details
Overview
This intensive 4-day hands-on training program introduces participants to the core concepts and practical tools of bioinformatics and computational biology.
The course covers biological databases, sequence formats, data retrieval, Linux command line basics, BLAST, multiple sequence alignment, genome browsers, variant exploration, functional annotation, pathway analysis, gene expression analysis, RNA-seq workflows, NGS data visualization, multi-omics, systems biology, and public dataset analysis.
Participants will gain practical computer-based experience and learn how to access, analyze, visualize, and interpret biological data.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand basic concepts in bioinformatics and computational biology
- Use biological databases such as NCBI, Ensembl, UniProt, and GEO
- Retrieve and understand biological data formats including FASTA, FASTQ, and GenBank
- Use basic Linux command line operations for bioinformatics workflows
- Perform BLAST searches and sequence alignment analysis
- Understand genome browsers and variant exploration
- Apply functional annotation and pathway analysis basics
- Understand RNA-seq and NGS data analysis workflows
- Perform basic QC and visualization of biological datasets
- Understand differential gene expression analysis principles
- Interpret pathway enrichment results
- Work on a public biological dataset in a mini project
- Present and discuss bioinformatics results scientifically
Target Audience
This course is ideal for:
- Master’s and PhD students
- Research assistants and laboratory technicians
- Life science researchers with limited bioinformatics experience
- Biomedical, biotechnology, molecular biology, genetics, and computational biology students
- Scientists who want to start analyzing biological datasets
- Professionals interested in bioinformatics, genomics, transcriptomics, or data-driven biology
Course Program
Day 1: Fundamentals of Bioinformatics & Biological Databases
Focus: Core concepts and biological data resources
| Time | Activity | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Welcome & Course Overview | Lecture |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Introduction to Bioinformatics & Computational Biology | Lecture |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:45 – 12:00 | Biological Databases: NCBI, Ensembl, UniProt & GEO | Lecture + Demo |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Hands-on: Sequence Formats & Data Retrieval: FASTA, FASTQ, GenBank | Hands-on |
| 14:30 – 14:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 14:45 – 16:00 | Hands-on: Introduction to Linux Command Line for Bioinformatics | Hands-on |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Q&A & Wrap-up | Discussion & Q&A |
Day 2: Sequence Analysis & Genomics Tools
Focus: DNA, RNA and protein sequence analysis
| Time | Activity | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Overview Day 2 & Workflow Discussion | Q&A |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Sequence Alignment Principles: BLAST & Multiple Sequence Alignment | Lecture |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:45 – 12:30 | Hands-on: BLAST Searches & Alignment Analysis | Computer Session |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Introduction to Genomics & Variant Analysis | Lecture |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Hands-on: Genome Browsers & Variant Exploration | Computer Session |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:45 – 16:30 | Functional Annotation & Pathway Analysis Basics | Lecture + Demo |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Wrap-up | Discussion |
Day 3: Gene Expression & NGS Data Analysis
Focus: Transcriptomics and biological interpretation
| Time | Activity | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Introduction to Gene Expression Analysis | Lecture |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | RNA-Seq Workflow & NGS Data Basics | Lecture |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:45 – 12:30 | Hands-on: Quality Control & Visualization of NGS Data | Computer Session |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Differential Gene Expression Analysis Principles | Lecture |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Hands-on: Gene Expression Data Analysis & Visualization | Computer Session |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:45 – 16:30 | Pathway Enrichment & Biological Interpretation | Lecture + Demo |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Wrap-up | Discussion |
Day 4: Integrated Bioinformatics Applications & Mini Project
Focus: Translational bioinformatics and project work
| Time | Activity | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Applications of Bioinformatics in Precision Medicine & Drug Discovery | Lecture |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:15 – 12:00 | Introduction to Multi-omics & Systems Biology | Lecture + Demo |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Mini Project: Analysis of a Public Biological Dataset | Group Work |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Data Interpretation & Visualization of Results | Computer Session |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:45 – 16:15 | Group Presentations & Scientific Discussion | Presentation & Discussion |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Final Wrap-up, Feedback & Certificates | Q&A |
What Participants Will Gain
Participants will gain:
- Practical introduction to bioinformatics and computational biology
- Experience using biological databases and public repositories
- Understanding of common biological data formats
- Hands-on experience with Linux command line basics
- Skills in BLAST searches and sequence alignment analysis
- Practical insight into genome browsers and variant exploration
- Understanding of functional annotation and pathway analysis
- Introductory experience with RNA-seq and gene expression data
- Skills in biological data visualization and interpretation
- Experience working on a public dataset mini project
- Preparation for independent learning in genomics, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics
