Genetics workshops

Use Hi-C contact maps to diagnose and correct assembly errors and produce chromosome-scale genome sequences. The workflow starts with assembly metrics and contamination screening, then constructs PretextView maps and supporting tracks and applies a rapid-curation pipeline to generate corrected FASTA files. Exercises address repeats, haplotype duplication and phasing, microchromosomes, polyploid genomes and sex-chromosome identification. Group work culminates in evaluating and discussing difficult assemblies. Sessions: 16–20 November, 14:00–18:00 daily, Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+01:00). Live online training; fee €480. Biological background is expected. Unix command-line skills are mandatory for running scripts; previous assembly experience is helpful. An optional €900 bundle includes the separate genome-assembly course.

A five-day practical course for experimentalists and computational biologists analysing single-cell RNA sequencing. Lectures and exercises follow data from sequencing files to expression matrices, quality control, normalisation, batch correction, dimensionality reduction, clustering, annotation and differential expression. Later sessions cover trajectory and pseudotime inference, RNA velocity, single-cell multi-omics integration and functional analysis. Participants finish with an independent dataset analysis and presentation. Bash and R/Bioconductor support reproducible workflows and interpretation. Online, 16–20 November 2026, 14:00–20:00 CET (Europe/Berlin) each day. Fee: €530. Participants need practical Unix command-line skills, R programming experience and familiarity with next-generation sequencing analysis.

Genomics, proteomics and imaging now measure molecules and cells across many scales. This workshop examines how mechanistic models can integrate those measurements and biological dynamics to explain and engineer cellular behaviour. Researchers in single-cell analysis, dynamic proteomics, quantitative imaging, synthetic biology and theory will connect experimental and computational approaches. The programme links three themes: cell dynamics and interactions; molecular mechanisms and engineering; and rigorous quantitative models. Sessions address multiscale modelling, molecules over time, large-scale perturbations, prediction of cell states, dynamic processes, and stem-cell engineering. Virtual participation includes livestreamed talks, questions and discussion, plus available recordings for four weeks; individual speakers may decline recording. Virtual participants cannot submit presentation abstracts. Fees: PhD students €175, academia €200, industry €275; card payment is required. Virtual registration closes 10 November 2026. On-site registration is closed. Programme times are Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+1): 17 November opening at 13:15 and talks from 13:30; 18 and 19 November sessions from 09:00; 20 November from 10:00, with closing remarks at 13:15–13:30.

Build a small-RNA analysis workflow from raw reads to curated microRNA annotations. Participants assess sequencing quality with miRTrace, retrieve public datasets and reproduce analyses and figures from published studies. Practical work combines MirMachine, miRTrace and MirMiner with genomic context and annotation standards, then examines false positives and missing genes through manual curation. The emphasis is on defensible identification of regulatory microRNAs and critical assessment of published predictions. Sessions: 23–26 November, 12:00–17:00 daily, Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+01:00). Live online training; fee €480. Basic small-RNA biology and genomics, Unix/Linux shell and conda familiarity are expected.

This live course introduces sequencing-data analysis through a real Illumina dataset. It explains how sequencing technologies affect data quality and interpretation, then develops the Linux and file-format skills needed for practical analysis. Exercises cover quality control, adapter removal, read mapping, alignment statistics, genome-browser visualization, DNA variant calling, VCF filtering and interpretation. Participants compare analytical tools and learn to recognize errors that can affect biological conclusions. The online sessions run 09:00–17:00 CET (UTC+1) on 23–25 November 2026. The course is taught in English for biologists and data analysts with basic molecular-biology knowledge; prior Linux experience is unnecessary. A computer, current browser and audio equipment are required. Exercises use a supplied cloud computer through the browser. The fee is EUR 879 excluding VAT and includes printed materials and cloud access. Capacity is 25, with places subject to confirmation and a waiting list if full. Registration closes on 22 November. Sessions are live and build sequentially, so continuous attendance is expected.

This two-day interactive course examines quality, regulation, ethics and justice in genetic diagnostics and research. Sessions address biobanks, returning results, research ethics, responsible data use and sharing, diagnostic quality, and the IVD/IVDR framework. Workshops explore genomic variant interpretation and reporting and practical data sharing. Further discussions consider journal editorial responsibilities, ethical communication and human germline gene editing, ending with a participant debate. The virtual programme runs 26 November, 09:00–18:30, and 27 November, 09:00–19:15 CET (GMT+1). Participation costs EUR 149; registration closes 24 November 2026.

Detect and interpret genomic alterations of at least 50 bases using short and long reads. Lectures and practical exercises compare assembly-based and reference-mapping workflows, evaluate sequencing and assembly quality, and filter and annotate structural variants. Participants build trio or population VCF datasets, examine mosaic and somatic variation, and prioritise possible functional effects using human-genome examples. Linux and cloud exercises connect raw data processing with interpretation of disease and phenotype associations. Sessions: 30 November–2 December, 14:00–20:00 daily, Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+01:00). Live online training; fee €450. A biology background and familiarity with genomic data formats are expected. Command-line Linux practical work is introduced during the course.

Infer evolutionary relationships and divergence times from multilocus genomic data while accounting for sources of misleading phylogenetic signal. The workshop examines orthologue selection, sequence-evolution models and discordance caused by incomplete lineage sorting and introgression. Lectures and hands-on exercises develop time-calibrated phylogenies and compare the assumptions of alternative inference methods. Analyses run in a prepared cloud environment so participants can concentrate on statistical methods, model choices and interpretation. Live online, 30 November–4 December, 12:00–18:00 Europe/Berlin (CET). Fee €530. Intended for PhD and postdoctoral researchers planning multilocus phylogenetic studies. Basic Unix command-line knowledge is required; familiarity with scripting is useful.

Brain-restricted somatic variants can cause cortical malformations, developmental tumors and other focal epilepsies while escaping routine germline tests. This investigators workshop examines sensitive methods for detecting variants present in only a small fraction of cells. Sessions cover minimally invasive sampling, genomic assays, single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial analysis of brain tissue, then connect these approaches to genotype–phenotype relationships and mechanistic studies in human cells and mosaic mouse models. The aim is to improve diagnosis and identify more targeted therapeutic strategies. Saturday 5 December, 14:30–16:00 Mountain Standard Time (America/Denver). Part of the 2026 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. In-person meeting registration and a free myAES account are required. Standard full-meeting rates are USD 800 for member scientists and USD 1,075 for non-member scientists; student rates are USD 250 and USD 360, respectively. Other professional and one-day categories are available. Seating priority goes to registered attendees.

Many epilepsies remain unexplained after exome or genome sequencing. This workshop investigates mechanisms that conventional testing may miss: somatic mosaicism, repeat expansions, epigenetic changes and microRNA regulation. It relates biological and technical detection limits to neuronal excitability, clinical heterogeneity and treatment resistance. Thematic presentations and an interactive panel address multi-omics study design, clinical phenotyping, biomarkers and therapeutic development, connecting molecular mechanisms to precision medicine and surgical decisions. Sunday 6 December, 08:30–10:00 Mountain Standard Time (America/Denver). Part of the 2026 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. In-person meeting registration and a free myAES account are required. Standard full-meeting rates are USD 800 for member scientists and USD 1,075 for non-member scientists; student rates are USD 250 and USD 360, respectively. Other professional and one-day categories are available. Seating priority goes to registered attendees.

This investigators workshop examines adeno-associated virus gene therapies for epilepsy from design and animal testing through clinical translation. Research examples concern Lafora disease, SCN1B-related Dravet syndrome and SLC6A1-related neurodevelopmental disorder. The panel considers treatment efficacy, seizure-associated adverse effects and AAV toxicity, alongside strategies for overcoming current limitations. Discussion also covers biomarkers, scalability and the evidence needed to advance candidates beyond preclinical studies. Sunday 6 December, 14:00–15:30 Mountain Standard Time (America/Denver). Part of the 2026 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. In-person meeting registration and a free myAES account are required. Standard full-meeting rates are USD 800 for member scientists and USD 1,075 for non-member scientists; student rates are USD 250 and USD 360, respectively. Other professional and one-day categories are available. Seating priority goes to registered attendees.

This workshop connects genomic discovery with prediction of epilepsy outcomes. It examines genome-based multi-omics in multigenerational cohorts, multimodal deep learning that combines clinical and genomic information to predict antiseizure medication response, and polygenic risk scores integrated with machine learning to estimate disease severity and seizure control. The presentations link these complementary approaches to the problem of clinical heterogeneity and assess their practical role in more individualized treatment. Sunday 6 December, 14:00–15:30 Mountain Standard Time (America/Denver). Part of the 2026 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. In-person meeting registration and a free myAES account are required. Standard full-meeting rates are USD 800 for member scientists and USD 1,075 for non-member scientists; student rates are USD 250 and USD 360, respectively. Other professional and one-day categories are available. Seating priority goes to registered attendees.

Learn how reduced-representation sequencing produces markers for population genetics, phylogenetics and association studies in non-model organisms. The workshop follows Stacks workflows from short-read quality assessment and preprocessing through de novo or reference-based locus assembly to informative variant selection. Lectures and guided exercises examine how study design changes the analysis, with time to interpret results and work on participants' datasets. Live online, 7–11 December, 14:00–19:00 Europe/Berlin (CET). Fee €530. Intended for researchers and technical staff with a biology background and familiarity with high-throughput genomic data; Unix concepts are introduced.

Create and interpret visualisations for expression, genomic and comparative-genomic studies in R. The workshop starts with volcano plots, dimensionality-reduction displays, genomic peaks, pathways and heatmaps. It then covers genome coverage, alignments, Manhattan plots and temporal allele-frequency changes, followed by phylogenetic trees, set intersections, circos displays, synteny, ideograms and pangenome graphs. Practical work connects each display to the biological structure of the data. Live online, 14–16 December, 13:00–18:00 Europe/Berlin (CET). Fee €420. Familiarity with R is expected; a short introductory R resource is provided.

Comparative genomics and single-cell transcriptomics are combined to investigate cell-type evolution. Guided exercises progress from orthology inference and gene-family trees to single-cell preprocessing, clustering and annotation, followed by cross-species comparisons. The course examines duplication, gene loss, study design and how evolutionary relationships among genes affect proposed correspondences between cell populations. It also addresses limitations of using expression similarity as evidence for cell-type homology. The audience is postgraduate students and researchers with basic evolutionary and genomics knowledge. Sessions run 14:00–18:00 Berlin time; the listed course fee is €480.

Study human and non-human ancient DNA from sampling and laboratory methods to computational interpretation. Lectures address degradation, contamination, extraction, library preparation and sequencing choices. Hands-on work covers preprocessing, mapping and reference bias, authentication and damage, low-coverage genotype approaches, ancestry estimation, phylogenomic analysis and admixture statistics. The programme connects these methods to evolutionary and archaeological questions while examining ethical responsibilities and limits of inference from degraded material. Live sessions: 21, 22, 25, 26 and 27 January, 16:00–20:30, Europe/Madrid (CET, UTC+01:00). Total 26 hours: 22.5 live plus 3.5 independent. English-language live online course; Fee €548 until 31 October, then €638; Ambassador rates €438.40/€510.40. VAT included. Capacity: 16. A Life Sciences degree and Linux command-line/bash experience are required. A temporary server supplies the software and datasets. Registration requires acceptance; payment follows confirmation. Recordings are provided, but live attendance is required for a certificate.

Researchers learn the assumptions and implementation principles behind machine-learning models used in cancer genomics. The five-day programme develops hidden Markov approaches for copy-number inference, mixture models for tumour subclones, hierarchical models for mutation signals and autoencoders for single-cell data. Lectures alternate with discussion, coding practice and a final project, emphasizing inference of latent biological states from noisy or incomplete measurements. Participants may discuss suitable datasets they own. Online teaching runs 14:00–19:00, Monday through Friday.

Design and analyse environmental-DNA metabarcoding studies with portable Nanopore sequencing. The workshop links field sampling, contamination controls, extraction and PCR to barcoding, library preparation and sequencing. Guided bioinformatics practicals cover basecalling, demultiplexing, filtering, clustering and taxonomic assignment before analysing biodiversity patterns in R. Participants compare alpha and beta diversity and ordination methods, while learning how laboratory choices and sequencing errors affect ecological interpretation. Live online, 2–4 February, 14:00–18:00 Europe/Berlin (CET). Fee €380. Intended for researchers, ecologists and bioinformaticians planning biodiversity assessments or developing metabarcoding workflows.

Generate and interpret genomic evidence from natural-history collections. Lectures and practicals address historical-DNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing, then mapping, damage, contamination and coverage biases. Analyses of population structure, relatedness, diversity and demographic history lead into temporal studies of adaptation, genetic erosion and genetic load. Case studies connect museum specimens with molecular ecology and conservation decisions. 2027-02-08–2027-02-12, 09:00–14:00 daily, Europe/Berlin (CET, UTC+01:00). Online course; fee €530. Basic evolutionary-genomics and population-genetics knowledge is required.

Develop a practical foundation for handling and interpreting next-generation sequencing data. This workshop-style winter school begins with Linux, cloud computing and sequence-quality assessment, then uses containers for reproducible analysis. Exercises cover short- and long-read genome assembly, assembly evaluation, annotation and visualisation, followed by phylogenetics, phylogenomics, RNA-seq processing and differential expression. Examples compare Illumina, Nanopore and PacBio data across biological systems and experimental designs. Live online, 8–12 February, 14:00–20:00 Europe/Berlin (CET). Fee €480. Designed for researchers with a biology background but little hands-on sequencing-data experience; Linux is introduced. Participants may bring datasets for discussion.