This knowledge exchange workshop is an opportunity for managers of bioinformatics core facilities to learn from each other and EMBL-EBI’s service teams. These facilities play an essential role in enabling research in the life sciences. The landscape is constantly evolving as new research tools emerge, as experiments become increasingly data-intensive, and as their users – experimental researchers – become more exposed to the power of data-driven biology.
This course will allow participants to share experiences, discuss challenges and solutions that they face, and plan ways to cope with the ever-changing demands raised by the molecular life science field. There will be sessions to learn from bioinformatics service providers, hear how others have tackled common problems, and work together to design core services, resource them, and measure their impact.
A limited number of travel bursaries are available. Please see the ‘Additional information’ tab for conditions.

Who is this course for?

This workshop is aimed at both new and experienced managers of bioinformatics core facilities, or other facilities that support their users to analyse and interpret large biomolecular data sets. This course will not provide a platform for teaching hands-on bioinformatics analysis.

What will I learn?

Learning outcomes

• Identify the strengths and limitations of your core facility
• Compare different frameworks and strategies for training your core facility users
• Appreciate different cost models, their pros and cons, and how to apply them in the context of your core facility
• Identify existing strategies and approaches to demonstrate the performance and impact of a core facility, the principles that impact pathway logic and impact framework design, and gain appreciation for the range of evidence of performance and impact

Course content

• The role of core bioinformatics facilities
• How to resource your service
• How to support and strengthen your team
• Different approaches to user training
• Introduction to project management
• Impact pathway logic in two stages: framework design and evidence of the various steps of the framework

Trainers

Please read our support page before starting your application. To be considered for a place on this course, you must do the following:

• Complete the online application form.
• Ensure you add relevant information to the ‘submission details’ section where you are asked to provide information on your:
  • pre-requisite skills and knowledge
  • current work and course expectations
  • data availability
• Upload one letter of support from your supervisor or a senior colleague detailing reasons why you should be selected for the course.

Please submit all documents during the application process by 23:59 on 17 August 2025. Items marked * in the application are mandatory. Incomplete applications will not be processed. 

All applicants will be informed of the status of their application (successful, waiting list, unsuccessful) by 1 September 2025. If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Barbara Etzi.

Flash talks

All participants will be asked to give a short presentation about their research work as part of the course. These provide an opportunity to share their research with the other participants and provide a forum for discussion. Successful applicants will be required to submit their talks upon registration.

Posters

All participants are expected to present a poster, and successful applicants will be asked to submit their poster upon registration. We expect the posters to act as a talking point between you, the other participants, and the trainers on the course. They should give the reader an idea of the work you are engaged in, what you are planning to do next, and anything of interest that might be useful for sharing with the gathered participants.

Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs)

Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are needed for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have a UK immigration status. 

An ETA is a digital permission to travel – it is not a visa and does not permit entry into the UK – it authorises an individual to travel to the UK. 

Applying for an ETA is quick and simple. Full details and information on how to apply can be found at the UK Gov website. 

Registration fees 

The registration fee includes:

• Catering as detailed on the course programme
• Accommodation for two nights (8 and 9 December) 
• Bespoke course handbook with links to all course materials
• Use of a computer in the EMBL-EBI training suite throughout the course
• Shuttle bus on the final course day to Cambridge train station 

Financial assistance

Financial assistance is available to a limited number of participants attending this course.

Registration fee waivers

A limited number of registration fee waivers are offered for this course.

• Application process:
  • Apply for the fee waiver alongside your course application.
  • Provide a brief explanation of why you require the waiver and how attending the course will benefit your career.
• Notification:
  • You will be informed of your waiver status at the same time as the outcome of your course application.
  • If awarded, the registration fee will be waived entirely.

Travel grants

A limited number of travel grants of up to £1,000.00 are available to support participants' travel expenses.

• Covered expenses:
  • Airfare, train, bus, taxi, and visa costs.
• Application process:
  • Apply for the travel grant when submitting your course application.
  • You will be informed of the grant decision, including the amount awarded, along with your course application outcome.
• Reimbursement process:
  • Participants must pay upfront for their travel costs.
  • A reimbursement form will be provided upon course completion.
  • Submit the completed form with receipts within one month of travel completion.
• Grant adjustment:
  • The organisers may adjust the grant amount to accommodate more participants.

Terms and conditions

• Selection process: Recipients of financial assistance will be selected by the scientific organisers during the course application review.
• Selection criteria:
  • Selection is based on scientific merit, your current work or study location, the need for financial support, and the career impact of attending the course.
  • Priority will be given to applicants from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
• Fair consideration: Applying for financial assistance will not impact the outcome of your course application.

Registration fee waivers

A limited number of registration fee waivers are offered for this course.

• Application process:
  • Apply for the fee waiver alongside your course application.
  • Provide a brief explanation of why you require the waiver and how attending the course will benefit your career.
• Notification:
  • You will be informed of your waiver status at the same time as the outcome of your course application.
  • If awarded, the registration fee will be waived entirely.

Course materials

The materials for the previous course are available for you to browse. These provide a snapshot of the content that will be covered in the 2025 course.