Workshop on Artificial Intelligence Competencies: training challenges and needs of research infrastructures and core facilities

Update: the application period is closed, but additional spaces may be available, please contact the organisers if interested.

The Biodata Developers’ (BioDev) Network, Wellcome Sanger Institute and ELIXIR / EMBL-EBI, as part of RItrainPlus project, are organising a knowledge-exchange workshop on ‘Artificial Intelligence Competencies: training challenges and needs of research infrastructures and core facilities’. The overall purpose of the workshop is to create a space to discuss the professional roles and competencies needed to support the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for research in research infrastructures (RIs), Core Facilities (CFs) and similar organisations, as well as the training gaps and current actions they are already carrying out to address the training needs.

This will be an interactive workshop where attendees will actively participate through discussions, group work or short presentations. The workshop has been shaped with the input gathered through dedicated scoping discussions with different experts. In particular, we would like to thank the following experts and their organisations for their input:

• Nina Norgren, SciLifeLab
• Fotis Psomopoulos, Center for Research and Technology Hellas
• Dan MacLean, The Sainsbury Lab (TSL)
• Edward Lukyamuzi, Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA)
• Dr Michelle Skelton, Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa)
• Helder Nakaya, Albert Einstein Hospitals Brazil
• Moises Sotelo, University of Guadalajara
• Rolanda Julius, Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa)

Who is this course for?

The workshop is aimed at technical staff of RIs, CFs and similar organisations. They should have an overview of their team’s training challenges and needs in the context of implementing AI to support research. For example, participants might include:

• Senior Data Scientist
• Data Manager
• Machine Learning Operations Architect
• Engineer or Developer of Research Software
• AI Engineer
• Training Manager with computational and technical knowledge of the field

Participants will require basic knowledge of the state of use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for research.

Learning outcomes

After the course participants will be able to:

• Discover how different organisations are structured to support the use of AI for research in their communities
• Discuss the main roles or competencies that a RI/CF should have covered to support the use of AI for research
• Describe the main training needs and challenges of the teams who support the use of AI for research
• Discuss other challenges of RIs and CFs for the use of AI for research, beyond training challenges

Trainers

Update: the application period is closed, but additional spaces may be available, please contact the organisers if interested.

The training will take place face-to-face and will have capacity for maximum 20 participants. 

Those interested must fill in the application form no later than by Wednesday 11 December 2024. Items marked * in the application are mandatory. Incomplete applications will not be processed. 

Applicants will be selected on a first-come first-served basis, taking into account a balanced participation of members from different institutions, RIs and CFs. We will review applications on a rolling basis to select suitable candidates until the 20 places available are filled. A waiting list will be established if needed. Applicants may be contacted about their acceptance at the workshop before the closing date. All applicants will be contacted latest on Monday 16th December 2024.

Registration is free. Travel and accommodation are not included. More information on suitable accommodation will be shared with the selected participants.

If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Juanita Riveros.

Catering

The course includes catering as detailed on the programme tab. Successful applicants will be asked for any dietary requirements and allergies upon registration. 

Visas

Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are being introduced worldwide 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.

Eligible non-Europeans can now apply for an ETA and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025.

Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.

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.

Gulf Cooperation Council visitors already need an ETA to travel to the UK.

Applying for an ETA is quick and simple. Visitors should apply in advance and find out when to do so on GOV.UK

Financial assistance

Limited financial assistance may be provided by RItrainPlus in the form of travel bursaries.

• The following applicants will be prioritised:
  • Applicants from a LMIC or EU13 country 
  • Applicants from an early-stage Research Infrastructure or Core Facility who are lacking financial support.
• You may apply for a travel bursary when submitting your application, and you will be asked to provide a letter of support from your supervisor or institution explaining the reason for financial support requested.

If a travel bursary is awarded, it will be reimbursed via one of the two below mechanisms:

• If the beneficiaries’ organisation is part of the RItrainPlus consortium: the applicant must contact the workshop organisers at euprojects@ebi.ac.uk during the application stage.
• If the beneficiaries’ organisation is not part of the RItrainPlus consortium: after the event, the beneficiary will submit a reimbursement claim form to the workshop organisers. Receipts will need to be provided.

 RItrainPlus project has received funding from European Union's H2020 programme under grant agreement no.101008503.