Introduction to NGS platforms and bioinformatics analysis (DSCRP) [webinar]

This is a DSCRP course and places are highly limited. If you are unable to attend, please de-register (or email graduateschool@uq.edu.au if you are unable to do so). An unexplained absence could result in all your future DACRP registrations becoming Waitlisted.

This hands-on workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies and the fundamental concepts of bioinformatics analysis. Participants will explore the principles behind various NGS platforms, the types of data they generate, and common applications in genomics research. The session will also cover essential bioinformatics workflows, including quality control, read alignment, variant calling, and functional annotation. Designed for beginners, this workshop aims to provide a strong foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of NGS data analysis, empowering attendees to confidently begin their journey in the rapidly evolving field of genomics.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is specifically designed for students and researchers in the life sciences who are new to the Galaxy platform and have never used it for their bioinformatics analyses. It is ideal for those working in genomics, molecular biology, microbiology, or related fields who want to gain hands-on experience with a user-friendly, code-free environment for analysing NGS data. No prior experience with Galaxy or programming is required. The workshop will provide a practical introduction to key bioinformatics workflows using real sequencing data, making it an excellent starting point for those looking to incorporate NGS analysis into their research for the first time.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

• Gain an understanding of various sequencing technologies and how different NGS machines work
• Become familiar with the Galaxy platform and its user-friendly interface for bioinformatics workflows
• Develop the ability to identify and choose appropriate tools within Galaxy for different types of NGS data analysis

Workshop Topics

• An introduction to NGS and Bioinformatics Analysis
• Perform quality control on sequence reads generated from various sequencing platforms to assess data integrity and ensure reliable downstream analysis.  
• Conduct sequence read alignment to map reads to a reference genome, enabling meaningful interpretation of the sequencing data.