The University of Abomey-Calavi (GBioS and URMAPha), in collaboration with Bioconductor, the University of Limerick, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), is offering a week-long hands-on training course on Bioconductor for researchers starting out in bioinformatics and computational biology. The course will cover R and RStudio basics, good coding practices, and progress to Bioconductor workflows for bulk RNA-seq analysis. The workshop will be taught in English, with bilingual instructors (English-French) available to provide support if needed.
November 17-18: Introduction to R/Bioconductor for Genomic Data Analysis
Develop foundational skills in R and Bioconductor, including data handling, visualisation, and reproducible research practices tailored for genomic data analysis.
November 19-20: RNA-seq Data Analysis and Interpretation
Dive into RNA-seq workflows, from preprocessing to differential expression analysis, and gain practical experience with real-world datasets.
November 21: Bring Your Own Data (BYO) Day
Apply your skills to your own data or explore additional datasets, with personalised guidance and collaborative support from instructors.
π Curious about what to expect?
Take a look at the recap of our March 2025 Nairobi workshop for highlights, photos, and participant feedback from a recent Bioconductor course in Africa.
The workshop will be led by a team of instructors from the Bioconductor community, including both local bioinformatics experts and experienced international instructors. This blend ensures a diversity of perspectives and expertise, fostering a strong collaborative learning environment.
β‘οΈ Apply for a place
- Cost: Free (participants cover travel and accommodation)
- Application deadline: 15 October 2025
- Application form
- Please note:
- We welcome applications from individuals who are eager to build their bioinformatics skills in RNA-seq data analysis using R and Bioconductor.
- Applications will be reviewed based on motivation, background, and potential to apply the training.
- Please apply only if you are committed to attending all sessions in person and can cover your travel and accommodation costs.
Researchers, MSc/PhD students, and analysts who work with high-throughput genomics data and want a practical introduction to R/Bioconductor.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
A laptop you can install software on. Weβll provide setup steps (R, RStudio, required packages) in advance.
All participants agree to the Bioconductor Code of Conduct.
This workshop is part of Bioconductorβs expanded global training program, supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) through an EOSS Cycle 6 grant. You can read more about this and related projects here.
Abdou Mouizz Salaou (GBioS, University of Abomey-Calavi), Aristide Carlos Houdegbe (GBioS, University of Abomey-Calavi), Prof. Enoch G. Achigan-Dako (GBioS, University of Abomey-Calavi), Prof. Victorien Dougnon (URMAPha, University of Abomey-Calavi), Trushar Shah (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), Maria Doyle (University of Limerick / Bioconductor).
URMAPha, University of Abomey-Calavi - local co-organiser with GBioS
For questions, please email maria.doyle [at] ul.ie.
Stay informed about course registration opening, news, projects, and events in Africa.