DNA Metabarcoding: Data processing and interpretation

Running dates: February 10.-15., 2025.

Application deadline: December 1st (admission to UiT) and December 20th (application course)

Application: see practical info

Location: Museumsalen, Arctic University Museum of Norway.

ECTS: 5

Course leader

Galina Gusarova

Researcher UiT

Practical info

This course will be on site in Tromsø.The responsible institution is UiT. To be admitted to the course you must register at UiT. UiTs local course code is Bio-8025.

Important! Application is binding! Do not apply for a course unless you are sure that you can attend.

Course participants must register at UiT.

  • UiT students apply to singular courses through studentweb before Dec.1.
  • Non- UiT students must request guest status from UiT. Instructions can be found here. Deadline December 1st.

PhD students in Norway must apply for this course in BOTH ways (others apply with step 1);

  1. Fill in the online application here.
  2. Apply to UiT course code Bio-8025. 

Course content

Research schools Photosyntech and ForBio together with the Arctic University Museum of Norway (UiT) jointly offer an international course in DNA Metabarcoding. The course will link its teaching program to the current research projects run by invited scientists working in the field to strengthen the connection between education and cutting-edge research methodologies. 

DNA metabarcoding is a rapid method of biodiversity assessment utilizing environmental DNA (DNA obtained from sediments, soils, water etc) which combines two technologies: DNA based species identification and high-throughput DNA sequencing. While working on bioinformatic analyses using Obitools and R and R-studio, we also run demonstration of field sampling, wet lab design and data processing for ONT (Nanopore) sequencing technology. Theoretical part of the course will include lectures on more subject-specific questions of various applications of DNA metabarcoding. These will include sedimentary DNA, diet analyses, paleoDNA studies among others.

Lecturers

  • Eric Coissac, LECA, Grenoble.
  • Fredéric Boyer, LECA, Grenoble.
  • Pierre Taberlet, LECA, Grenoble.
  • Inger G. Alsos, The Arctic University Museum of Norway.

More lecturers to be annonced.

The course program

is being finalized and will be available soon.

The course is composed of two parts:

  • Part 1. DNA Metabarcoding one week in Tromsø – will require personal attendance due to the large component of the practical work with the data analyses, but some of the invited lectures will be given via Zoom.
  • Part 2 (optional) DNA Barcoding and reference data bases – five lectures given on-line. It will include one lecture per week in 5 weeks during March-April 2025.

Assessment

Each part will be concluded with the exam(report).

  • Part 1 will require a written assignment on using Obitools and R for data processing.
  • Part 2 will include oral presentation given on-line for analyses of the selected taxonomic group of organisms.

The assessment grade is Pass/Fail.

The course is equivalent to 5 ECTS points:

  • Part 1 is 3 ECTs
  • Part 2 is 2 ECTs.

ForBio will provide certificates for those successfully completed the course assignment.

Financial aid

The course participants will need to secure their own funding to cover their travel and stay in Tromsø during the course dates 10-15 Feb 2025. There are no course fees.

Members of Photosyntech are rewarded activity grants for being active and can use this grant to cover their travels (only PhDs in Norway are rewarded activity grants). Activity grants are paid out after each semester to members that have been active that semester.

It is expected that all participants in the course are affiliated or become affiliated with the research schools Photosyntech and ForBio.

Apply for membership to Photosyntech (PhD students in Norway only). PhDs outside of Norway can become associate members (no contract needed), but are not rewarded with financial aid.

Find out about how to become a ForBio member or associate (PhD students in Norway and all other applicants).

Registration and selection process

  • PhD students in Norway must apply for this course in BOTH ways (others apply with step 1);
  • Fill in the online application here.
  • Apply to UiT course code Bio-8025. 

UiT students must register through StudentWeb, please note own deadline for the UiT registration.

The maximum number of participants is 30.

The application deadline is December 20, 2024.

Results announced by e-mail 28 December 2024.

We reserve the right to give priority to the PhD students having their research focus on DNA metabarcoding applications.

The course is run with financial support from the national graduate school Photosyntech.

Language

English.

For questions regarding the research schools

For Photosyntech: contact Sunniva Katharina Thode at photosyntech@uit.no 

For ForBio: contact Micah Dunthorn at micah.dunthorn@nhm.uio.no