Luca Alessadri
University of Turin
Italy
EMBL Course
This course will teach biological researchers how to analyse biological data sets using open-source software. Most of the analysis will be performed with docker4seq and rCASC packages, which were developed to facilitate the use of computing demanding applications in the field of NGS data analysis. Docker4seq and rCASC packages use docker containers that embed demanding computing tasks (e.g. short reads mapping) into isolated containers.
This approach provides multiple advantages: the user does not need to install all the software on its local server, the results generated by different containers can be organised in pipelines, and reproducible research is guarantee by the possibility of sharing the docker images used for the analysis.
Computers for hands-on exercises will be provided along with demo data sets.
This course was developed for biological researchers as the intended audience. Basic knowledge of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) is desirable, however R-coding skills and deep knowledge of statistics are not necessary.
“This course has been an incredibly enriching and valuable experience for me, providing comprehensive knowledge, practical methodologies, and invaluable networking opportunities. The instructors’ expertise and the hands-on approach made the learning process engaging and enjoyable. The interactive sessions allowed us to apply what we learned to real-world scenarios. Also, meeting fellow participants from diverse backgrounds and sharing ideas was inspiring. The networking opportunity created a collaborative and supportive environment, fostering future collaborations. I am grateful to the EMBL team for organizing this exceptional course. The high-quality organization, knowledgeable instructors, and dedicated staff made it an outstanding learning environment. Thank you for providing this excellent learning opportunity.” – Oana Baldasici, The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta” Cluj — Napoca, Romania
“This course has orientated me in the world of bioinformatics, and has given me the tools to find a path through my data analysis. It has also given me a group of friends to call when I have problems along the way. I wish I could do it again!” — Alysha Burrows, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Please see EMBL’s COVID-19 safety recommendations for testing and other requirements to attend this on-site course.
University of Turin
Italy
University of Turin
Italy
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
University of Turin
Italy
University of Turin
Italy
University of Turin
Italy
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
University of Turin
Italy
University of Turin
Italy
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
Time (Berlin/Europe) | Speaker | Location |
14:00-14:30 | Welcome and course overview Vladimir Benes – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany Inna Bösselmann – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany | ISG Hotel meeting room Weimar/Dessau |
14:30-15:00 | Participants flash talks | ISG Hotel meeting room Weimar/Dessau |
15:00-16:00 | RNA-seq, cool but is it that simple? Vladimir Benes – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany | ISG Hotel meeting room Weimar/Dessau |
16:00-16:30 | Coffee Break | ISG Hotel meeting room Weimar/Dessau |
16:30-18:00 | RNA-seq, cool but is it that simple? Vladimir Benes – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany | ISG Hotel meeting room Weimar/Dessau |
18:00-19:00 | Dinner | ISG Hotel beer garden |
Time (Berlin/Europe) | Speaker | Location |
08:40 | Bus from ISG to EMBL | ISG Hotel entrance |
09:00-10:00 | Docker container and reproducibility Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
10:00-10:30 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
10:30-11:00 | Experimental design bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
11:00-12:00 | QC bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch | EMBL Canteen |
13:00-14:30 | Counting reads bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero & Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
14:30-15:00 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
15:00-17:30 | Counting reads miRNA Francesca Cordero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
17:30 – 18:30 | Social programme: Facility tour | |
18:30-19:30 | Dinner | EMBL Canteen |
19:45 | Bus to ISG Hotel | ATC Entrance |
Time (Berlin/Europe) | Speaker | Location |
08:40 | Bus from ISG to EMBL | ISG Hotel entrance |
09:00-10:30 | PCA a linear dimensionality reduction method Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
10:30-11:00 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
11:00-12:30 | Differential expression analysis for bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
12:30-13:30 | Lunch | EMBL Canteen |
13:30-14:30 | Differential expression analysis for multiple groups: ANOVA-like Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin | Computer Training Lab |
14:30-16:00 | Visualising differentially expressed data (Heat maps) Raffaele Calogero & Marco Beccuti– University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
16:00-16:30 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
16:30-18:00 | Mining differential expression results for bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
18:00-19:00 | Pizza dinner in the Rooftop Lounge | Rooftop lounge |
19:00 | Bus to ISG Hotel | ATC Entrance |
Time (Berlin/Europe) | Speaker | Location |
08:40 | Bus from ISG to EMBL | ISG Hotel entrance |
09:00-10:00 | Exercises on Mining differential expression results for bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
10:00-11:00 | Experimental design scRNAseq Counting reads single cells RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
11:00-11:30 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
11:30-12:30 | QC single cells RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
12:30-13:30 | Lunch and group photo | EMBL Canteen |
13:30-15:00 | Non linear dimensionality reduction for single cell RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin | Computer Training Lab |
15:00-16:00 | Sub-population discovery in single cell RNAseq: clustering Raffaele Calogero & Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
16:00-16:30 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
16:30-18:00 | Annotating cell types after sub-population discovery Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
18:00 | Bus to ISG from EMBL ATC (20 minutes at ISG hotel to drop things) | ATC Entrance |
18:30 | Bus from ISG to Neckarmünzplatz | ISG Hotel |
19:00 | Downtown dinner | Oskars |
Time (Berlin/Europe) | Speaker | Location |
08:40 | Bus from ISG to EMBL | ISG Hotel entrance |
09:00-10:00 | scRNA data integration Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
10:00-11:00 | Exercises | Computer Training Lab |
11:00-11:30 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
11:30-12:30 | Individual exercises on bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
12:30-13:30 | Lunch | EMBL Canteen |
13:30-16:00 | Individual exercises on bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
16:00-16:30 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
16:30-17:30 | Individual exercises on bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
17:30-18:30 | Individual exercises on bulk RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
18:30-19:30 | Dinner | EMBL Canteen |
19:30 | Bus to ISG Hotel | ATC Entrance |
Time (Berlin/Europe) | Speaker | Location |
08:40 | Bus from ISG to EMBL | ISG Hotel entrance |
09:00-11:00 | Individual exercises on single cell RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
11:00-11:30 | Coffee Break | ATC Foyer |
11:30-12:30 | Individual exercises on single cell RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
12:30-13:30 | Lunch | EMBL Canteen |
13:30-16:00 | Individual exercises on single cell RNAseq Raffaele Calogero – University of Turin, Italy Marco Beccuti – University of Turin, Italy | Computer Training Lab |
16:00-16:20 | Final remarks Vladimir Benes, Raffaele Calogero, Marco Beccuti | Computer Training Lab |
16:30 | Bus to Heidelberg train station | ATC Entrance |
The course is limited to 28 participants. For selection purposes, please note that your application will not be considered without a letter of motivation.
Registration fees include admission, course materials, meals and coffee breaks. Participants are expected to book and pay their own accommodation and travel expenses.
Academia | €750 |
PhD Student | €750 |
Industry | €1200 |
A letter to support your visa application will be issued, on request, once payment of the registration fee is confirmed. We recommend that you book your visa appointment as soon as possible, to avoid any delay with your visa application.
The registration fee should be paid only after acceptance to the course. The results will be announced approximately 2-3 weeks after the application deadline.
After you have logged in and successfully registered, you will receive an email asking you to submit your motivation letter. Click on the link provided and enter your motivation letter in the text box provided. Alternatively you can submit your motivation letter by clicking on the link on the confirmation page directly after registering.
Instructions
Please note:
For detailed instructions, please watch our video on how to submit a course motivation letter.
For further information about registration and motivation letter submission please refer to the FAQ page.
Limited financial assistance is provided by the EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme and EMBO in the form of registration fee waivers, travel grants and childcare grants.
Your place in the meeting is only confirmed by paying the registration fee, which is mandatory even when receiving a fee waiver.
The fee waiver will cover the registration sum that you have paid to attend the course.
The travel grant will cover the cost of travel (airfare, train, bus, taxi, accommodation, visa, and/or registration fees*) and is provided up to specified caps which are normally as follows:
– up to €400 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course within Europe.
– up to €1000 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course from outside Europe.
– up to €500 for any participant travelling to an EMBO Practical Course.
– up to €1000 for any participant working in Chile, India, Singapore or Taiwan travelling to an EMBO Practical Course.
– up to €700 for any participant working in Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, and Turkey travelling to an EMBO Practical Course.
*Registration fees are only covered for EMBO Practical Courses
The organisers may reduce the grant cap to accommodate more participants. Recipients will be notified of their travel cap amount when they are informed of the outcome of their application. Original receipts must be provided with your signature for all costs incurred within two months of completion of travel. Scanned copies cannot be accepted.
There is the possibility to apply for a childcare grant to offset child care costs incurred by participants, speakers, trainers and organisers when attending a course. Eligible costs include (but are not limited to) fees for a babysitter or child-care facility and travel costs for a caregiver. Please note that priority will be given to early-stage researchers. There is a limited amount of funding available for the childcare grants and funds will be distributed amongst eligible applicants.
Applies to selected courses only. Availability will be indicated during the motivation letter submission process.
This grant covers costs related to your attendance at the course (registration, travel and accommodation costs). The grant is restricted to PhD students and postdocs who conduct basic biomedical research.
Whether you are eligible to apply for a travel grant, depends on when you received your university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, A-Levels, High School Diploma, Final State Examination):
– for PhD and MD students, as well as graduates, the university entrance qualification must not have been obtained more than 11 years ago at the time of the envisaged course
– for postdocs, the university entrance qualification must not have been obtained more than 13 years ago at the time of the envisaged course
You may apply for financial assistance when submitting your motivation letter for courses. In your application, you will be asked to answer questions regarding why your lab cannot fund your attendance and how your attendance will make a difference to your career. Application for financial support will not affect the outcome of your registration application.
For the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Travel Grant, there is a pre-application question during the motivation letter submission process, and if selected you will be requested to complete a standard form and documentation consisting of your travel expense estimation.
The scientific organisers will select the recipients of registration fee waivers and travel grants during the motivation letter or abstract selection process. Results will be announced approximately 6 – 8 weeks before the event start date, however for some events this may be delayed. Selection results do not impact your admission to the meeting. Selection for registration fee waivers and travel grants is based on scientific merit, your current work or study location, the reasons for needing financial support, and the impact this event will have on your career.
Childcare grants will be allocated in the same timeframe (6-8 weeks before the event start date). Please note that priority will be given to early-stage researchers.
Costs will be reimbursed after the meeting only once a reimbursement form and original receipts (from travel costs) have been received.
See our list of external funding opportunities and for further information about financial assistance please refer to the FAQ page.
For travel information, please see here.
If you are travelling to the conference within Germany then you are eligible for the Deutsche Bahn ‘Event Ticket’ (called the ‘Veranstaltungsticket’ in German). This will result in a lower ticket price if your travel distance to Heidelberg is more than 100 km. You need to provide proof of your event attendance when purchasing the ticket.
For more information in English see here or in German see here.
You can book your ticket here.
Accommodation is not included in the registration fee. Participants are expected to book and pay for their own accommodation. A mix of single and twin rooms have been reserved for 6 nights from Saturday 31 May – Friday 6 June at the ISG Hotel.
Single rooms are limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. After the selection process, selected participants should contact the hotel directly to make a booking with a booking code (code of your course e.g. DAT25-01) by the deadline of Wednesday 30 April 2025. We recommend that all course participants stay in the dedicated hotel for the course.
Shuttle buses will go from the ISG Hotel to EMBL and back, mornings and evenings. A bus schedule and location of the bus stops will be made available prior to the meeting.
Address: EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
For more information about accommodation and travel, please refer to the FAQ page.
All meals and coffee breaks are included in the registration fee. Our catering staff will prepare a wide variety of vegetarian meals, meat and fish dishes, soups, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as a variety of desserts.
Please wear your badge at all times when serving yourself.
No food or drinks are allowed in the laboratories.
In most places the electricity is 220 volts AC (50 cycles). An adaptor and a plug that fits the German socket may be needed for your appliances/laptop (i.e. American, Japanese, etc.). A USB charging station for electronic devices is available at the registration desk.
If you are interested in purchasing EMBL merchandise (products presented in the glass display in the registration area), please email the EMBL shop to place an order or get in contact with your Course Organiser.
Kindly note the EMBL shop is only open upon request and all purchases must be made in cash (Euros only).
Please read EMBL’s COVID-19 safety policy for on-site events.
Do not smoke in any EMBL building.
Eating and drinking is prohibited in all laboratories.
Do not enter any restricted areas or the laboratories unless instructed to do so.
If first aid is required …
In case of fire …
Beyond first aid…
Please remember to bring your own medication, if needed, to the conference. Note that the next pharmacy is a 4-minute drive from the EMBL, but for many medications you will be required to see a doctor to get a prescription.
Ensure in advance that your medical insurance will cover you during your visit in the event that you do need to see a doctor while in Heidelberg. In any case, the EMBL Course and Conference Office will assist you to get to the pharmacy and a doctor of your choice if necessary.
Wi-Fi is available on campus. Log in using the EMBL-Events network and the event specific password, which will be provided on site. The eduroam network (secure, worldwide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community) is also available.
‘’Lost and Found’’ items are kept at the registration desk until the end of the conference.
There are lockers available on-site to store your luggage, which require a 2 EURO coin to operate. There is another luggage room on level E0, which is free to use but remains unlocked during the conference.
There is a nursing room available in the ATC Rooftop Lounge on level A29.
During the conference, an EMBL Photographer may be taking photos. If you would not like to appear in these, please inform the photographer or a member of the Course and Conference Office.
We can help to print your boarding pass/train ticket. Please send it to events@embl.de and collect your print-outs at the registration desk.
There is a room for prayer, meditation, and yoga located on level E0 behind the Auditorium. Please be respectful of others using the room.
A variety of activities in Heidelberg can be found on the website of Heidelberg Marketing.
During the event, we provide conference shuttle buses to and from EMBL. In addition, there is the public bus 39A that serves the EMBL campus and taxis can be easily booked at any time. Information on the shuttle buses can be found on the individual event website and more detailed information on travelling to EMBL can be found on our Travel Information page.
Address: EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Please find additional information including FAQs, terms and conditions, COVID-19 safety policy and travelling to EMBL on our Information for Participants page.
Below you will find the software and technical requirements for this course.
The EMBL eCampus learning platform will be used to collaborate, communicate and network with all of the course participants. All participants will receive information on how to join shortly before the course. We recommend using Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox browsers for eCampus.
Please find additional information including FAQs, terms and conditions, COVID-19 safety policy and travelling to EMBL on our Information for Participants page.
Sponsorship opportunities
We offer a variety of event sponsoring possibilities, with the flexibility to select a set sponsorship package or combine individual sponsorship options to suit your event budget. Discounts are available for companies sponsoring multiple events at EMBL Heidelberg. View other events, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information.
If you are interested in becoming a media partner of this event, please visit our media partnerships webpage.
EMBL wishes to warn sponsors of EMBL conferences and courses of fraudulent schemes purporting to offer sponsorship opportunities on behalf of EMBL or affiliated with EMBL officials. One current scam campaign of which we are aware is conducted using the name ‘Judy Eastman’ (judy@gopcontact.a2hosted.com) and entails approaches to sponsors offering sponsorship opportunities on EMBL’s behalf. Please be kindly advised that all relevant communication regarding sponsorship of EMBL conferences, symposia and courses is handled by EMBL directly and is sent from an official EMBL account. EMBL does not work with any external providers on sponsorship acquisition.
Please also note that:
Suspicious communications purportedly from, for or on behalf of EMBL should be reported to EMBL at the following email address sponsorship@embl.de.
Want to let others know you’re attending this event? Take a look at our shareable media and feel free to use them in your social media channels or presentations.
Date: 1 - 6 Jun 2025
Location: EMBL Heidelberg
Venue: EMBL Advanced Training Centre
Deadline(s):
Application: 27 Feb 2025
Organisers:
Contact: Inna Bösselmann