ForBio (Research School in Biosystematics) and the Arctic University Museum of Norway jointly offer an International course in DNA Metabarcoding. The course will link its teaching program to the current research projects run by invited lecturers 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 discuss field sampling and wet lab design, as well as more subject-specific questions of various applications of DNA metabarcoding. These will include sedimentary DNA, diet analyses, paleoDNA studies among others.
(i)Lecturers:
Eric Coissac, LECA, Grenoble eric.coissac@metabarcoding.org
Inger G. Alsos, The Arctic University Museum Museum, UiT inger.g.alsos@uit.no Sandra
Pierre Taberlet, LECA, Grenoble pierre.taberlet@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
Yuri Lammers, The Arctic University Museum, UiT youri.lammers@uit.no
Additional lectures to be confirmed.
(ii) Course organization and teaching assistance:
Luke Elliott, The Arctic University Museum, UiT lucas.elliott@uit.no
The course programme is available here. The course will require personal attendance due to the large component of the practical work with the data analyses, but some of the lectures will be given via zoom.
Financial aid: Participation of the Norwegian-affiliated students/researchers will be covered by ForBio. Other applicants will need to secure their own funding to cover travel to Tromsø. We shall provide transport from Tromsø (The Arctic University Museum) to Skibotn station to all participants. Accommodation and subsistence at the Skibotn field station for the course duration will be covered by ForBio also for all the participants. There are no course fees.
Registration and selection process: Please fill in the online application here. ForBio reserves the right to give priority to the PhD students having their research focus on DNA metabacoding applications.
The course is equivalent of 3 ECTS points and will include written report exam graded as "pass/fail". ForBio will provide certificates for those successfully completed the course assignment.
Find out about how to become a ForBio member here.
A maximum number of participants: 30.
The application deadline is December 28, 2022.
Results announced by January 5, 2023, via email.
Contact Galina Gusarova (galina.gusarova@uit.no) for more information.