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Introduction to Bioinformatics 2026: Participant Application

If you are interested in being a participant in our Introduction to Bioinformatics Training course in 2026, please read the information that follows and proceed to complete the application form below.

Overview

The Introduction to Bioinformatics course (IBT) provides an introduction to the field of bioinformatics, with a focus on important bioinformatic tools and resources. Over 3 months of intensive biweekly contact sessions, the course combines theoretical and practical sessions to allow participants to gain practical experience using various tools and resources. During contact sessions, classrooms meet virtually to discuss the session's content with each other and the trainer.

PLEASE NOTE: This application does not guarantee enrollment into this course. All applicants will undergo a selection process and be informed of the outcome 1 week prior to the start of the course. Lectures and practical sessions will be facilitated by the local classrooms either in person or virtually. Classrooms will connect to the trainer via the Zoom conferencing system at the end of every session. The course will use a mixed model approach this year, allowing both face-to-face and online classrooms. Since we cannot yet say which classrooms will go ahead in person, please select the classroom(s) that are nearest to you and that you would be able to attend on a biweekly basis should your classroom still go ahead in person/face-to-face. Please be aware that whether in person or online, there is limited space for participants in each classroom; each classroom PI will determine the final list of participants for her/his IBT classroom.

For information on previous iterations of the course, please click here to access the main IBT site.

Application deadline extended to: 29 May 2026, at 23h55 CAT

Please also be aware that by completing this form, you consent to your information being shared with the core organisational team for ongoing tracking, evaluation and reporting purposes. Beyond the selection process, your information will be de-identified whenever used in any reporting. Furthermore, your information will not be shared with any 3rd parties beyond the organisation of this workshop without your explicit permission. You may also, at any time, request that your information be removed from all of our databases. To remove your information, please contact: info@bioinformaticsinstitute.africa. The Human Research Ethics Committee that has approved the database can be contacted at hrec-enquiries@uct.ac.za.

Please select the classroom to which you are applying:

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Institution where you are based:

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Highest qualification

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Current role:

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Current field:

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Molecular Biology

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Please specify if "other" is selected above.

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Have you taken part in any introductory course or training in Bioinformatics

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Have you participated in any previous iterations of the IBT (e.g., IBT_2016-IBT_2025)?

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Please select the iteration you participated in:

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Please indicate how much experience you have with bioinformatics:

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Please rate your level of molecular knowledge or experience:

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What specific bioinformatics or research question/s would you like this course to help you answer? Write down more than one research question if applicable:

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Have you taken an online or distance learning course before?

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How comfortable/experienced are you with online/asynchronous learning?

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Do you have access to a personal computer/laptop that you can use for the duration of the course?

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Are you able to install additional programs onto this machine?

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Do you have access to a reliable, fairly stable, internet connection?

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Please visit the website: https://www.speedtest.net/run and enter your download and upload speed results (Mbps):

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The course will run from 07 July to 29 September 2026 with biweekly contact sessions of 4 hours each (Tuesdays and Thursdays each week). Can you commit to being available at these times for the full 3 months?

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In order to pass the course and obtain the course 'letter of completion', participants are required to:

1) Attend all contact sessions for all modules either virtually or in person. Lecture recordings will be available on the course website should it be logistically impossible for a participant to attend a session (these cases will be noted and monitored).
2) Submit 90% of practical assignments overall by the relevant hand-in date. Teaching assistants and trainers will also be contactable via a forums tab on the course management site, Vula, for additional support or if it is logistically impossible for a participant to attend a practical session (these cases will be noted and monitored).
3) Submit assessments by the relevant hand-in date and obtain a minimum grade of 60% overall for the assess

Do you agree to the above?

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Should your classroom run virtually (online), will you be able to keep up with the course content without much additional support?

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How did you hear about the course?

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