Bioinformatics Research Program

Summer 2025

Below is a summary of the Bioinformatics Research Program:

• 7 weeks in length, starts June 16th and ends August 1st
• Skills learned include R coding, high performance computing via the command line, and RNA sequencing data interpretation and visualization as a project-based program
• After being selected to the program, students will receive a welcome email with information, including some pre-course work and administrative paperwork, by the end of May
• The pre-course work develops basic programming skills, and these short online courses should be completed prior to the start date of June 16th
• Participants are expected to be available for lectures, small group sessions, and seminars (all virtual)
• The research program is separated into two projects:
  • Project 1 is the same for all students and each will be provided RNA sequencing data to learn skills
    • Schedule includes daily lectures, daily mentoring, weekly seminars, & Project 1 presentations
  • Project 2 is an independent computational project based on data from or relevant to research in their assigned faculty mentor's lab on topics such as microbiology, virology, muscular dystrophies, & more
    • Schedule includes Project 2 plan presentations, twice weekly mentoring, weekly seminars, & Project 2 final presentations
• Participants are invited to present their final project in-person as a research poster at the annual RNA Institute RNA Day on August 1
• Participants unable to present their final project in-person on RNA Day will present virtually on July 31
• Official Certificate of Completion and Introduction to Bioinformatics Skills digital badge will be awarded based on the successful completion of the program
• All US-citizens, or those on an F1 or J1 Visa, must apply through the RNA Institute by March 31, 2025
• All international applicants must apply through the STEM for Development program (application deadline differs)

• No prior experience needed!
• Undergraduate or higher academic level only
• Must have GPA above 3.0
• Time commitment of 15-20 hours per week for four weeks
  • Includes daily lectures, daily small group sessions, weekly seminars, & independent work
• Access to consistent high speed internet

Note: This is an example provided to give potential applicants an appreciation of the possible program schedule. The actual schedule will be posted here closer to the program start date and also directly provided to accepted trainees. All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time or EST.

Groups, group leaders, and trainees will be assigned and posted here closer to the program start date.