The Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa at International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, in partnership with its UK-based partners the John Innes Centre (JIC), the Earlham Institute (EI) and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), launches an intensive training programme in genomics and bioinformatics, called Third-generation genomics and bioinformatics for agribiosciences in Africa. The training will largely focus on Nanopore sequencing platforms, but a general background on other sequencing platforms will be provided. The training is designed in three phases, namely: Develop Phase, Demonstrate Phase, and Deploy Phase. The first two phases being residential in ILRI (Nairobi, Kenya), and a third phase being conducted remotely at the participants’ home institutions.
Benefits
The training will be funded by the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Department for International Development (DfID, now FCDO), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies. It also includes return flight tickets from the country of residence, accommodation costs in Nairobi, and a monthly allowance covering subsistence costs. Moreover, costs outside the residential training period (i.e. Deploy phase) will not be covered by the training program. It is expected that the trainees’ home institutions will demonstrate their involvement in the training program by making a formal commitment to support the returning trainee in establishing a minimal third-generation sequencing platform based on the Oxford Nanopore MinION system (or any other third-generation sequencing technology) throughout the Deploy phase.
Eligibility
- Citizens of African Countries affiliated with a research institution in Africa.
- Have an MSc in biological sciences, genetics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, biotechnology, agricultural sciences, or other related fields.
- Possession of a minimal biology lab, with basic equipment for DNA extraction and quality checking, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis at the applicant’s home institution
- Applicants must have a well-thought project in mind
Application Deadline – 31 October 2020
