UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State has opened registration for its fifth annual Microbiome Kickstart Workshop. This free, comprehensive, workshop is a cornerstone training event for emerging researchers to launch their microbiome studies and network at Penn State. It is set to take place on Aug. 9 and 12-15 in the Animal, Veterinary, and Biomedical Sciences Building on the University Park campus.
The Microbiome Kickstart Workshop provides an introduction to microbiome research, experimental design and data analysis, featuring extensive experimental design background and hands-on computational training. Welcoming to all ranks of students, staff and faculty, the workshop equips participants with the awareness and skills to design a microbiome-focused experiment and perform basic microbiome data processing and analyses.
Key Features of the Workshop
Hands-On Computational Training
- Introduction to Unix and R
- Amplicon data analysis using QIIME2 and R
- Shotgun metagenomic analysis
Expert lectures
- Microbiome experiment design
- Sample collection and sequencing library preparation
- Identifying and managing contamination
- Essential controls in microbiome studies
- Metabolomics
- Symbiosis
Participants will benefit from the opportunity to engage with leading experts in the One Health Microbiome Center, gain practical experience, and connect with peers dedicated to advancing microbiome-related research. The workshop's curriculum addresses foundational aspects of microbiome studies, ensuring that attendees leave with the knowledge gateways and practical tools to apply wet and dry lab techniques in their own research.
This year the workshop is co-organized by Emily Davenport, assistant professor of biology, Francisco Dini-Andreote, assistant professor of plant sciences, and Nichole Ginnan, research project manager of the center. It also will feature nine additional expert Penn State faculty members.
“We are thrilled to be offering the workshop again this year. It’s a time-effective way of getting up to speed on all the considerations of adding a microbiome component to your studies no matter what career stage you are at. It’s also a great way to become integrated into the diverse and unified microbiome community we have at the One Health Microbiome Center.” said Davenport.
Dini-Andreote added, “This workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn about the microbiome sciences, from experimental design to data analysis, and provides complete training on the general concepts, fundamentals, and state-of-the-art techniques used to explore the complexity of microbiomes across systems."
Registration Information
Interested participants must register by Aug. 5 to secure their spot. Registration details and additional information can be found on the One Health Microbiome Center's website.
About the One Health Microbiome Center
The One Health Microbiome Center is dedicated to optimizing, advancing, and disseminating an integrative understanding of microbial communities and their impact on health and disease across humans, agriculture and the environment. Through cutting-edge research, education and collaboration, the center fosters a holistic approach to microbiome science, addressing global challenges and improving health outcomes. As a growing and highly active organization, the center is keen to continue to expand its program portfolio and develop new partnerships with academia, industry, private foundations and donors. Contact the center at microbiomecenter@psu.edu.