Events

Karolinska Institutet ‒ RIKEN Joint International Doctoral Course 2026 Bioinformatics Analysis and Visualisation of Medical Genomics Data

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    Karolinska Institutet (KI), which focuses on state-of-the-art high-throughput molecular technologies and bioinformatics. RIKEN and KI have a long-standing collaborative relationship since 2001 and together achieved remarkable research outcomes, e.g. FANTOM (Functional Annotation Of Mammalian Genome) 5 Project. Promoting the scientific exchange of young talents between Japan and Sweden is one the major goals of the RIKEN and SciLifeLab/KI collaborative effort.


[Purpose]
  • To enhance both basic understandings and practical skills in bioinformatics analysis, such as transcriptomics, epigenomics, genetics, and single-cell genomics, among others.
  • To offer students a platform for interaction and learning from researchers at top-tier research institutions.
  • To facilitate both scientific and cultural exchange between students from Japan and Sweden.

[Contents]

  • Comprehensive bioinformatics data analysis techniques, derived from handpicked published projects, spanning areas such as transcriptomics, genetics, epigenomics, and single-cell genomics studies among others.
  • Fundamentals of sequencing-based genomics technologies along with corresponding bioinformatics data interpretation strategies.
  • Understanding the principles of gene regulation in non-pathological conditions and their aberrations in diseases, both at individual locus and genome-wide levels.

[Format]

  • The course will be held in an international environment with English as course language.
  • The course consists of preparatory work, lectures, discussion, seminars and hands-on bioinformatics analysis. Preparation work is done in the week 1 without the need to be present on-site. Week 2 consists of lectures, seminars, discussion sessions and hands-on practicals.
  • For hands-on practicals, students will be divided into groups based on several handpicked published projects led by different teachers.
  • Individual presentations of their analysis results as examination at the end of the course.
  • Before the beginning of the Course, students are encouraged to attend the RIKEN-KI-SciLifeLab Symposium: Living systems across scales on Nov 4th (not mandatory).

[Eligibility and Application procedure]

  • Master candidates, PhD candidates and Early career postdocs in medical, biological, or biology-related areas, currently studying in graduate schools either in Sweden or Japan (Priority will be given to PhD candidates)
  • Up to 15 applicants will be selected, interview might be required
  • The participant should have basic knowledge and skills in general bioinformatics (e.g. basic R / Python / Shell / Perl programming)
  • Applicants should obtain permission from their supervisors to participate in the course.
  • A recommendation letter from the supervisor of the applicants has to be sent to ki_riken_course.gsc[a]riken.jp (replace [a] with @)
  • Applicants must fill in the application form
  • Applicants are screened and accepted based on suitability and motivation.
  • Participants who successfully pass the course examination will receive a certificate of participation

[Registration] 
Please register here.

[Deadline] 
June 19th, 2026

[Cost] 
Free, with self-paid traveling costs (subsidies available for RIKEN employees)

[Accomodation]
Applicants should book their accommodations by themselves if needed.

[Course Directors]
Carsten Daub (Karolinska Institutet/SciLifeLab)
Chung-Chau Hon (RIKEN IMS)

[Schedule]
Oct 28 to Nov 3: Work on task assignments from home (no need to be present on-site in Sweden)

Nov 6 (Fri): Course day 1
Nov 7 (Sat): Weekend day-off/Study Time
Nov 8 (Sun): Weekend day-off/Study Time
Nov 9 (Mon): Course day 2
Nov 10 (Tue): Course day 3
Nov 11 (Wed): Course day 4
Nov 12 (Thu): Course day 5 (with examination)

[Teachers: full list to be announced] 
Dr. Chung Chau Hon, RIKEN IMS (Japan)

[Contact]
Karolinska Institutet ‒ RIKEN Joint International Doctoral Course 2026 Secretariat
RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN Yokohama Institute
1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045 JAPAN
General inquiries: ki_riken_course.gsc[a]riken.jp (please change [a] to @)

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