Bologna Summer School of Genome Regulation

The Summer School of Genome Regulation is an intensive workshop for junior biomedical scientists interested in hands-on training on the bioinformatics analysis of a broad array of genomic datasets (i.e. ChIP-seq, CUT&TAG, ATAC-seq, single cell and bulk RNA sequencing, Hi-C). Students will also learn about the molecular foundations of coding and noncoding transcription, epigenetics, and nuclear organization through daily seminars and classes.
Bioinformatics plays a crucial role in deep tech by bridging biology and computational science. It enables the analysis of complex biological data, which is essential for advancements in AI-driven drug discovery, precision medicine, synthetic biology, and agricultural biotechnology. Deep tech companies rely on bioinformatics for genetic engineering, personalized treatments, and optimizing biological systems. While some may view bioinformatics as a specialized field, its data-driven approach makes it highly relevant across multiple deep tech sectors. As deep tech continues to evolve, expertise in bioinformatics will remain essential for groundbreaking scientific innovations.
The school is open to graduate students (currently enrolled in a PhD program in the biological and biomedical sciences), postdoctoral fellows, and senior scientists. A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement, master-level education is preferred.
Prospective students must have background knowledge of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and basic principles of biostatistics. The course is designed for trainees with basic computer skills. While prior knowledge of computational biology is not required, some familiarity with the Linux shell and the R environment is appreciated. The applications will be evaluated by the scientific committee.
The summer school activities will begin on Monday, July 14 at 9am and run through Friday July 18, at 6pm.
School days will be structured with teoretical classes and seminar by invited speakers in the morning and bioinformatics lab in the afternoon.
The scientific topics of the morning activities will be: epigenome regulation; transcription & RNA processing; the 3D genome; and single Cell Omics. The practical bioinformatics coourses will cover: mapping, annotation and statistical analysis of histone marks, DNA methylation and transcription factors ( CUT&TAG, CUT&RUN, ChIP-seq); analysis of bulk RNA-seq datasets: from differential gene expression to correlation with the epigenome states: pathway analysis and GSEA; mapping and annotation of Hi-C datasets; analysis of enhancer-promoter loops in mammalian cells; principles of scRNAseq: clustering and pseudotime analysis.
The course is on site at Opificio Golinelli in Bologna. The registration fee is 700 euros and it includes: attendance of the 5-day program including courses, seminars, and dry lab. All lunches, coffee breaks, and the farewell reception are also included. Students must arrange their own travel and accomodation.