Yet, for many students, biologists, and even computer scientists, the question is: “Where do I begin?” With so many platforms, books, and tutorials available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

To make it easier, I’ve compiled 10 excellent resources — ranging from beginner-friendly introductions to advanced computational genomics courses. Many of these are freely available, created by pioneers in the field, and widely used in classrooms and research labs worldwide.

Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to strengthen your foundations, these courses will help you build the skills needed to analyze biological data, design workflows, and think computationally about complex biological systems.

1. HarvardX Data Analysis for Genomics by Rafael Irizarry

From the almighty Rafa, this set of online courses (via edX/HarvardX) is a classic starting point for genomic data science and bioinformatics.

2. Applied Computational Genomics – Aaron Quinlan

Aaron Quinlan (creator of bedtools and many other tools) has made his course materials open. A practical, tool-driven genomics introduction.

3. Bioinformatics Algorithms (Coursera + Companion Book)

Find the highly visual video classes on Coursera, backed by the popular Bioinformatics Algorithms book.

4. The Biostar Handbook

Not a course per se, but a hands-on manual by Istvan (founder of Biostars.org) that’s even used in classes at Penn State.

5. Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (by Shirley Liu)

A comprehensive introduction from Shirley Liu’s lab (Harvard DFCI). Covers both theory and computational practice.

6. Data Carpentry: Genomics Workshops

Community-driven training workshops that focus on practical, reproducible research. I was honored to serve as curriculum committee chair here.

7. Computational Genomics: Applied Comparative Genomics

From the Schatz Lab — applied comparative genomics with real-world data.

8. Introduction to Computational Biology (Mike Love, creator of DESeq2)

This course bridges statistics, biology, and computation — a solid primer for anyone entering computational biology.

9. MIT Computational Biology (6.047 / 6.878 / HST.507) by Manolis Kellis

Covers genomes, networks, evolution, and health. A deep-dive from MIT’s OpenCourseWare archive.

10. An Introduction to Applied Bioinformatics

An interactive textbook with Python code, designed for practical applied bioinformatics learning.

Project title: Functional Inference from Domain Architecture and Orthology

Requirements

To be accepted as a PhD student, credits corresponding to four years of full-time studies at the undergraduate level are required, including credits corresponding to at least two years of fulltime studies in chemistry, life sciences or physics, depending on the program. The credits should include courses at the advanced level (second cycle) corresponding to one year and of these one semester should be a degree thesis. In order to facilitate the evaluation of merits and suitability for the PhD studies the curriculum vitae (CV) should contain information about the extent and focus of the academic studies. The quantity (as part of an academic year) and the quality mark of courses in chemistry and physics are of particular interest. The title, number of credits and the length in full-time months of undergraduate thesis and project work, should be specified.

Information

More information about the project can be provided by the project leader. General information about the PhD training program may be requested from the director of graduate studies, Stefan Nordlund, stefan@dbb.su.se or from Lena Mäler, Head of Department (prefekt), lenam@dbb.su.se

Further information on the web:

The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics: www.dbb.su.se

Stockholm University: www.su.se/english

Faculty of Science: www.science.su.se/english

The handbook for postgraduate students: www.doktorandhandboken.nu/english

Application The application should contain a personal letter (a letter of intent explaining why you are interested in the specific project, why you are interested in studying for a PhD, what you hope to accomplish during your PhD studies, and what skills you can bring to this project), a curriculum vitae, a list of two persons who may act as referees (with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses), copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records, and a copy of your undergraduate thesis and articles, if any.

In order to apply for this position, please use the Stockholm University web-based application form (where it is possible to select language):

To the application form for this position.

Welcome with your application no later than September 10, 2013.

Project leader: Erik Sonnhammer, Erik.Sonnhammer@sbc.su.se,
www.sonnhammer.sbc.su.se

Advertisement: http://www.su.se/english/about/vacancies/phd-studies/phd-position-in-biochemistry-towards-bioinformatics-1.143446

Population genetics: A concise guide. John Gillespie.The Johns Hopkins University Press (1997)•

Population genetics. J. S. Gale. Wiley (1980)•

Evolutionary genetics. John Maynard-Smith. Oxford University Press (1998)•

The growth of biological thought. Ernst Mayr. Harvard University Press (1985)•

Guns, germs and steel. Jared Diamond. W. W. Norton (2007)•

Evolutionary theory: Mathematical and conceptual foundations. Sean Rice. Oxford University Press (2004)

Advt. No. 3 (8)/BP/13

A walk-in-interview will be held in the Biotech Park Office at Sector G, Jankipuram, Kursi Road, Lucknow (U.P.) August 27, 2013 at 11.00 a.m. for the following posts of DBT sponsored project tenable at Biotech Park. Interested candidates fulfilling the requisite qualifications, experience and age as given below, may appear on the date of interview, before the Selection Committee. The candidate will have to join immediately.

INTERVIEW ON August 27, 2013 at 11.00 A.M.

2. SENIOR PROGRAMMER (ONE POST)

a) Educational Qualification M.Sc. Bioinformatics with minimum 60% marks with two years of relevant experience or B.Tech. Bioinformatics or Biotechnology with minimum 60% marks with two years experience in Bioinformatics.

b) Job Requirement Development of databases in multi user environment and application softwares, maintenance of website, Drug designing and QSAR study etc.

c) Desirable Knowledge of Bioinformatics tools, Windows, Linux, C++, JAVA / JAVA Script, Visual Basic, CGI, DBMS/RDBMS and HTML. Experience in various domains of bioinformatics such as structure based drug designing, Newtonian dynamics and OSAR studies.

d) Age Below 35 years (as on the date of interview)

e) Emoluments Rs. 12,000/- per month fixed.

Appointment will be made initially for one year extendable on satisfactory performance till the duration of the project.

3. SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW: (ONE POST)

a) Educational Qualification M.Sc. in Biotechnology/Botany with minimum 60% marks and knowledge of handling database & database searching.

b) Essential Qualification Expertise in windows, Microsoft excel.

c) Desirable Good knowledge of statistical software packages like SPSS.

d) Age Below 35 years ( as on the date of interview)

e) Job Requirement: Management of database & website in multi user environment, computation of biological field data and generation of reports.

f) Emoluments

18000+ HRA for Net/GATE qualified
14000+ HRA for others

The appointment will be made till the duration of project.

Note: All the candidates should report for interview on or before 10.45 A.M.

General Conditions

The aforesaid positions are purely temporary and do not give the incumbent any right whatsoever for appointment on regular basis.
More Advertisement: http://www.biotechpark.org.in/html/jobs%20in%20Biotech%20Park/Job_2013_04.htm

Few places in Europe where good (and @some places no tution fees) master bioinformatics courses and recommended are:

KU Leuven, Belgium

http://onderwijsaanbod.kuleuven.be/opleidingen/e/CQ_50269018.htm

ETH, Zurich

http://www.cbb.ethz.ch/

University of Copenhagen, Denmark

http://studies.ku.dk/masters/bioinformatics/

University of Helsinki, Finland

http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/mbi/

Stockholm University, Sweden

http://www.sbc.su.se/masters/

Universities in Netherlands

http://www.nbic.nl/education/msc-programmes/

TUM , Munich Germany

http://www.mastersportal.eu/studies/865/bioinformatics.html

University of Bergen, Norway

http://www.uib.no/en/studieprogram/MAMN-INF/BI/plan

Goethe-University in Frankfurt am Main

http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/58444439/mabi

Other links:

http://www.masterstudies.com/Masters-Degree/Bioinformatics/Europe/

https://studyinsweden.se/programmes/?query=bioinformatics&period=ht-2016&level=ma&subject=natural-science&university=#search

Address of the bookmark: http://gtpb.igc.gulbenkian.pt/bicourses/index.html

Computational and systems biology: studying the interplay between network topology and biological function, disease, and evolution in molecular (e.g., protein-protein interaction) networks.

Computational chemistry: protein folding; computational drug discovery and design.

Synthetic biology.

More at http://www.cse.nd.edu/~tmilenko/index.html

Date : June 10-13

Organizers: The Society for Bioinformatics in Northern European countries (SocBiN) and the Norwegian Bioinformatics Platform / ELIXIR.NO

Venue: Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway

Topics:
Tools and technologies for integrative bioinformatics
Metagenomics
Comparative genomics and phylogeny
Post-ENCODE bioinformatics
Gene regulation
Cancer genomes
Marine genomics