The "Ifs" of NGS QC and Trimming

1. Ensures Data Integrity
   If you want to minimize errors in downstream analyses, QC and trimming remove low-quality reads and bases, ensuring high-confidence data. This step is essential for reliable variant calling, assembly, and other applications.

2. Removes Contaminants
   If adapter sequences or contaminants are present in the raw reads, trimming can eliminate them. This prevents issues like misalignment or incorrect biological interpretations, ensuring cleaner data for analysis.

3. Improves Mapping and Assembly
   If your goal is better alignment to a reference genome or improved de novo assembly, trimming low-quality bases and adapters is critical. High-quality reads map more efficiently and generate more accurate assemblies.

4. Reduces Computational Load
   If you want to save computational resources, trimming reduces the dataset size, which speeds up processing and analysis. Clean datasets mean less computational time spent on processing low-quality data.

5. Prepares for Standardized Analyses
   If your project involves multiple datasets, QC and trimming ensure uniformity across them. This standardization makes comparisons valid and reproducible, particularly in large collaborative studies.

The "Buts" of NGS QC and Trimming

1. Risk of Over-Trimming
   But excessive trimming can lead to the loss of informative sequences, reducing read depth and potentially discarding biologically relevant data. This is especially critical in studies with limited sequencing depth.

2. Bias Introduction
   But trimming algorithms might introduce biases, especially if they inadvertently remove sequences with specific biological patterns. This can skew results and compromise biological insights.

3. Loss of Context in Paired-End Reads
   But trimming one read in a pair more than the other can lead to loss of pairing information. This complicates downstream analyses that rely on paired-end data, such as structural variant detection.

4. Time and Resource Intensive
   But running QC and trimming for large datasets can be computationally expensive and time-consuming. As sequencing depth increases, preprocessing becomes a bottleneck in the analysis pipeline.

5. Variable Standards
   But the criteria for trimming (e.g., quality threshold, minimum read length) can vary between tools and datasets. This variability may affect reproducibility and comparability of results across studies.

Balancing the "Ifs" and "Buts"

To maximize the benefits of QC and trimming while mitigating the challenges, consider the following best practices:

• Use QC Tools Wisely: Start with tools like FastQC to identify quality issues in your raw data. Visualizing quality metrics helps tailor your trimming parameters.

• Choose Reliable Trimming Tools: Tools like Trimmomatic, Cutadapt, and BBduk offer adaptive and customizable trimming options. Select one that aligns with your dataset and project goals.

• Set Reasonable Parameters: Avoid over-trimming by setting quality thresholds and minimum read lengths that balance data retention and quality improvement.

• Test Downstream Effects: Validate the impact of QC and trimming on downstream analyses, such as alignment efficiency, variant calling accuracy, or assembly quality.

• Document Your Workflow: Maintain detailed records of the parameters and tools used for QC and trimming. This ensures reproducibility and enables better troubleshooting.

Conclusion

NGS quality control and trimming are essential steps to ensure reliable and accurate data for analysis. While the "ifs" highlight the clear benefits of these steps, the "buts" remind us of the potential pitfalls. By adopting best practices and carefully balancing these considerations, you can optimize your preprocessing workflow and unlock the full potential of your sequencing data.

Pay Scale: Pay Band Rs.15600-39100 with AGP of Rs.6,000/-

Essential Qualifications for Professors, Associate Professors, and Assistant Professors: As per “UGC REGULATIONS ON MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS AND OTHER ACADEMIC STAFF IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND MEASURES FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF STANDARDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION 2010“ and the 2nd Amendments to the regulation issued in June 2013.

For details: http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/regulations/revised_finalugcregulationfinal10.pdf http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/8539300_English.pdf and University rules.

Procedure to apply:

Application forms along with API form complete in all respect along with necessary documents and application fee of Rs. 500/-. (Rs. 250/- for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Person with disabilities) should be sent to:

Registrar, Central University of Punjab, City Campus, Mansa Road, Bathinda-151001

For more info visit: http://www.centralunipunjab.com/Teaching/Final%20Details-t10-2013.pdf, http://www.centralunipunjab.com/Teaching/Advertisement-t10-2013.jpg

Last Apply Date: 31 Dec 2014

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/broadinstitute/VariantBam

• Binaries for Linux/macOS
• From sources for Linux/macOS
• From sources for Windows

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/imgag/ngs-bits

More at http://ncb.qau.edu.pk/

Job Description: We are interested in finding an excellent postdoc with interests in protein functional annotation, machine learning and computer grids. The position is open for 3.5 years at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, in the heart of paris.

Research topic: Protein function annotation, multiple probabilistic models, domain architecture, machine learning, combinatorial optimization, computer grid.

Title: A novel integrative platform for large scale protein annotation that exploits a multitude of diversified probabilistic models in several protein signature databases.

We propose a novel integrated approach for large scale protein annotation that will exploit an unprecedented amount of genomic data as well as sophisticated machine learning techniques and combinatorial optimization approaches taking advantages of High Performance Computing (HPC) environments. The idea is to uncover as much as possible the evolutionary processes of protein sequences that took place throughout the whole tree of life and that affected the evolution of a protein family. We have already demonstrated in a previous work that the problem of functional annotation is inherent to the ability of uncovering such paths. Now, we shall extend this approach to large scale genome annotation by considering 11 different protein databases, constituted by about 10^9 protein sequences, and by producing a large pool of diversified probabilistic models coding for about 10^7 evolutionary protein pathways. Such models will be used to search for specific domains in genomes to be annotated. Our previous methodology needs to be fundamentally improved to deal with this large amount of biological data. In this project, we shall work on the algorithms to reduce the space of models and the search complexity, and we shall implement some important algorithmic changes towards the realization of a powerful integrated annotation tool.

Where: This project is run on the Laboratoire de Biologie Computationnelle et Quantitative UMR7238 CNRS-UPMC – Analytical Genomics team, headed by A.Carbone. It is co-advised with Pierre-Henri Wuillemin, Laboratoire d’Informatique de Paris 6 – Equipe DECISION.

Start date: September 1st, 2014
Contact Person: Alessandra Carbone
Contact: alessandra.carbone@lip6.fr

ROLLING ADVERTISEMENT NO. 01/2014(E-1)
ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE POSITIONS OF ASSISTANT PROFESSOR CANDIDATES CAN APPLY ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR.

IIT Delhi invites applications from qualified Indian Nationals, Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) for the following positions in the various Departments/Centres/Schools (in the fields
mentioned alongwith them):
Post Pay Band Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor (on Contract) Rs.15600-39100 (PB-3) (Minimum pay of Rs.30000/-)+ AGP Rs.8000/-

The following norms will be followed for fixing the basic pay + AGP for Assistant Professors appointed on
contract with Ph.D but experience of 3 years or less:-
Type Qualification & Experience on the date of joining
Assistant Professor (Contract) PB3 (Rs. 15,600-39,100).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Ph.D. with First class at the preceding degree or equivalent in the appropriate branch with very good academic record throughout. A minimum of three years industrial/research/teaching experience, excluding however, the experience gained while Pursuing Ph. D. The candidates should preferably be below
35 years of age for male and 38 years for female ( to be relaxed by 5 years in case of persons with physical disability, SC/ST and 3 years in case of OBC-NCL).

Qualified persons include:
(a) Indian Nationals,
(b) Foreign Nationals who are “Persons of Indian Origin” (PIO) or Overseas
Citizens of India (OCI), in whose case, if selected, permission will be sought from Govt. of India
before he/she can join IIT Delhi, or
(c) Other Foreign Nationals, in whose case, if selected, appointment will be on a contract basis for up to 5 (five) years subject to permission from the Govt. of India before he/she can join IIT Delhi.
(d) Institute specifically encourages applicants from SC/ST/OBC category as well as persons
with disability to apply for these positions.

AMAR NATH & SHASHI KHOSLA SCHOOL OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:
Computational Neuroscience, Medical Applications of Information Technologies, Computational & Systems Biology, Machine to Machine (M2M) Technologies, Embedded Systems & Sensors, Computer Security.
KUSUMA SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES:
In-silico Biology Applications, Systems Biology, Infection Biology, Neurodegeneration.

More at http://www.iitd.ac.in/sites/default/files/jobs/faculty/spl-areas-rolling-advt.pdf

http://www.iitd.ac.in/content/faculty-positions

Apply now Job no: 494553
Work type: Continuing full time
Vacancy type: External Vacancy, Internal Vacancy
Categories: Academic - Teaching and Research

The Faculty of Science is launching a new and innovative branch of biological science at Macquarie University – Synthetic Biology. Synthetic biology combines engineering principles with molecular biological approaches to design and construct biological devices and systems. Recent highlights in this field include the design and synthesis of a functional bacterial genome and a yeast chromosome, and generation of synthetic bacterial cells. The rational synthesis of "designer" organisms yield important insights into how organisms work and has the potential to revolutionise biotechnological applications in areas such as bioenergy and biomanufacturing.

Find more at http://jobs.mq.edu.au/cw/en/job/494553/lecturersenior-lecturer-level-bc-in-synthetic-biology-research-fellow-level-b-in-synthetic-biology-lecturersenior-lecturer-level-bc-in-bioinformatics

Applicants are invited to send their resume and a recommendation letter to Prof. Patrick Meyer (more details at www.biosys.ulg.ac.be )

This job will allow the intern to become more familiar with new biological and bioinformatics tools like next generation sequencing, RNA-Seq data analysis and comparative genomics.

To apply for this position, send the following documents (in PDF format) to Dr Pierre-Yves Dupont (email p.y.dupont@massey.ac.nz):

1. A short cover letter.
2. A curriculum vitae, with transcript details.
3. The names and contact details of two referees willing to provide a confidential letter of recommendation upon request.

Informal enquiries are welcome. Formal applications are due by Sunday 2nd December 2012.
Requirements:

This position requires a good understanding of genetic problems, a good command of at least one scripting language (Perl, Python...), a basic knowledge of MySQL or any relational database management system. Knowledge in biological programming libraries (BioPython, BioPerl, BioRuby...), Java, C++ or any compiled language is an asset but not required. Undergraduate or Master degree is required.
Contact Information:

Dr. Pierre-Yves Dupont
Institute of Molecular BioSciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North 4442
NEW ZEALAND

http://massey.genomicus.com/
p.y.dupont@massey.ac.nz

Information about the Institute of Molecular BioSciences (http://imbs.massey.ac.nz/) and the Computational Biology Research Group (http://massey.genomicus.com/) is available online. For more information about the position, you can contact Dr Pierre-Yves Dupont (email p.y.dupont@massey.ac.nz).