Introduction to bioinformatics is a course for biologists and clinicians that would like to learn more about the way bioinformatics is used in healthcare, biotech and pharmaceuitcal industry as well as basic research. The course covers many of the topics transformed by the emergence of big data and computational technologies. To learn more about the course, visit: https://edu.t-bio.info/course/introduction-bioinformatics/

WALK- IN –INTERVIEWS

Eligible candidates may appear in Walk-in-Interview on May 23, 2014 at 10 AM for the posts of Research Associates & Senior Research Fellows (SRF) in the following DST/DBT/ICAR funded projects.

1 NPTC Project on Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics

Research Associate (One)

Rs. 24000/- + 30% HRA for masters degree holder with more than 4 years experience

Essential: Ph D in Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology/Genetics 0r Candidates who have already submitted their Ph D thesis in above subjects

Desirable: Research experience in Genomics, Molecular biology, Microarrays analysis, Gene cloning, transgenic Techniques , and computational analysis.

Senior Research Fellow ( UGCCSIR/ DBT/ ICAR Net qualified only): (One)

Rs. 16000/- + 30% HRA and Rs. 18000+30 HRA from 3rd year onwards

Essential:

1. ICAR/ UGCCSIR/DBT Net qualified only

2. M. Sc. (with thesis) in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Biosciences/ Bioinformatics, Genetics/ Plant Pathology with experience in molecular biology.

Or M.Sc with more than 3 years research experiences

3. B.Sc. Agriculture or Biology

Desirable:
1. M. Sc. with thesis
2. Experience in molecular biology, plant tissue culture
3. Bioinformatics knowledge is important

2 DST JC Bose National Fellowship

Research Associate (Bioinformatics) : One

Rs.22000/- + 30% HRA for 1 & 2nd Yr., Rs. 23000+ 30% HRA for 3rd year and Rs. 24000+30% HRA for 4th &5th yr

Essential: M Ph D in Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology/Genetics

Desirable: Research experience in Genomics, Molecular biology, Microarrays analysis, Gene cloning, transgenic Techniques , and computational analysis.

Age limit: Max.35 years (Age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST & women and 3 years for OBC)

The posts are purely temporary in nature and are co-terminus with the project. Initially the offer will be made for one year only and may be further extendable based on performance of the candidate. The interview will be held on May 23 , 2014 at 10:00 AM at NRCPB, LBS Building, Pusa Campus, IARI, New Delhi- 110012. The candidates must bring four copies of biodata (in the prescribed proforma), original certificates, attested photocopies of each of the certificates and an attested copy of recent passport size photograph. No. TA/DA would be given for the appearance in interview. Only the candidates having essential qualification would be entertained for the interviews. Short-listing of candidates based on academic merit and experience will be done in case of large number of applicants.

Advertisement: http://www.nrcpb.org/sites/default/files/Advertisement%20for%20RA%20and%20SRF%20Position.pdf

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/schatzlab/appliedgenomics

More at http://www.babraham.ac.uk/our-research/nuclear-dynamics/

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.

Applications are invited for the post of Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in a DBT funded IYBA project entitled “Generatingaprotein-ncRNA interactome for Dorsal mediated gene regulation and dorso-ventral patterning genes in Drosophila” in the Lab. Of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, New Delhi. The project requires extensive use of molecular, genetic and genomic approaches.

POST: Junior Research Fellow (JRF)

NO. OF VACANCIE(S) - (01)

FELLOWSHIP: Rs. 16,000/- plus HRA

PROJECT DURATION: 2014-2016 (Two years)

LAST DATE FOR APPLICATION: Aug 18, 2014.

Eligibility criteria:

M.Sc./M.Tech./ in Biological Sciences/Biotechnology/Bio-Informatics. Candidates with research experience in the field of Drosophila/Yeast genetics will be preferred.

Application Procedure:

A covering letter along with your CV, copy of prior publications (if any) and proof of experience should be e-mailed to lmb_sau@aol.com. Hardcopy of the application should be brought on the day of interview along with other testimonials and marks statements for verification purpose.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

-No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.

-SAU may select candidates against the post depending upon qualification and experience of candidates and reserves the right to relax any of the qualifications in case the candidate is found otherwise well qualified by the Selection Committee

-The abovementioned post is temporary and will be initially offered for a period of one year and can be extended, on satisfactory performance.

More at http://www.sau.ac.in/recruitment/vacancy.html

More at https://software.broadinstitute.org/gatk/download/bundle

ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/snp/organisms/human_9606/VCF/GATK/.

ftp://ftp.broadinstitute.org/bundle/hg38/hg38bundle/

Address of the bookmark: https://console.cloud.google.com/storage/browser/genomics-public-data/resources/broad/hg38/v0?pli=1