OMICSS-25

About The School

In the rapidly evolving field of bioinformatics, the need for comprehensive education and hands-on training has never been more critical. OMICSS, the annual summer school program, is back with its fourth installment, OMICSS-25, uniquely designed for total beginners. Our goal is to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills in life and data sciences, preparing you for your very first bioinformatics project.

The term “OMICSS-” derives from “OMICS School” and is rooted in the suffix “omics,” which encompasses research fields such as genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metagenomics. These disciplines strive to comprehensively capture biological information at various levels, offering insights into biological systems’ complex interactions and functions. This approach contrasts with traditional research methods that typically focus on the detailed study of individual molecules. The emergence of new sequencing technologies approximately 15 years ago has sparked a revolution in life science research. This has led to a growing demand for bioinformatics specialists with the expertise to analyze “omics” datasets.

What We Offer

Bioinformatics skills: Learn about cutting-edge sequencing technologies, next-generation sequencing data analysis, and the bioinformatics algorithms vital for big data analysis in genomics.

Expert Insight: Gain perspective from leading figures in the field, with invited speakers from institutes worldwide sharing their knowledge, research, and the vast array of career opportunities in bioinformatics.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, mentors, and leaders, opening doors to collaborations and career advancements.

Hands-On Experience: Engage in daily learning activities and practical exercises designed to solidify your knowledge and skills.

Bioinformatics Bootcamp: The school will end in a one-week journey through your first bioinformatics project, where you and your team will analyze genomics data and present the findings to your peers and school speakers.

Pathway to Internship: Successful completion of OMICSS-25 could be your gateway to an exciting internship at ABI, offering real-world experience in the field of bioinformatics.

Who Can Apply

Anyone! OMICSS-25 is designed to be accessible to both beginners and those with prior experience. Whether you're a biologist, programmer, or completely new to bioinformatics, you’re welcome to join.

‍Prerequisites:

‍The applicants to OMICSS-25 must have

Completed their high school education
Good command of English
Basic knowledge of molecular biology, statistics, and programming (you’ll have to pass entry exams on these topics to be eligible for the OMICSS-25 fee waiver)
Full-time commitment for offline participation in the main school program

‍What If You’re Missing Some Knowledge?

Not a biologist? No worries! Our Molecular Biology Bridge Course will help you build the foundation you need.
Never coded before? That’s okay! Our Python Programming Bridge Course is designed to get you started.
Need to strengthen your statistics skills? The Statistics Bridge Course will give you the basics and help you gain confidence in statistical thinking and inference.
No time for a bridge course? You can study independently using our self-study materials available in the Bioinformatics Guide and take the entry exam to be eligible for a fee waiver.
Prefer to skip the exam? No problem! Enroll in the summer school by donating the registration fee instead.

Please note: Both the Bridge Courses and the OMICSS-25 Summer School require offline participation.

International Applicants

We welcome participants from all countries! However, travel and accommodation costs must be covered by individual applicants.

Are you of Armenian descent? Consider applying for Birthright Armenia! They provide:

Accommodation support for stays of two months or longer.
Full travel cost coverage if you stay six months and volunteer.

This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Armenian culture while attending OMICSS-25!

Course Content

Main program (July 28 – August 24)

The main summer school is an intensive, hands-on training in bioinformatics, covering:

Sequencing Technologies
Bioinformatics Algorithms
Unix Command Line
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Data Analysis
Selected Topics in Functional Genomics
- Genetic Variations & Population Genomics
- Gene Expression Data Analysis
- Single-cell Genomics
- Metagenomics
Bioinformatics Bootcamp & Projects
- In the final week, the students will participate in a bioinformatics workshop outside of Yerevan. During the workshop, the students will conduct short bioinformatics projects, receive mentorship from senior researchers, and will present their results in a final presentation

Bridge courses (February – May)

The bridge courses help you build the essential knowledge needed for the main summer school.

Please note, that all 3 bridge courses require offline participation.

Molecular biology

Tutor: Dr. Aleksey Kurnosov

Self-Study Material: Molecular Biology

Dates: February 25 - March 21

Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, 7:00-8:30pm
Application Deadline: February 20

Course page: Introduction to Molecular Biology

‍

Programming in Python

Tutor: Alisa Davtyan
Self-Study Material: Programming | Python for Genomics

Dates: March 24 - April 18

Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, 7:00-8:30pm
Application Deadline: March 18

Course page: Introduction to Programming: Python for Genomic Data Science

‍

Statistics

Tutor: Alisa Davtyan
Self-Study Material: Statistics Theory, Statistics and Programming

Dates: April 21 - May 9

Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, 7:00-8:30pm
Application Deadline: April 17

Course page: Introduction to Statistics

REGISTRATION

How to enroll in Bridge Courses

Submit your application form through the link available on each course page. The form will ask for basic information and how many bridge courses you’d like to take. Depending on the number of courses you enroll in, you will be forwarded to a section to upload your fee payment receipt. Please, note that each course costs 20,000 AMD, but discounts are applied if you choose to take one or more courses:

One course: 20,000 AMD
Two courses: 35,000 AMD total
Three courses: 50,000 AMD total

How to enroll in OMICSS-25

Submit your application form through the link that will be available on the APPLY button at the top of the page.

Early Bird Registration Fee - 400 Euro (Deadline: May 15)
Late Bird Registration Fee- 500 Euro (Deadline: June 10)

‍Want to apply for a fee waiver?
A limited number of fee waivers will be available this year. To be eligible, you must pass the entry exam, which will cover key topics from the bridge courses and the Bioinformatics Guide in Molecular Biology, Programming, and Statistics.