
Renato Alves
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
EMBL Course
This is a two-hub course taking place in parallel of EMBL Heidelberg, Germany and EMBL Barcelona, Spain. Applicants are encouraged to select the location nearest to them. Those open to either location may indicate no specific preference.
The missing step between data collection and research progress is a lack of training for researchers in crucial skills for effectively managing and analysing data, often in large amounts. This hands-on workshop teaches researchers the fundamental data skills they need to conduct their work and provides high-quality, domain-specific training covering the full lifecycle of data-driven research. The domain-specific approach allows participants to tailor the data, content, and tools to reflect the specific data and analysis needs of different areas.
The course is aimed at graduate students and other researchers in the life sciences who would like to learn good practices in data management and analysis. The course is ideally suited to students without prior experience in computational research, but some familiarity with working with tabular data on a computer is welcome
Participants need to bring a laptop where they should have installed all the required software. Software requirements will be made available as part of the course information pack. An onboarding session will be offered to troubleshoot installation problems.
“The training at EMBL on ”Exploratory Analysis of Biological Data” stands out as one of the most valuable hands-on scientific training sessions I’ve experienced. It equips researchers with essential data skills crucial for their work, delivering top-notch, domain-specific training that spans the entire lifecycle of data-driven research.” – Francis Irabor, Benson Idahosa University, Nigeria
“I really enjoyed the course “Exploratory analysis of biological data: data carpentry”. It was a great opportunity and amazing experience to learn the use of R and how to apply it to analyze our own data in a very practical way!” – Marcos Galán Ganga, University of Barcelona, Spain
“A very well spent and highly instructive week, thanks to the excellent trainers and organizers as well as the inspiring and motivating environment at EMBL in Heidelberg. Already looking forward to visiting again!” – Christina Parassiadis, Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases, Germany
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
Course and Conference Officer
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
Scientific Training Officer
EMBL Heidelberg
Germany
Are you on social media? Post using #EMBLDataCarpentry and don’t forget to tag @EMBLEvents.
Time Berlin / Barcelona | Programme |
---|---|
10:45-11:00 | In Heidelberg: Bus transfer from ISG Hotel |
11:00-11:15 | Welcome and house notes and course overview |
11:15-12:30 | Flashtalks |
12:30-13:30 | Lunch |
13:30-14:15 | Lecture: Data organization and cleaning |
14:15-14:35 | Coffee break |
14:35-16:05 | Lecture: Data organization and cleaning (continued) |
16:05-16:20 | Coffee break |
16:20-17:50 | Lecture: Data organization and cleaning (continued) |
17:50-18:50 | Social networking / Q&A |
18:50-19:50 | Dinner |
20:00-20:15 | In Heidelberg: Shuttle bus to ISG Hotel |
Time Berlin / Barcelona | Programme |
---|---|
08:40 – 08:55 | In Heidelberg: Bus from hotel to EMBL HD |
09:00 – 11:00 | Practical session: Versioning with Git (using RStudio) |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee break |
11:30 – 12:30 | Practical session: Versioning with Git (using RStudio) |
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch break |
13:30 – 15:00 | Practical session: Introduction to R |
15:00 – 15:30 | Coffee break |
15:30 – 16:50 | Practical session: Introduction to R |
16:50 – 17:10 | Coffee break |
17:10 – 18:30 | Practical session: Introduction to R |
18:30 – 19:30 | Dinner |
19:30 – 19:45 | In Heidelberg: Shuttle bus to ISG Hotel |
Time Berlin / Barcelona | Programme |
---|---|
08:40 – 08:55 | In Heidelberg: Bus from hotel to EMBL ATC Entrance |
09:00 – 11:00 | Practical session: Data manipulation with dplyr |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee break |
11:30 – 12:30 | Practical session: Data manipulation with dplyr |
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch break |
13:30 – 15:00 | Practical session: Data visualisation with ggplot2 |
15:00 – 15:30 | Coffee break |
15:30 – 16:50 | Practical session: Data visualisation with ggplot2 |
16:50 – 17:10 | Coffee break |
17:10 – 18:30 | Practical session: Data visualisation with ggplot2 |
18:30 – 19:30 | Dinner |
19:30 – 19:45 | In Heidelberg: Shuttle bus to ISG Hotel |
Time Berlin / Barcelona | Programme |
---|---|
08:40 – 08:55 | In Heidelberg: Bus from hotel to EMBL |
09:00 – 09:50 | Lecture: Data visualisation with ggplot2 |
09:50 – 10:00 | Short coffee break |
10:00 – 10:50 | Practical session: Data analysis with applications to genomics |
10:50 – 11:20 | Coffee break |
11:20 – 12:20 | Practical session: Data analysis with applications to genomics |
12:20 – 13:20 | Lunch break |
13:20 – 14:50 | Practical session: Data analysis with applications to genomics |
14:50 – 15:20 | Coffee break |
15:20 – 17:00 | Practical session: Data analysis with applications to genomics R |
17:00 – 17:30 | In Heidelberg: Shuttle bus to city centre |
17:30 – 19:00 | Free time |
19:00 – 20:30 | Dinner in the city centre |
Time Berlin / Barcelona | Programme |
---|---|
08:40 – 08:55 | In Heidelberg: Bus from hotel to EMBL |
09:00 – 10:30 | Practical session: Data analysis with applications to genomics |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee break |
11:00 – 12:00 | Practical session: Data analysis with applications to genomics |
12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch break |
13:00 – 14:00 | Debrief and wrap-up |
14:00 – 14:30 | In Heidelberg: Shuttle bus to Heidelberg main train station |
The course is limited to 15 participants in each hub (Heidelberg and Barcelona). For selection purposes, please note that your application will not be considered without a letter of motivation.
Registration fees include admission, course materials, meals and coffee breaks. Participants are expected to book and pay their own accommodation and travel expenses.
Academia | €450 |
PhD Student | €450 |
Industry | €775 |
A letter to support your visa application will be issued, on request, once payment of the registration fee is confirmed. We recommend that you book your visa appointment as soon as possible, to avoid any delay with your visa application.
The registration fee should be paid only after acceptance to the course. The results will be announced approximately 2-3 weeks after the application deadline.
After you have logged in and successfully registered, you will receive an email asking you to submit your motivation letter. Click on the link provided and enter your motivation letter in the text box provided. Alternatively you can submit your motivation letter by clicking on the link on the confirmation page directly after registering.
Instructions
There are 26 additional questions that I required to answer before submitting the motivation letter.
Please note:
For detailed instructions, please watch our video on how to submit a course motivation letter.
For further information about registration and motivation letter submission please refer to the FAQ page.
Limited financial assistance is provided by the EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme and EMBO in the form of registration fee waivers, travel grants, and childcare grants. Your place in the meeting is only confirmed by paying the registration fee, which is mandatory even when receiving a fee waiver.
The fee waiver will cover the registration sum that you have paid to attend the course.
The travel grant will cover the cost of travel (airfare, train, bus, taxi, accommodation, visa) and is provided up to specified caps which are normally as follows:
– up to €400 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course within Europe.
– up to €1000 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course from outside Europe.
The organisers may reduce the grant cap to accommodate more participants. Recipients will be notified of their travel cap amount when they are informed of the outcome of their application. Original receipts must be provided with your signature for all costs incurred within two months of completion of travel. Scanned copies cannot be accepted.
There is the possibility to apply for a childcare grant to offset childcare costs incurred by participants, speakers, and organisers when attending a conference.
Eligible costs include (but are not limited to) fees for a babysitter or child-care facility and travel costs for a caregiver. Please note that priority will be given to early-stage researchers. In order to apply for this grant, you must be registered by the abstract submission deadline. There is a limited amount of funding available for the childcare grants and funds will be distributed amongst eligible applicants.
You may apply for financial assistance when submitting your motivation letter for courses. In your application, you will be asked to answer questions regarding why your lab cannot fund your attendance and how your attendance will make a difference to your career. Application for financial support will not affect the outcome of your registration application.
The scientific organisers will select the recipients of all financial assistance during the motivation letter selection process. Results will be announced approximately 6-8 weeks before the event start date, however for some events this may be delayed. Selection results do not impact your admission to the course. Selection is based on scientific merit, your current work or study location, the reasons for needing financial support, and the impact this event will have on your career.
Costs will be reimbursed after the meeting only once a reimbursement form and original receipts (from travel costs) have been received.
See our list of external funding opportunities and for further information about financial assistance please refer to the FAQ page.
Accommodation is not included in the registration fee. On-site participants are expected to book and pay for their own accommodation.
Heidelberg Hub participants
A combination of single and twin rooms will be pre-reserved at hotels near EMBL Heidelberg for the participants to book independently. After the selection process, those chosen can contact the hotel directly to secure their reservation using a provided booking code. We recommend that all course participants in Heidelberg stay at the designated hotel for the duration of the course, as the shuttle bus will depart from there.
Barcelona Hub participants
No rooms are being prebooked; accommodation is arranged according to the participants’ preferences, as the hub location is very central and no shuttle bus is needed.
More information on the hotel booking process will follow after the participant selection.
In Heidelberg, due to the remote location of the EMBL Heidelberg Campus, a shuttle buses will go from the hotel to EMBL and back, mornings and evenings. A bus schedule and location of the bus stops will be made available prior to the meeting.
In Barcelona, no shuttle bus service is to be provided. Participants are expected to arrive to the venue on their own.
The below information applies to the EMBL Heidelberg hub. Information about on-site facilities at Barcelona Hub after selection.
All meals and coffee breaks are included in the registration fee. Our catering staff will prepare a wide variety of vegetarian meals, meat and fish dishes, soups, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as a variety of desserts.
Please wear your badge at all times when serving yourself.
No food or drinks are allowed in the laboratories.
In most places the electricity is 220 volts AC (50 cycles). An adaptor and a plug that fits the German socket may be needed for your appliances/laptop (i.e. American, Japanese, etc.). A USB charging station for electronic devices is available at the registration desk..
If you are interested in purchasing EMBL merchandise (products presented in the glass display in the registration area), please email the EMBL shop to place an order or get in contact with your Course Organiser.
Kindly note the EMBL shop is only open upon request and all purchases must be made in cash (Euros only).
Please read EMBL’s COVID-19 safety policy for on-site events.
Do not smoke in any EMBL building.
Eating and drinking is prohibited in all laboratories.
Do not enter any restricted areas or the laboratories unless instructed to do so.
If first aid is required …
In case of fire …
Beyond first aid…
Please remember to bring your own medication, if needed, to the conference. Note that the next pharmacy is a 4-minute drive from the EMBL, but for many medications you will be required to see a doctor to get a prescription.
Ensure in advance that your medical insurance will cover you during your visit in the event that you do need to see a doctor while in Heidelberg. In any case, the EMBL Course and Conference Office will assist you to get to the pharmacy and a doctor of your choice if necessary.
Wi-Fi is available on campus. Log in using the EMBL-Events network and the event specific password, which will be provided on site. The eduroam network (secure, worldwide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community) is also available.
‘’Lost and Found’’ items are kept at the registration desk until the end of the conference.
There are lockers available on-site to store your luggage, which require a 2 EURO coin to operate. There is another luggage room on level E0, which is free to use but remains unlocked during the conference.
There is a nursing room available in the ATC Rooftop Lounge on level A29.
During the conference, an EMBL Photographer may be taking photos. If you would not like to appear in these, please inform the photographer or a member of the Course and Conference Office.
We can help to print your boarding pass/train ticket. Please send it to events@embl.de and collect your print-outs at the registration desk.
There is a room for prayer, meditation, and yoga located on level E0 behind the Auditorium. Please be respectful of others using the room.
A variety of activities in Heidelberg can be found on the website of Heidelberg Marketing.
During the event, we provide conference shuttle buses to and from EMBL. In addition, there is the public bus 39A that serves the EMBL campus and taxis can be easily booked at any time. Information on the shuttle buses can be found on the individual event website and more detailed information on travelling to EMBL can be found on our Travel Information page.
Below you will find the software and technical requirements for this course.
The EMBL eCampus learning platform will be used to collaborate, communicate and network with all of the course participants. All participants will receive information on how to join shortly before the course. We recommend using Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox browsers for eCampus.
Zoom will be used for the live talks and Q&A sessions. More information will be provided closer to the start of the course.
While using the software during the course, please make sure you have nothing else using your bandwidth. We recommend using a wired connection.
Sponsorship opportunities
We offer a variety of event sponsoring possibilities, with the flexibility to select a set sponsorship package or combine individual sponsorship options to suit your event budget. Discounts are available for companies sponsoring multiple events at EMBL Heidelberg. View other conferences, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information.
If you are interested in becoming a media partner of this event, please visit our media partnerships webpage.
EMBL wishes to warn sponsors of EMBL conferences and courses of fraudulent schemes purporting to offer sponsorship opportunities on behalf of EMBL or affiliated with EMBL officials. One current scam campaign of which we are aware is conducted using the name ‘Judy Eastman’ (judy@gopcontact.a2hosted.com) and entails approaches to sponsors offering sponsorship opportunities on EMBL’s behalf. Please be kindly advised that all relevant communication regarding sponsorship of EMBL conferences, symposia and courses is handled by EMBL directly and is sent from an official EMBL account. EMBL does not work with any external providers on sponsorship acquisition.
Please also note that:
Suspicious communications purportedly from, for or on behalf of EMBL should be reported to EMBL at the following email address sponsoring@embl.de.
Want to let others know you’re attending this event? Take a look at our shareable media and feel free to use them in your social media channels or presentations.
Date: 2 - 6 Feb 2026
Location: EMBL Heidelberg and EMBL Barcelona
Venue: EMBL Advanced Training Centre (Heidelberg) and EMBL Barcelona
Deadline(s):
Registration: 27 Oct 2025
Organisers:
Contact: Adéla Graf