If you want to do some bioinformatics, but don't know where to begin - this is the place!

Alastair Droop's team within the TF supports research and training on a chargeable basis, ranging from routine data management to bespoke high-level analysis and paper-ready figures. Get in touch to discuss your project and requirements today.

The Data Science Lab also runs training courses. Upcoming courses are listed below, or contact the team to book 1:1 support or register your interest in future courses.

On this course, you'll become familiar with the core concepts of Scientific Computing, a skill necessary for handling the sorts of big data generated in your scientific research.
You'll learn the basics of using Bash to navigate and control your computer from the terminal, through to more advanced techniques like accessing other computers (e.g. High Performance Computing / HPC clusters) remotely.
We'll also teach you how to use version control systems like Git and remote code repositories like GitHub to manage the code that you write.

20–21 May 2026 | Biology Department, The University of York

Learn the basics of the world's most popular programming language — Python — and then apply your newly-learned skills to begin to analyse scientific data. Suitable for beginners, or those who have dabbled a little in another language.
We'll cover the fundamentals of programming, then move on to more advanced concepts like functions and classes, before moving on to reading in, processing, and plotting real data.
By the end, you'll be proficient enough in Python to apply it to your everyday work and research.

27–28 May 2026 | Biology Department, The University of York

These monthly meetings are open to all with an interest in applied bioinformatics research. Meetings will include a <25 minute presentation (work in progress, journal club etc.) with lots of time for discussion and constructive critique.

Dr Andrew Mason (JBU) will present his ongoing work using gene expression networks to find clinically-actionable bladder cancer subgroups.
Add this event to your calendar →

29 April 2026, 1300-1400 | Williamson Rooms (B/H/102X), The University of York

Run by the Research IT team, this is an informal interdisciplinary York group for people who work with research software. Attend talks on technical topics, get support from the regular drop-in sessions, and join the Slack community. Upcoming events are listed below, or you can subscribe to their calendar.

Guidance for the submission and review process for publishing software through the Journal of Open Source Software. In the course, we'll make an example submission to the journal, and thanks to the collaboration of the Editor in Chief (Arfon Smith), we will look at how the review process works.

15 April 2026, 1300-1400 | Hybrid, or Department of Environment & Geography

Well-documented software promotes reproducibility, maintainability, and increased research impact through wider adoption and citation. This course teaches researchers how to document their software effectively, making it accessible and understandable to others. It covers topics such as writing readable code and usage instructions.

22 April 2026, 1300-1600 | In person, confirmed on registration

Packaging your software is one of the important steps in a software project to make it both findable and accessible. This course will provide you with an understanding of why and when packaging is useful, what different standards exist to package Python and R projects and take you through each step of the packaging process.

6 May 2026, 1300-1500 | In person, confirmed on registration

Open Research at York
Open Access publishing at York - new helpful user guide coming soon!
Research Data York repository - free archive service for all York research data.
Research Data Management - a practical guide for York
Join York's Research Data Stewardship Network - useful community if you're a data person!
Book an RDM appointment with the library team
York Research IT Training and Support
Information on Viking and the Viking user wiki
York Data Management Plan Review Service

These are personal awards of £400 available made to UG/PGT students, PGR students, ECRs/Technical staff and mid/senior staff to reward innovation, advocacy and good practice in open research at York, supported by Enhancing Research Culture funding from UKRI Research England.
This is a short 250-500 word application, with 12 total prizes available (1 per faculty per career stage). Full terms here.

DEADLINE 12 noon, 27 April 2026

NorthernBUG brings together researchers, students and trainers 2-3 times per year across the north of England for free 1-day meetings. These are great sessions to present developing work and are all about building a regional bioinformatics network. The focus is being a "user group" rather than only presenting polished work for a conference.

Follow NorthernBUG on LinkedIn or join the google mailing list.

Save the date! →
Registration opening soon.
This meeting is sponsored by ELIXIR-UK and The Genetics Society.

24 July 2026 | The University of Bradford

ELIXIR-UK is an organisation dedicated to improving data acumen in the life sciences. Now that York is a member (see below), any York-affiliated staff member or student is eligible for their events, funding and training. This includes a flexible bursary of up to £5k for events and network building, and a travel award up to £1500. Andrew Mason is the ELIXIR-UK steering committee for York, and presented slides about what York's ELIXIR membership means at the recent Biology Staff Meeting.

The best way to keep up to date with ELIXIR activities is to sign up to their newsletters.

York has become the latest institution to join ELIXIR-UK, formalising existing collaborations built on expertise in training and data stewardship. ELIXIR particularly liked York's university-wide commitment to training in research data skills and open research. Read more.