Training and Learning
Alex Bailey from MRC's Regulatory Support Centre has written a succinct blog about the support and processes that MRC has put in place to support researchers to make their data as reusable as possible.
Alex and his team are in fact based in 1 George Square so interested researchers could always pop in an say hello. Their email address is rsc@mrc.ukri.org.
Strategic Leadership in Research Programme 2025
Applications are now open for the Strategic Leadership in Research Programme, 2025. This programme aims to equip researchers with the leadership skills, knowledge and behaviours required to win large-scale strategic funding. Participants will be experienced investigators and research leaders with a clear trajectory toward running a major grant, centre or network within the next few years. Successful applicants are likely to be Readers or recently promoted Professors (or equivalent), but applications will be considered from any academic staff member who is able to demonstrate evidence of big grant readiness.
The programme will run from April – November 2025 and will require a commitment of up to six full days.
- Application deadline: Friday 17th January 2025, 5pm.
- Find out more and download your application form from link above
- If you have any questions or queries, please get in touch with our team at strategicleadership@ed.ac.uk
IAD have put together a new support package for PIs and research leaders, providing a range of offers from bite-size online events to full leadership programmes. If you are a staff member who is responsible for the intellectual leadership and overall management of a research project, or who may lead or manage individuals or teams, then this is for you!
This is a free 1-day workshop aiming to foster communication among disciplines and improve teaching in study design and analysis, with an eye to support science reform by improving research transparency and reproducibility.
It will draw from responses to a UK-wide survey of undergraduate teaching in Study Design and Analysis across life sciences, which revealed stark differences among disciplines in the amount of time spent teaching both study design and data analysis, topics covered, and teaching approaches. The organisers aim to leverage these differences and diversity to provide disciplines with opportunities to learn from each other at this workshop.
- Thursday 9th January 2025
- Location: University of Edinburgh
- Full programme on attached document - please click link from title
- Please register here
Data Science for Domain Scientists Data Science for Domain Scientists (DS4DS)
The Data Science Unit at the School of Informatics would like to invite academics and researchers to their 3rd edition of Data Science for Domain Scientists Data Science for Domain Scientists (DS4DS): a short, executive-level course for any staff at the University who are interested in applying data science and machine learning to their research or developing funding bids with an AI element.
The course will give an overview of the standard machine learning pipeline and a basic introduction to traditional and latest techniques, emphasizing high-level concepts and overarching principles. It will also provide practical guidance on developing an interdisciplinary bid, and advice on engaging with the data and machine learning experts at the University. Please note that the intention of DS4DS is to equip you with a broad understanding of possibilities, limitations, best practices, and nomenclature; it is not a hands-on technical course.
- DS4DS will consist of 7 two-hour sessions, held on consecutive Tuesdays (excluding Council school break) between 10am-12pm, starting 14th January 2025.
- The plan is to deliver the course online, but if there is sufficient interest, some or all the sessions will be delivered in person.
- The full structure of the course can be found on the course website above
- If you are interested, please fill out the registration form [requires University sign-in]
- If you would like to know more about the course, please drop an email at datascienceunit@inf.ed.ac.uk
Strategic Leadership in Research Programme 2025
Applications are now open for the Strategic Leadership in Research Programme, 2025. This programme aims to equip researchers with the leadership skills, knowledge and behaviours required to win large-scale strategic funding. Participants will be experienced investigators and research leaders with a clear trajectory toward running a major grant, centre or network within the next few years. Successful applicants are likely to be Readers or recently promoted Professors (or equivalent), but applications will be considered from any academic staff member who is able to demonstrate evidence of big grant readiness.
The programme will run from April – November 2025 and will require a commitment of up to six full days.
- Application deadline: Friday 17th January 2025, 5pm.
- Find out more and download your application form from link above
- If you have any questions or queries, please get in touch with our team at strategicleadership@ed.ac.uk
HDR UK: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced R for Health Data Research Course
This 4-day course offers a comprehensive journey in R from beginner to advanced levels with a focus on practical data analysis, visualisation and real-world applications in health data science. Starting with the basics of R, including data types, subsetting, and control flow, participants will advance to more intermediate topics such as data manipulation, writing functions, and creating visualisations with ggplot2.
Practical exercises and a mini-project ensure hands-on experience with health-related datasets, concluding with dynamic reporting using Quarto.
- Registration deadline: Monday 20th January 2025
- Sessions take place on 21st January, 28th January, 4th February and 11th February (all Tuesdays)
- Price: £175
Edinburgh Genomics Courses
Introduction to Python for Biologists (in person)
This introductory course is perfect for those with a biological background and no programming experience. Python is a versatile, readable language ideal for bioinformatics, from simple scripts to complex projects.
- 20th - 24th January 2025
- Kings Buildings, University of Edinburgh
CMVM Supervisor Briefing events
In recognition of the skills required, and the support needed, for effective supervision, the University of Edinburgh requires any staff wishing to supervise students to complete a supervisor briefing process at 5 year intervals. This process is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the nature of postgraduate research, the regulatory framework that governs completion of a postgraduate degree, and the practical challenges of supervising students.
These briefings can be booked now via P&M. There will be a further two taking place in the second half of the year, and details of these will follow at a later date.
Next briefing
- Wednesday 26th February 2025, 10am - 12noon
- Auditorium B, Chancellor’s Building
Following briefing
- Monday 12th May 2025, 10am - 12noon
- Roslin Auditorium (G-022)
Linux for Genomics (online)
Dive into the world of bioinformatics with our Intro to Linux for Genomics course! Whether you’re new to Linux or looking to enhance your bioinformatic skills, this course will equip you with the essential tools to navigate and analyse genomic data efficiently.
League of European Research Universities (LERU) Summer School 2025
The LERU Doctoral Summer School is an annual event aiming to provide doctoral candidates with unique professional and personal development opportunities beyond what they are generally exposed to in the course of their PhD training. By creating an exceptional and truly international, intercultural and interdisciplinary meeting of bright young minds, the Summer School creates a highly stimulating learning experience which is of long lasting value to the participants’ future careers.
The University of Edinburgh is guaranteed one place at the Summer School with additional places to be allocated by the hosts/LERU. Applications are open to PhD students and Edinburgh Global will support the participation fee of €600 for successful candidates. Travel costs will need to be met by the successful candidates themselves, but the participation fee covers all conference sessions and materials as well as accommodation.
- Sunday 22nd - Friday 27th June 2025.
- Held at University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Applicants should provide: CV, Motivation Letter and Letter of support from your supervisor by email to Susan Hunter by Friday 17th January 2025.
- For any enquiries, please contact Susan.
First Digital Research Conference at the University of Edinburgh
This conference will bring together researchers and professional staff supporting digital, data-intensive, and computational research. Its aims are to promote best practices and inspire, encourage collaborations and stimulate discussion across schools, colleges and professional services on a broad range of digital research-related topics.
To shape the programme, the organisers encourage academic and professional staff, and postgraduate researchers to submit a paper, lighting talk or poster abstract addressing a broad range of digital research topics, from AI, sensitive data, research planning and infrastructure to skills, training, careers and recognition.
- Conference date: Wednesday 29th January 2025
- John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Genomics course: DNA Library Preparation for Short Read Sequencing
In this course you will get first-hand experience of DNA library preparation using one of the latest library preparation kits from NEB, NEBNext UltraExpressTM FS DNA, on both a validated control sample and an optional sample supplied by yourself. You will also learn how these libraries are quality-controlled and prepared for sequencing. In addition, you will learn the theory behind the library preparations, and have the opportunity to discuss with NEB and the team at Edinburgh Genomics the various options you have for preparing and sequencing your own samples going forward.
- Thursday 6th February 2025
- Ashworth Labs, King's Buildings campus
- Fee: £145 for UoE students and staff
Wellcome Connecting Science: Epigenomics of Common Diseases
Wellcome's 13th conference on common diseases will highlight how technological advances in epigenomics are being applied to various diseases, and how research is being translated into novel treatments. Presentations by global leaders will be complemented by stimulating short oral presentations selected from offered abstracts. Wellcome also encourages submission of abstracts on all areas of the programme for posters and poster pitch talk sessions as these are an excellent opportunity to present research findings, or to get feedback on ongoing projects.
This friendly meeting aims to be highly interactive to improve inter-disciplinary knowledge-dissemination between scientists and clinicians working in basic and therapeutic epigenetic research. There will be plenty of face-to-face networking opportunities with inclusive meals.
- Conference dates: Wednesday 12th - Friday 14th March 2025
- Student registration fee: £396; bursaries available, apply by 10th December 2024
- Abstract submission deadline: 14th January 2025
- In-person registration deadline: 11th February 2025
Edinburgh Clinical Research Methodology Course
This course will no longer take place on 30th September and 1st October 2024 and has been re-scheduled to take place in Spring 2025.
This is a popular two-day introductory course providing a comprehensive overview of methods and frameworks essential for conducting clinical research, recognising the diversity of approaches from randomised controlled trials through to qualitative methods. Participants will learn how to integrate Patient and Public Involvement into research design and delivery, as well as how to effectively engage with industry partners to advance research and promote innovation.
- New dates: Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th March 2025
- Location: John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh
Save the date: AI for Genomics Meeting
A full-day meeting on the use of Artificial Intelligence in genomics research which will build connections between the One Health Genomics Edinburgh community and the UKRI CDT in Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Innovation (AI4BI). Programme to be announced in the new year.
- Tuesday 3rd June 2025
- Nucleus Building, King's Buildings Campus
Wellcome Connecting Science meeting: Molecular Neurodegeneration and Therapeutic Approaches
This popular course will provide an overview of the clinical hallmarks and molecular basis of neurodegenerative disorders. It will highlight the mechanisms behind therapeutic approaches for combating Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease. Discussions will also cover bioinformatics techniques used in neurogenetics, and experimental neurodegenerative disease models.
This discussion-based course will be in-person, with some additional live-streamed lectures. The programme will include live Q&A sessions, participant poster presentations and plenty of face-to-face networking opportunities with the course cohort and experts in the field.
- Monday 23rd – Friday 27th June 2025
- Deadlines: Bursary and applications: 1st April 2025