DNA METABARCODING: How to design and analyze next-generation data for biodiversity monitoring

DNA metabarcoding is now widely used to explore biodiversity patterns and food webs across diverse habitats and ecosystems. This method enables the identification of multiple organisms within complex samples—such as air, water, feces, soil, or bulk biological material—through the amplification of taxonomically informative genomic regions. Significant progress has been made in developing this approach, driven by the need for a simple, rapid, and cost-effective solution. However, the successful application of DNA metabarcoding requires expertise in multiple fields, including traditional and DNA-based taxonomy, molecular biology, next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, bioinformatics, and computational statistics. Poorly informed technical decisions at any stage of the workflow can compromise the quality of results.This course is designed to address the intricacies of each step in the DNA metabarcoding pipeline and provide guidance on best practices, while fostering critical thinking. The main objective is to equip participants with essential tools for robust experimental design, data processing, and analysis in DNA metabarcoding. With a strong emphasis on hands-on bioinformatics and statistical analysis, participants are expected to have prior experience working in the Bash and R environments.

9:45-13:00 | Course Introduction & Lectures on Metabarcoding applications

14:00-17:45 | Lectures on Sampling design & Library prep

9:45-13:00 | Lectures on Bioinformatic procedures

14:00-17:45 | Hands-on I: from fastqs to OTUs

9:45-13:00 | Lectures on Taxonomic assignment and data curation

14:00-17:45 | Hands-on II: from OTUs to species

9:45-13:00 | OTU table curation

14:00-17:45 | Multivariate data analysis

9:45-13:00 | Presentation preparation

14:00-17:45 | Presentations

Students will need to use their personal laptops for this course and to install specific software. The respective instructions will be sent by email one week prior to the course's start.

5 days - 35h (Friday all day) - Schedule: 09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:30

Coordination

Vanessa Mata | BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO-InBIO

Instructor (s)

Joana Veríssimo | BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO-InBIO

Luis P. da Silva | BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO-InBIO

The course will be open to a maximum number of 16 participants. 

75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students.

 Priority will be given to:

• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;

• PhD students attending other courses;

• Other post-graduate students and researchers.

(A minimum number of participants is required for the course to take place)

Deadline:  24/02/2025 

To apply fill the FORM

A copy of the form will be sent to the email address you provide as proof that you have successfully submitted your application. Results will be emailed to you within 8 working days of the application deadline.

95€ (students) | 200€ (other participants).

BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%. Participation is free of charge for BIODIV Students (M BGE & PhD) & CIBIO's TwinLabs 

(If applicable, payment will be made to Associação BIOPOLIS - VAT No. 516033727. Information on the payment amount and the payment deadline will be sent together with the results notification, and a proforma invoice may be issued in due time).

Registration fees do not include accommodation or meals. 

No ECTS credits are awarded for attending the course. Participants receive a certificate of attendance without quantitative evaluation.