Bioinformatics Research Program

June 15 to August 1, 2026

Apply for Summer 2026

The RNA Institute Summer Bioinformatics Research Program is a fully virtual training program for current undergraduate and graduate students students. Each research program is split into two parts:

  • Learning the basic skills of RNA sequencing data analysis through daily live lectures
  • Applying skills learned to an independent computational research project with an RNA Institute-affiliated faculty mentor 

The 2026 Summer Application is now live! The application you complete depends on your country's classification by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Please read below: 

We will be accepting applications for U.S. citizens, permanent residents or F-1/J-1 visa holders in the U.S. Canada, or countries outside of the LMIC index until March 31, 2026. Stem For Development's application portal for those attending university in the LMIC index will close on February 15, 2026.

Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded with certificate of completion, a small stipend (U.S. citizens only), and a Skillsoft badge for the program. 

 

2026 Bioinformatics Research Program Information

Summary
Summary

Below is a summary of the Summer 2026 Bioinformatics Research Program:

  • 7 weeks in length, starts June 15, 2026, and ends August 1, 2026
  • Skills learned include R coding, high performance computing via the command line, and RNA sequencing data interpretation and visualization as a project-based program
  • After being selected to the program, students will receive a welcome email with information, including some pre-course work and administrative paperwork, by the mid-May 2026
  • The pre-course work develops basic programming skills, and these short online courses should be completed prior to the start date of June 15, 2026
  • Participants are expected to be available for lectures, small group sessions, and seminars (all virtual)
  • The research program is separated into two projects:
    • Project 1 is the same for all students and each will be provided RNA sequencing data to learn skills
      • Schedule includes daily lectures, daily mentoring, weekly seminars and Project 1 presentations
    • Project 2 is an independent computational project based on data from or relevant to research in their assigned faculty mentor's lab on topics such as microbiology, virology, muscular dystrophies, and more
      • Schedule includes Project 2 plan presentations, twice weekly mentoring, weekly seminars and Project 2 final presentations
  • Participants are invited to present their final project in-person as a research poster at the annual RNA Institute RNA Day on August 1, 2026
  • Applications for an RNA Day travel award will be available to students that are over one hour from Albany, N.Y. Details will be announced during the program.
  • Participants unable to present their final project in-person on RNA Day will present virtually on July 31, 2026
  • Official Certificate of Completion, Introduction to Bioinformatics Skills digital badge, and a small stipend will be awarded based on the successful completion of the program
  • All US-citizens, or those on an F1 or J1 Visa, must apply through the RNA Institute by March 31, 2026
  • All international applicants must apply through the STEM for Development program (application deadline differs)
Eligibility
Eligibility
  • No prior experience needed!
  • Undergraduate or higher academic level only
  • Must have GPA above 3.0
  • Time commitment of 15 to 20 hours per week for seven weeks
    • Includes daily lectures, daily small group sessions, weekly seminars and independent work
  • Access to consistent high speed internet
2026 Schedule
2026 Schedule

Note: This is an example of the program schedule and subject to change.

 

Week 1, Project 1

DateLecture (Noon to 1 p.m. EDT)Small Group Session (3 to 4 p.m. EDT)Seminar
Monday, June 15, 2026Lecture 1: Intro biology, history of sequencing, & intro to RNASeqSGS 1: Intro to small groups & pre-program material check inN/A
Tuesday, June 16, 2026Lecture 2: DM1 LectureSGS 2: Install GlobalProtect VPN, get on HPCC, & map network driveN/A
Wednesday, June 17, 2026Lecture 3: FASTQ files, DMSeq.org, intro bioinformatics, & the HPCCSGS 3: Practice skills on navigating lab drive using command lineN/A
Thursday, June 18, 2026Lecture 4: Command line, HPCC jobs, & FASTQCSGS 4: Download miniconda3 & STARSeminar 1 at 11 a.m.
Friday, June 19, 2026No meetings (Juneteenth - state holiday)No meetings (Juneteenth - state holiday)N/A

 

Week 2, Project 1

DateLecture (Noon to 1 p.m. EDT)Small Group Session (3 to 4 p.m. EDT)Seminar
Monday, June 22, 2026Lecture 5: Submit first job & STAR alignmentSGS 5: Submit STAR & troubleshootN/A
Tuesday, June 23, 2026Lecture 6: Differential gene expression analysis & figure generationSGS 6: Configure RStudio to run DESeq2 & troubleshoot any errorsN/A
Wednesday, June 24, 2026Lecture 7: DGE figure generation (continued), intro to rMATS, & alternative splicing analysisSGS 7: DGE figure code breakdown, download rMATS, & submit rMATS jobN/A
Thursday, June 25, 2026Lecture 8: rMATS output & AS figure generationSGS 8: Configure RStudio to run maser, AS figure code breakdown, & troubleshoot any errorsN/A
Friday, June 26, 2026Lecture 9: Tips & tricks for the command lineSGS 9: Checkpoint for Project 1Seminar 2 at 9:30 a.m.

 

Week 3, Project 1

DateLecture (Noon to 1 p.m. EDT)Small Group Session (3 to 4 p.m. EDT)
Monday, June 29, 2026Lecture 10: Questions from Project 1 & expectation for Project 2SGS 9: Checkpoint for finalizing Project 1
Tuesday, June 30, 2026Lecture 11: Gene ontology enrichment analysisSGS 10: Project 1 Presentations
Wednesday, July 1, 2026Lecture 12: Alternative sequencing methods: Nanopore & single-cell sequencingSGS 11: Project 1 Presentations (if needed)
Thursday, July 2, 2026No lectureOptional SGS: Check students have access to data for Project 2, help plan research question and tools/pipeline to use
Friday, July 3, 2026To be decided (TBD)To be decided (TBD)

 

Week 4, Project 2

Monday, July 6, to Wednesday, July 8, 2026

  • No lectures
  • Small Group Sessions held twice, depending on Group Leaders’ schedules — focus on Project 2 questions and help

Thursday, July 9, 2026

  • Presentations on Project 2 Plans

Friday, July 10, 2026

  • Presentations on Project 2 Plans
  • Seminar 3, time to be decided (TBD)

 

Week 5, Project 2

Monday, July 13, to Friday, July 17, 2026

  • No lectures
  • Small Group Sessions held twice, depending on Group Leaders’ schedules — focus on Project 2 questions and help
  • Seminar 4 at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 17, 2026

 

Week 6, Project 2

Monday, July 20, to Friday, July 24, 2026

  • No lectures
  • Small Group Sessions held twice, depending on Group Leaders’ schedules — focus on Project 2 questions and help
  • Seminar 5 at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026

 

Week 7, Project 2

Monday, July 27, to Wednesday, July 29, 2026

  • No lectures
  • Small Group Sessions held twice, depending on Group Leaders’ schedules
  • Seminar 6 at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Thursday, July 30, 2026

  • Schedule to be decided (TBD).

Friday, July 31, 2026

  • 2026 Bioinformatics Research Program Virtual Symposium (Remote only students virtual Project 2 presentations to entire cohort.)
  • Schedule to be decided (TBD).

Saturday, August 1, 2026

  • RNA Institute’s 2026 RNA Day Celebration (Remote students local to Albany area or able to travel to campus can present Project 2 in person as posters.)
  • Schedule to be decided (TBD).
2026 Small Groups
2026 Small Groups

Groups, group leaders and trainees will be assigned and posted here closer to the program start date.