C-G.C.15: Analysis of current needs, barriers, and formats for computational life sciences training - Swiss and global views.
Valeria Di Cola
SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Geert van Geest
SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Monique Zahn
SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Grégoire Rossier
SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Patricia Palagi
SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Keywords
Computational life sciences, Training, Bioinformatics, Learning formats, Survey
[sponser-meet-now-chat][/sponser-meet-now-chat]
Understanding the evolving training needs of researchers in computational life sciences is essential to ensure that training remains relevant, impactful, and accessible. The SIB Training Group delivers over 60 training events annually to a diverse audience spanning academia, industry, and healthcare sectors. To guide the future development of our training portfolio, we conducted a survey to identify emerging scientific topics, preferred learning formats, and barriers to participation.
Responses were collected across career stages, and scientific domains. A core section of the survey focused on identifying training topics not currently covered by the SIB portfolio. Using Likert-scale ratings, respondents evaluated the relevance of prospective topics across multiple areas of computational life sciences.
A second section examined barriers to training participation, including limited funding, time constraints during the work week, prerequisite knowledge requirements, and geographical distance. Participants rated the extent to which each factor affected their ability to attend SIB courses, enabling quantification of obstacles.
Finally, the survey assessed preferences for learning formats, including multi-day intensive courses, project-based learning, self-paced e-learning, webinars, blended approaches, AI-assisted learning, multi-week programmes, flipped classrooms, and bring-your-own-data models. These insights support the development of flexible and scalable training offerings aligned with researchers' needs and constraints.
The results provide an overview of the Swiss life science training landscape and will directly inform the design of the 2027 SIB Training Programme. This poster presents the survey design, preliminary analyses, and implications for future training development, offering a model applicable to other bioinformatics training initiatives.
Co-authors: Valeria Di Cola, Geert van Geest, Monique Zahn, Gregoire Rossier, Patricia M. Palagi
Contact Attendee
Warning: Attempt to read property "user_email" on string in /home/1276969.cloudwaysapps.com/ydbgzhdjeq/public_html/wp-content/plugins/my-conference-now/functions.php on line 2826