The Research Training Program at BIO-CBG is no longer accepting applications. Online courses in DNA Barcoding are still available via OpenEd at the University of Guelph.

Welcome to the Research Training Program in DNA Barcoding!

The BIO-CBG Research Training Program offers a unique hands-on experience in standard protocols used by DNA Barcoding – a cross-cutting area of biology that uses patterns of variation in short standardized gene regions (DNA barcodes) to assess the biological diversity of living organisms – to provide fast, cost-efficient and accurate taxonomic identifications. Originally proposed at the University of Guelph in Canada in 2003, this approach has gained worldwide scientific recognition and has led to the development of global research partnerships. The course aims to help participants deepen their conceptual understanding and develop refined practical skills in standard DNA barcoding workflows: collections management, sample processing, DNA extraction, PCR analysis, sequencing, and the use of post-analysis informatics tools, including BOLD Systems and third-party software to establish phylogenetic linkages.

Training is geared towards early-career professionals working in biodiversity-related disciplines, environmental monitoring, quarantine inspections, and other areas requiring time-sensitive, accurate identification of species. The course schedule can be adjusted to cover specific eukaryote groups and practical challenges that the individual participant may encounter. The training program provides participants with the opportunity to establish connections with the institute’s faculty, researchers, and core technical staff, and prepares them for establishing DNA barcoding operational pipelines at their home institutions.

The course is provided by the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG) – the global leader in the field of DNA barcoding, hosting the largest molecular analytical facility and the informatics core of the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). It houses over 100 faculty members, researchers, staff, and students working in varied basic and applied aspects of DNA barcoding, making it an ideal environment for knowledge transfer and the exchange of ideas in this actively developing field of science.