Course Info MOTI
Duration: 1 week in September following the MATI course
The MOTI course provides in-depth information on the application of metabarcoding to investigate trophic interactions, bulk samples and different types of eDNA. It includes a lecture and a practical computational course (Σ 4 ECTS). The course runs for 1 week, usually in September and in connection with the MATI course. The target audience includes graduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers and technicians who wish to use next generation sequencing (NGS) and metabarcoding techniques to study trophic interactions or eDNA and who want to understand and be able to apply bioinformatics tools for the processing of NGS data. The course provides a methodological introduction and a hands-on training in bioinformatic analysis for beginners in the field of targeted amplicon sequencing. It aims at providing you with a basic understanding of the bioinformatic steps needed to process metabarcoding data.
A maximum of 20 participants will be allowed for the course and a first come first serve basis applies. The course language is English.
The lecture series delivers the methodological background for metabarcoding of trophic interactions and for investigations of other environmental DNA (eDNA using NGS techniques). Current examples of NGS usage in these ecological disciplines, the different sequencing platforms, study design and workflow for NGS are presented. Besides laboratory workflows, computational requirements and software for metabarcoding analysis are addressed.
During the practical data analysis, an example dataset from targeted amplicon sequencing on an Illumina platform will be bioinformatically analysed by each participant with support of the lecturers. Course members learn which software is needed for the different steps of data analysis such as for example the quality check of NGS raw data, which steps are necessary to receive reads out of the raw data and how to identify organisms from the obtained reads with a local BLAST search. The outcome of the dataset will be discussed within the group.
Please note that this course does not include the application of different bioinformatics pipelines or the statistical analysis of metabarcoding data. It rather aims at providing you with a basic understandig of the bioinformatic steps needed to process metabarcoding data. This will allow you to work with and modify existing bioinformatic protocols.
Participants will receive a certificate of the University of Innsbruck in Metabarcoding Organism Traces and Interactions (MOTI). Those participants who wish to obtain the ECTS credits (e.g. Master, PhD students) have to generate a protocol on the practical coursework and to pass a final exam.
The course will be provided by Univ. Prof. Dr. Michael Traugott, Yasemin Günay, MSc and DI Veronika Neidel whose major research topic is molecular trophic ecology. Since many years they work with molecular tools to investigate eDNA and feeding interactions including vertebrates and invertebrates in terrestrial and aquatic systems.
For further information on the course contact Michael (Michael.Traugott@uibk.ac.at)
Download preliminary MOTI course program
Download additional MOTI information
Costs & Enrolment
The one-week course is held from the 23rd to the 27th of September 2019 and comes at € 600. This includes course and bench fees, course materials and documentation, as well as a one-week ticket for the public transportation system in Innsbruck.
A reduced fee of € 540 applies if the MOTI course is booked in combination with the MATI course.
Special rates for accommodation are available for booking until the 5th of July 2019. The rooms are located in walking distance to the campus. Please check out ‘Accommodation’ for more detailed information.
Online enrolment is currently closed
If you need further help with the enrolment, please check these instructions
or contact the Division of Continuing Education via E-Mail weiterbildung@uibk.ac.at or Telephone: +43 512 507 39402