What we do...
The Scottish Bioinformatics Forum supports both the academic research base and commercial organisations by actively promoting training and knowledge transfer of bioinformatics skills. Our functions include facilitating multi-centre collaborations, industry and academic joint ventures, partnering, knowledge transfer, and bioinformatics training. As such we perform an important role in promoting bioinformatics as a key enabling technology in Life Science research and development.
• Training
Training
The SBF runs bioinformatics related:
• training workshops
• seminars and conferences
• a summer school
SBF training events cover a wide range of topics, directed by the requirements of the bioinformatics community. Events range from well attended networking events of general bioinformatics interest to highly specific workshops, with attendance limited to small groups in order to maximise delegate participation and learning. Members of SBF are encouraged to suggest themes for training events.
Details of current and past training events can be found in the events page of this web site.
Facilitation
A major role of the SBF is to help the Scottish bioinformatics community to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them. It does by facilitating knowledge transfer within the Scottish bioinformatics community, and by seeking opportunities for cooperation between its members, The SBF plays a proactive role in bringing people with complementary interests together. Enhancing communication within the community through this website, newsletters and the SBF email forum also ensures that members are fully aware of opportunities to enhance their research.
Mediation
The Scottish Bioinformatics Forum has in-depth knowledge of the bioinformatics skills base within Scotland, and is well placed to identify projects that will give Scotland a competitive edge in bioinformatics. It plays an active part in bringing experts together to work on specific projects that have been identified either by the SBF management or by its members. The SBF brings an objective outlook and can mediate potential projects to ensure that the most positive outcomes are achieved for both the research groups involved and for the Scottish bioinformatics community as a whole.
Expert advice
The SBF can provide or source expert advice to help researchers to solve their problems. Advice can range from how to use bioinformatics as an enabling technology to answering specific queries from researchers working with bioinformatics. Members are also encouraged to use the SBF email forum to tap into the wealth of knowledge available from other members.
Scottish Bioinformatics Forum Projects
From time to time, the SBF will issue calls for specific projects that it has identified will benefit the Scottish bioinformatics community. Limited funding will be provided for these SBF projects. Please contact the SBF if you have a project that you would like to discuss with us.
For a list of current projects, please visit the ‘opportunities’ section.
Sponsorship
The Scottish Bioinformatics Forum encourages members or affiliates to apply for funds to facilitate scientific meetings and seminars on the subject of bioinformatics. Applications should included information on the proposed location, date, subject, aims, target audience, and amount requested, and be made directly to the SBF coordinator. Further details view our meetings sponsorship PDF.
The SBF also seeks to support the development of bioinformatics-related skills, research, teaching and infrastructure resources in Scotland. To this end, the SBF will make available a limited number of sponsorship awards each year. Funding amounts have no lower limit, but will normally not exceed £5000.00 for any individual award. Applications will be considered on a continuous basis throughout the year. Sponsorship can cover costs of organising or holding events, development of bioinformatics resources, teaching, studentships, or small research projects. Further details and application form are available here.
Bioinformatics email forum
This is an email based forum that allows you to discuss and interact with other researchers in bioinformatics in Scotland. Archives are open, but only members of the Scottish Bioinformatics Forum can participate in discussions. More details here.
