Bioinformatics training: a review of challenges, actions and support requirements

Maria Victoria Schneider, James Watson, Teresa Attwood, Kristian Rother, Aidan Budd, Jennifer McDowall, Allegra Via, Pedro Fernandes, Tommy Nyronen, Thomas Blicher, Phil Jones, Marie-Claude Blatter, Javier De Las Rivas, David Phillip Judge,Wouter van der Gool and Cath Brooksbank

2010

DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbq021

Published: Briefings In BioInformatics

ISSN: 1477-4054

PMID: 20562256

Abstract

As bioinformatics becomes increasingly central to research in the molecular life sciences, the need to train non-bioinformaticians to make the most of bioinformatics resources is growing. Here, we review the key challenges and pitfalls to providing effective training for users of bioinformatics services, and discuss successful training strategies shared by a diverse set of bioinformatics trainers. We also identify steps that trainers in bioinformatics could take together to advance the state of the art in current training practices. The ideas presented in this article derive from the first Trainer Networking Session held under the auspices of the EU-funded SLING Integrating Activity, which took place in November 2009.