Workshop Tutorial 1 ( May, 27, 2026):

Objective: This event will be led by current Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Data Science (BCBDS) trainees to raise awareness about and engage undergraduate students in the broad applications and career paths in BCBDS.

Audience: Undergraduates interested in learning more about BCBDS career paths and graduate students keen to share their BCBDS experiences

Timing	Topic: Bioinformatics as a Career: An insider view
08:00-9:00	Breakfast and Registration
09:00-9:15	Welcome & Introduction (In-person + Virtual) Audience participation activity on slido: What do you think is the role and importance of bioinformatics in life and health science research? What kinds of jobs do you think benefit from bioinformatics skills?
09:15-10:15	Interactive Panel Discussion with Trainee Presenters (In-person + Virtual) Each shares educational background, research focus and career journey: Academic graduate trainee Industry-based post-graduate trainee Government-based post-graduate trainee Question bank on: Choosing the right BCBDS career path Developing essential BCBDS skills (do I need a PhD) & resources available Gaining BCBDS experience I wish I knew XX before starting my BCBDS career path & other barriers Finding BCBDS career opportunities & challenges of job market + Questions from the undergraduate audience
10:15-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:00	Building your career path In this guided activity, participants will work in small groups to help each other identify their professional interests and connect them to the career profiles from the ISCB competency framework. Once they’ve identified a set of career profiles, they will work on creating a basic individual development plan.
12:00-12:55	Lunch & Networking Session (includes participants from Workshop #2) Career tables: Each table will be focused on one career profile. The table will be facilitated by an individual with a given type of career. Participants will be encouraged to join their chosen career table as well as to explore alternative careers One-on-one: Conversations and informal mentoring
12:55-13:00	Concluding Activity Audience participation activity on Slido: What do you think is the role of bioinformatics in life and health science research? What kinds of jobs do you think benefit from bioinformatics skills?

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Workshop Tutorial 2 ( May, 27, 2026):

Objective: This event will be a working group meeting for early career (EC) professionals to gather the infrastructure, resources and career supports needed to elevate and retain ECs in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Data Science (BCBDS) careers in Canada.

Audience: Early career professionals in BCBDS who want to become aware of available career supports and bring attention to the gaps, and leaders who want to collaborate on finding solutions to help ECs in BCBDS excel.

Timing	Topic: Nurturing an Early Career (EC) growth ecosystem in Canada
12:00-13:00	Lunch & Networking Session (includes participants from Workshop #1)
13:00-13:15	Welcome & Introductions (In-person) Audience participation activity on Slido: What is the most urgent support needed by ECs in bioinformatics/computational biology? My current challenge is?
13:15-14:15	Setting the Stage - Early Career Professional Perspectives (In-person + Virtual) Each shares career journey, opportunities and challenges encountered to date: Research institute EC Academic EC Industry EC, Government EC Entrepreneur EC
14:15-14:45	Coffee Break & Networking
14:45-16:15	Breakout Groups (In-person + Virtual) Each to identify opportunities and barriers, and propose solutions/strategies: Funding and grant opportunities Collaboration and networking Mentorship and career development Career advancement and EDI Work-life balance and mental health
16:15-16:55	Report Back & Next Steps (In-person + Virtual) Discussion highlights (1 slide) and recommendations (1 slide) per breakout group Next steps to drafting a BCBDS professional development strategy Identification of initiative owners
16:55-17:00	Concluding Activity Audience participation activity on Slido: What is the most urgent support needed by ECs in bioinformatics/computational biology? Was a solution proposed for my current challenge?

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