Links within this page: Materials | Key Dates | Topics | Submission Guidelines | Review Process
The purpose of the Tutorials program is to build knowledge and provide hands-on training in "cutting-edge" topics relevant to the bioinformatics field. Tutorials offer participants an opportunity to get an introduction to important established topics in bioinformatics, to learn about new areas of bioinformatics research, or to develop advanced skills in areas about which they are already knowledgeable.
Tutorials may include any form of presentation such as brief talks or panel discussions but should include hands-on exercises. Tutorials serve an educational function and are expected to provide a balanced perspective on a field of research. They should not focus on the presenters' own research or software, unless balanced with other tools in the same realm. However, tutorials on broadly used bioinformatics tools will be considered.
A scientific committee will select the tutorials of good quality that best fit the characteristics of the meeting out of the proposed tutorials. We expect 4 to 6 Tutorials will be finally selected (all of which will be provided in person in-situ). Additional tutorials may also be selected if they are online.
The conference organizers are able to offer a complimentary conference registration for up to 2 tutorial presenters. Tutorial organizers may choose to share the value of the complimentary registration if the tutorial has additional presenters.
Materials
The tutorial speakers agree to provide participants with teaching materials that include:
- Copies of the final slides in Powerpoint or PDF format for posting online.
- Copies of relevant articles/book chapters published by the presenters provided as Supplementary
- Information. Presenters will have to obtain copyright permission from their publishers, as required.
- Links to repositories containing training materials.
- Make your training materials FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), as much as possible.
Key Dates
Topics
- Bioinformatics Data Analysis (in a specific topic, e.g.: Single-cell; Multiomics integration; Spatial transcriptomics; Metagenomics;
Proteomics; Genomics; Structural bioinformatics; Microbiome). - Data Science & Data Analytics in Biological Sciences (such as Biomedical, Agricultural, Microbiology, Ecological Sciences)
- Data Visualization for Bioinformatics
- AI, Deep Learning and Machine Learning for Bioinformatics
- Bioinformatics Training and Education
- Bioinformatics Platforms (e.g. Bioconductor, Galaxy) or Workflow Tools (e.g. NextFlow, Snakemake)
- Best practices in Bioinformatic software (e.g. learning Github, using PyTorch, Python coding standards, R programming, etc)
Submission Guidelines
Tutorials can be planned to be either in-person or fully online, but should not be hybrid. (eg. tutorial presenters and participants should either be fully online or in-person).
Tutorials presented in-person will be held on November 9, 2026. Tutorials presented online will be held on a weekday (TBD) prior to the conference start. If submitting an online tutorial proposal you will be asked to confirm your preferred time zone for presentation.
Tutorials timing for full-day or half-day sessions:
In-person: November 9, 2026
Full Day Schedule: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, (10:45-11:00 am Coffee; Lunch Break 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm)
Half Day Schedule: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm (Break at 10:45-11:00 am) or 1:00-4:00 pm (Break at 4:00 - 4:15 pm)
Virtual: TBD
Full Day Schedule: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (Breaks 10:30-10:45am, 12-1pm, and 2:30-2:45pm)
Half Day Schedule: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Breaks at 10:30-10:45am and 11:45am-12:00pm)
Tutorial proposals should contain the following information in a maximum of 4 pages:
- Title of Tutorial
- Abstract for Tutorial
- Learning Objectives for Tutorial
- Short promotional blurb for promotion if selected
- Maximum number of attendees participating
- Draft Schedule of the tutorial including coffee breaks (half-day or full-day schedule) - Include draft talk titles or draft content to be covered in each section
- Identify and highlight blocks of hands-on content in your submission
- Draft List of Tutorial Speakers with titles and affiliations
- Intended audience and level - Describe the audience for which the Tutorial is aimed, and at which level it would be taught (e.g. beginner, past experience, advanced knowledge).
The final proposal must be uploaded as a PDF file only.
During the submission process be sure to provide a brief description of the tutorial that will be used on the website to promote it to delegates, and to confirm that if selected, you will submit draft and final tutorial materials for committee review by the listed deadlines.
Review Process
All tutorial submissions will be evaluated by a committee, which will consider the following criteria:
- Relevance, interest, and value of the topic to ISMB attendees and COSI communities
- The tutorial should achieve a good balance between the theoretical component and hands-on exercises
- Completeness, clarity, and quality of the proposal and materials including schedule of tutorial
- Educational value and effectiveness of the proposed presentation approach
- Educational value and effectiveness of the proposed presentation approach and FAIRness of the data, tools and content