This 3-day online workshop will focus on topics ranging from basic experimental design to advanced downstream analyses of mRNA-seq data as well as tips to publish in high-impact journals.

Hands-on training from RNA-seq data to publication figures / tables without UNIX / Python / R scripts.
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Upon the completion of this 3-day online workshop, participants will be capable of the following:

• Conceptualising a transcriptome experiment with different considerations
• Understanding a complete workflow of mRNA-seq data acquisition, processing, assembly, functional annotation, analysis, and interpretation
• Aware of the different analysis workflows and software packages in RNA-seq analysis
• Competent in submitting RNA-seq related files to the NCBI public repository
• Exposure to different approaches for integrating transcriptomics with other omics towards systems understanding
• Understand the applications of AI in RNA-seq analysis
• Network opportunities with other researchers in the field & sharing of knowledge via voluntary flash talks
• Walk-through on de novo transcriptomic analysis and mining RNA-seq data
• Hands-on in downstream functional analyses: DEG, WEGO, KEGG pathway, clustering, functional enrichment using Excel, Perseus, ExpressAnalyst, and other web-based tools.
• Producing publication-standard result figures

1. Principles of transcriptomics
2. Experimental design & considerations
3. Technical talks from reputable local companies on the latest developments in the field
4. Comprehensive topics, including single-cell RNA-seq, spatialomics, STOmics, etc.
5. Complete workflow of transcriptomic analysis
6. Functional annotation & enrichment analysis
7. AI applications in RNA-seq
8. Biologist-friendly approach to downstream omics analyses using Perseus, ExpressAnalyst, and web-based tools
9. Data submission to NCBI public repository
10. Tips for publishing transcriptomics journal article
11. Workshop materials & video recordings will be available for access after the workshop
12. Global participants with opportunities of consultation or sharing via flash talks
13. ​Certificate & LinkedIn Badge of completion

For online participants, please download and install Microsoft Teams for the online sessions. You won't need a computer with very high specifications.

​Minimum requirements: Windows OS (ideally 64-bit Windows 10 and above) with minimum 2 GB RAM and 10 GB hard disk storage to run MS Excel (2016 and above) and Perseus software for day 2 and day 3 practicals, respectively. For Mac users, please run Windows via Parallels or Bootcamp etc.
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We will be using Perseus v2.0.9. Installers can be downloaded here. You just need to unzip the Perseus folder.

It's recommended that you use two devices (e.g., desktop/smartphone + laptop) or dual monitor setup to allow easy following of online demos during practicals.

For hands-on practicals, make sure that all software (Excel & Perseus) can run on your laptop before the workshop. Due to time constraint we don't have the time to individually troubleshoot software installation. As a pre-workshop training, you can try out this tutorial with the demo dataset to get familiar with Perseus basic functions. You can refer to Perseus demo videos Part 1 & Part 2.

Don't worry if your laptop cannot run Perseus, you can still learn a lot from this workshop on transcriptomics, different technologies, analysis workflow, applications, data interpretation, and visualisation of omics data.

• You're a researcher, academician, or student interested in transcriptomics and its applications.

• You're interested in advanced skills in RNA-seq analysis.

• You want user-friendly platforms for the interpretation of RNA-seq data.

• You got the transcriptome results from the sequencing vendor but not sure how to interpret them.

• You wish to analyse the transcriptome data hands-on, especially as a biologist instead of a data scientist.

• You want to learn on how to mine for biological knowledge from transcriptome data without programming/coding.

• You work on a transcriptomic project and want to learn on how to publish your results as a high-impact journal article.

This workshop is opened to local & international participants, from beginner to advanced researchers in molecular biology / omics. The content of this workshop is transferable to other omics studies such as proteomics.

• Associate Professor Dr. Goh Hoe Han is a plant molecular biologist who obtained his PhD from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2011 before starting his first acedemic position at the Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Upon joining INBIOSIS, he pioneered the Plant Functional Genomics Research Group focusing on the molecular exploration of tropical plants and crop improvement using functional genomics approaches. Some of the tropical plant species include kesum, ketum, Rafflesia, and Nepenthes pitcher plants, as well as important crops, such as mangosteen, papaya, rice, tomato, and oil palm. Fundamental understandings on the molecular aspects of these plants are crucial for their bioprospecting, industrial application, and crop improvement.

• Dr Goh is keen on industrial collaboration in precision biotechnology for tropical plant improvement and also the commercialisation of novel recombinant plant enzymes. If you are interested to collaborate or be part of the plant functional genomics group, please email to gohhh@ukm.edu.my.