Workshops & Conferences

Key Information:

• Location: LANAVET Annex, Yaounde, Cameroon
• Dates: April 20 – 22, 2026
• Participants: 30 Participants
• Application Deadline: April 5, 2026

This workshop focuses on strengthening research capacity of postgraduate students and early-career researchers in molecular biology.

Workshop Overview:

With biodiversity loss accelerating globally, the need to identify and document species is now more urgent. DNA barcoding is a powerful tool to address biodiversity loss for samples difficult to identify using morphological methods.

African researchers face challenges such as limited facilities, high training costs, and scarce research funding. Many struggle to fully analyze genetic data due to a lack of expertise. This training course aims to bridge the gap by enhancing the practical and analytical capacities of African researchers in molecular biology.

The workshop will run for three days and will provide theoretical aspects, hands-on laboratory training, data analysis, SMBE information, and funding opportunities.

Target Audience:

• Postgraduate students and early-career African researchers in molecular biology, systematics, genetics or related fields
• Scientists working on biodiversity, conservation, or agricultural improvement

Workshop Structure:

Day 1: Hands-on training in DNA Extraction and PCR Amplification

• Objective: To equip participants with hands-on training in key molecular biology techniques, including DNA extraction and PCR Amplification.
• Presentations on laboratory techniques, sample preparation, DNA extraction, and PCR setup.
• Practical Session on sample preparation, DNA extraction, and PCR setup.

Day 2: Agarose Gel Electrophoresis and Sequence Analysis

• Objective: To equip participants with hands-on skills on Agarose Gel Electrophoresis and provide fundamental skills in Sequence
• Practical session on Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
• Oral Presentation and Practical session on sequence analysis (BLAST, Sequence Alignment, Phylogenetic Tree Generation, Group Assignment

Day 3: Introduction to SMBE and Grant Opportunities

• Objective: To familiarize participants with SMBE, its resources, basics of grant writing and funding opportunities.
• Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE)
• Group presentations
• Basics of fellowships, scholarships, travel grants, and research funding