Past Training
NRF-SAIAB, Makhanda (Grahamstown) (in-person only)
The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), in collaboration with DIPLOMICS, ran a training workshop aimed at upskilling researchers interested in whole genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore technology (ONT). The training included both laboratory and data analysis components.
The training was held in person at NRF-SAIAB (Makhanda) and covered the following topics:
Understood the mechanisms and chemistry behind Oxford Nanopore Sequencing
Quality control and requirements of high molecular weight genomic DNA
Hands-on experience of preparing genomic DNA for sequence analysis
Practiced loading flowcells
Exposure to MinKnow (software used to conduct ONT sequencing)
Preparation of raw data for genome assembly
Whole genome assembly of raw data and evaluation of assembly quality
Whole Genome Nanopore Sequencing Training Workshop
General Omics
9 - 12 June 2026


PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK
Several ways the training has benefited our participants:
"The theory component of the training really helped me fully understand what I was doing when I was carrying out the practical component."
"The extra information about laboratory practices (like which extraction protocol) that work best for successful sequencing. The course itself was very useful and this extra information was like a cherry on top."
"I will be applying the skills learnt to my own 1KSA project where I will be sequencing the whole genome of a fish species endemic to South Africa. I also hope to use these skills to publish the mitogenome of another fish species."
"I hope to apply the knowledge gained from the ONT Whole Genome Sequencing and Assembly workshop to strengthen my research in biological pest control and agricultural biotechnology. I plan to apply whole genome sequencing and assembly approaches to support the identification and characterisation of novel baculoviruses and other entomopathogenic viruses. These techniques will enable more efficient analysis of viral genomes, detection of genetic variation, and improved understanding of virus diversity and evolution."
"This workshop was extremely valuable as I now have a much better understanding of how to assess DNA quality, as well as the different library preparation kits available and how to choose the most appropriate one depending on the sample type and research question. The training also gave me a better understanding of the sequencing workflow and the downstream bioinformatics analysis."
"The skills I learnt during the workshop will be implemented within our research team, as several of our projects involve sequencing bacterial isolates. I have already started applying what I learnt by assembling genomes from our own sequencing data, and I feel much more confident using the different commands and scripts for genome assembly and evaluating assembly quality. I have also shared some of the knowledge from the workshop with other members of our research team, and they are just as excited to learn more. Over the next six months, I hope to continue applying these skills across our sequencing projects, improve our analysis workflow, and help build our team's confidence in nanopore sequencing and bioinformatics."
PRESENTERS & INSTRUCTORS

Dr Gwynneth Matcher
Instrument Scientist

Jody Olivier
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