In this three day workshop, participants are introduced to the current main Long-Read Sequencing methods of PAcBio and Nanopore as well as Linux and bioinformatic workflows needed to analyse long-read data.

The workshop will begin with an introduction to PacBio and Nanopore sequencing, covering its principles and differences from other sequencing methods as well as discussing the evolution of Long-Read technology and its current role in the sequencing landscape. Participants also explore various applications, including genome assembly, real-time sequencing and transcriptomics, illustrated by case studies highlighting its effectiveness in research and clinical settings. A central component of the first workshop day is a practical part in which a sequencing library is first prepared and then used for real-time sequencing.

On the second day, students will start getting familiar with the Linux operating system and receive an introduction to the command line, with a focus on file and directory management. No prior bioinformatics knowledge is required.

On the third, bioinformatics workflow associated will be outlined, covering the standard processes from raw data acquisition to final genome assembly. Participants will learn about key tools such as Minimap2, Canu, and Flye, as well as the advantages and pitfalls of Long-Read sequencing, including long read lengths and potential error rates.