2024 BTS Camp

 Biotechnology Sequencing (BTS) Camp for High School Students

Next Generation Sequencing Data Analysis

Do you want the power to understand genome sequencing data?

The BTS camp will give you the skills to analyze next-gen raw sequencing data through the use of the Linux operating system and various Linux commands to run programs.

This camp is all computational but a crucial component of sequencing research. Sequencing data analysis is a skillset highly sought in many biomedical labs.

Like all our camps, this is also a research camp where you will generate results while learning necessary science and skills. Sounds intimidating? No worries. We have wonderful, fun group leaders who will guide you along the way. No programming experience is needed, but we will assume you have a high school biology-level understanding of transcription and translation. Though minimal knowledge is required, we do need your attention, curiosity, and most importantly, open mind to fully engage, including participating in oddball games.

The Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering (MICDE) has provided access to the University of Michigan’s high performance computing Great Lakes Slurm cluster for all campers to run calculations in a Linux environment.

Example of camper-generated research results

All campers learn to use the Linux clusters to obtain sequencing mapping results like this

DATE: July 29 – August 2, 2024 (Mon – Fri)

TIME: 9 am – 4 pm, Pacific time (noon – 7 pm, Eastern time)

LOCATION: Scripps Research Institute Campus, La Jolla, CA or Virtual (Hybrid format)

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Academically motivated current (2023-24) high school students interested in computers, math, science, and medicine.

PREFERRED CANDIDATES: Students who took the Computational Biology camp

PREREQUISITE: High school biology class

RESEARCH PROJECT: Using real human data, identify who has specific infections such as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 causing virus) or RSV. You may also identify new variants if you finish all other tasks.

TUITION: $770 (including one-year miRcore student membership $300 value)

        With a second, virtual camp: $1,350;  With a second, in-person camp: $1,430

        With two additional virtual camps: $1,910;  With one additional virtual and one in-person camp: $1,990

A computer with internet connection is required to join the online camp. 

APPLICATION FEE: $50

APPLICATION

 Sponsors:wiselogo

MICDE logo

Goals

  1. Expose high school students to career opportunities in biomedicine through hands-on experience in computational genomics and prepare them for the emerging era of medical genomics, when all doctors must be well-acquainted with genetic discoveries, technologies, and applications.
  2. Identify potential GIDAS (Genes In Diseases And Symptoms) club leaders at their schools.

 

Specific Aims

  1. Become familiar with Unix commands and run programs using the command lines.
  2. Understand nucleotide hybridization and related thermodynamics.
  3. Understand next generation sequencing (NGS) technology.
  4. Analyze NGS data and identify who has COVID-19 (and new variants) or other virus.
  5. Understand the progress of biotechnology.

Day-to-Day Focus

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Themes -Biotechnology
-COVID-19
-Thermodynamics		 -PCR
-Next Gen Sequencing
-DNA-seq, RNA-seq

-Inter-disciplinary introduction

– Single nucleotie polymorphism

 -Careers introduction
-Functional mutations		 -Business introduction
Activities -Linux preparation
-Basic functions		 -Linux cluster
-Advanced Linux		 -Running programs to map to reference genome -Research time -Presentation preparation
Goals

-Obtain SARS-CoV-2 sequences

-First business pitch

 -Connect to server
-Moderate biology understanding
-Begin project ideas		 -Know research flow
-Identify pitfalls		 -Application of research
-80% done with research		 -Final presentations with business pitch!

 

Tentative career focus

University scientists (academic career)
Business
Law (ethics, patents, policy, etc)
Pharmaceutics/biotechnology (careers in industry)

Friday

Each group will pitch a biotechnology business plan based on the week’s research.

Refund Policy

– The $100 administrative fee will not be refunded once the camp application is accepted.
– If a student withdraws, the camp fee paid minus the administrative fee will be refunded if we are notified by May 7, 2024.
– If a student withdraws between May 8 and three weeks before the camp starting date, we will refund 50 percent of the camp fee paid.
– Refunds will be given until three weeks before the camp starting date.