GeneLab for Colleges and Universities Training Resources
GeneLab for Colleges and Universities (GL4U)
The NASA GeneLab project provides open access to space-relevant multi-omics data, hosted on the Open Science Data Repository (OSDR), which can be mined to understand the impacts of spaceflight on biological systems. To engage the scientific community with the Space Biology field and increase the number of scientists who understand and utilize GeneLab data and data processing pipelines, GeneLab created GeneLab for Colleges and Universities (GL4U). GL4U offers space biology-relevant training in bioinformatics to prospective students, educators, and citizen scientists through live bootcamps and open-access on-demand courses.
During the bootcamps, participants complete the GL4U: Introduction module set and one omics-specific module set. The GL4U: Introduction modules include lecture-style overviews of NASA, the Science Mission Directorate, Space Biology, Open Science, GeneLab, and short read sequencing as well as hands-on introduction of the command line and basic Unix and R commands using Jupyter and/or Google Colab notebooks. The GL4U: Omics-specific module sets expand on the knowledge gained from the GL4U: Introduction module set and include lectures on the experimental design, data generation, and associated technology usage for a particular type of omics data followed by hands-on processing and analysis of a space-relevant omics dataset hosted on OSDR using GeneLab’s standard processing pipelines. All bootcamp content is publicly available on GitHub (see the “Previous GL4U Bootcamps” section below for details).
The GL4U program currently hosts an on-demand course via the Canvas platform that consists of the GL4U: Introduction and GL4U: RNA Sequencing module sets. The GL4U: RNA Sequencing module set includes lectures on RNA-Seq experimental design, data generation, data processing, and analysis combined with hands-on processing, analysis, and visualization of an OSDR spaceflight transcriptomics dataset using Google Colab notebooks. Students who successfully complete all modules receive a digital certificate of completion. See the “GL4U On-Demand” section below for more info and instructions on how to enroll.
Previous GL4U Bootcamps:
- GL4U: Pilot RNAseq Student Bootcamp – In June 2021, GL4U partnered with San Jose State University (SJSU) and Universities Space Research Association (USRA) to host the pilot GL4U: RNAseq Student bootcamp for SJSU undergraduate students. The bootcamp covered the GL4U: Introduction and GL4U: RNA Sequencing module sets. All content from the bootcamp including links to video recordings from the bootcamp are publicly available on June 2021 Student Pilot GitHub.
- GL4U: Pilot RNAseq Educator Bootcamp – In June 2022, GL4U partnered with Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Planetary Protection Center of Excellence to host the pilot GL4U: RNAseq Educator bootcamp for professors and graduate student teaching assistants from 4 different institutions: California State University, Northridge, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, New Mexico State University, and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The bootcamp covered the GL4U: Introduction and GL4U: RNA Sequencing module sets. All content from the bootcamp including links to video recordings from the bootcamp are publicly available on June 2022 Educator Pilot GitHub.
- GL4U: Pilot Amplicon Seq Student Bootcamp – In July 2023, GL4U partnered with Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Planetary Protection Center of Excellence and California State University, Los Angeles to host the first in-person GL4U: Amplicon Seq bootcamp for CSULA undergraduate and graduate students. The bootcamp covered the GL4U: Introduction and GL4U: Amplicon Sequencing module sets. All content from the bootcamp is publicly available on the GL4U: Amplicon Sequencing Bootcamp 2023 Pilot at CSULA wiki page.
- Virtual GL4U: RNAseq Student and Educator Bootcamp – In September/October 2024, GL4U hosted a live virtual RNAseq bootcamp for both students and educators from California State University, Los Angeles, University of New Mexico, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, and the University of California Santa Cruz. The bootcamp covered the GL4U: Introduction and GL4U: RNA Sequencing module sets. All content from the bootcamp is publicly available on the GL4U: RNAseq Virtual Bootcamp 2024 wiki page.
GL4U On-Demand
- To enroll in the GL4U course, first log-in to the NASA STEM Gateway System then navigate to the following URL and click the “Apply” button: https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/s/course-offering/a0BSJ000007TPlP/genelab-for-colleges-and-universities
- Note: It may take up to 2-3 business days to access the course after applying
- If you do not have a NASA STEM Gateway account or need assistance, follow the instructions in the GL4U Registration Walkthrough document.
- Course availability is first come, first serve. Once you register for the GL4U course, you have until the end of the calendar year to complete the course.
Sign up for the GL4U Mailing List:
- Stay up-to-date on future GL4U events/bootcamps
- Send an e-email to GL4U-join@lists.nasa.gov with the Subject: subscribe