Computational RNA Workshops

I have been teaching computational RNA biology since 2005, in university courses, invited workshops, and small-group training settings. These sessions are built for people who want practical competence rather than a purely theoretical overview.

Some groups need a compact introduction to RNA structure prediction. Others want a deeper session on ViennaRNA, RNA design, or therapeutic applications. In each case, the material is adjusted to the background of the audience and the scientific questions they actually care about.

I have taught computational RNA biology at the University of Vienna, the University of Freiburg, and FH Campus Wien. The workshop formats below grow out of that experience and can be adapted to research labs, biotech teams, doctoral programmes, or interdisciplinary groups that want a more structured way into the field.

Workshop Formats

Who This Is For

  • Biotech R&D teams working on mRNA, siRNA, or structured RNA therapeutics
  • Academic labs doing experimental RNA biology who want to build computational depth
  • PhD programs and graduate training courses in RNA bioinformatics
  • Translational and interdisciplinary research groups

What Participants Should Expect

The emphasis is practical. Depending on the format and the audience, participants usually leave with:

  • a clearer understanding of what RNA structure predictions can and cannot support biologically
  • hands-on familiarity with relevant ViennaRNA workflows or related analysis steps
  • worked examples and materials that can be reused after the session
  • a better sense of how to connect computational output to experimental decisions

Preparation

Before a workshop, I usually ask for a short description of the audience, prior experience, and the main scientific questions the group wants to address. For hands-on sessions, it also helps to know whether participants will use their own data, example datasets, or a shared training environment.

Example Agenda

For a half-day ViennaRNA in Practice session, a typical structure is:

  • short conceptual introduction to RNA secondary structure, ensembles, and what the command-line tools actually compute
  • guided walkthrough of a small ViennaRNA workflow, from sequence input to structure prediction and probability output
  • hands-on exercise with example sequences or a small dataset supplied by the group
  • discussion of interpretation, common pitfalls, and how the workflow connects to the participants' own research questions

How a Workshop Is Organised

Each workshop begins with a short scoping exchange to understand the background of the group, the tools already in use, and what the session should achieve. Content and pacing are adjusted from there. Participants receive materials they can continue working with after the workshop.

Custom formats are available for groups with specific topics or time constraints outside the four standard options above.