SRF Skills Hub
The Shared Research Facilities deliver a range of skills‑development courses. These are designed to help you build confidence in both the theory and practical application of our core technologies.
Our goal is to support researchers (applicable to academic, clinical or industry-based) at every stage: whether you are new to a technique or seeking to deepen your expertise, our training programme is designed to enhance capability, improve research outcomes, and support you in making full use of the world‑class facilities available through the MVLS SRF.
An Introduction to Omics
Upcoming Dates
10, 11 and 12 November 2026
Speakers
Gavin Blackburn, John Cole, Andrew Gillen
Description
A 3-day course aimed at familiarising participants with the basis and application of various omics disciplines. By the end of the course users should understand the basis of the various omics disciplines, the instrumentation used to generate high-throughput biological data and key applications. Participants will also be aware of the issues and rationale involved in choosing a particular technology and experimental design for their scientific question of interest, and appreciate the nature of other challenges in omics. The course will be taught in person.
The course will cover:
- Genomics, transcriptomics, single-cell and spatial omics – introducing core concepts, experimental workflows, and typical applications.
- Proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics – covering foundational principles, instrumentation, and data exploration.
- Experimental design and statistical omics data analysis – providing a guided overview of early-stage statistical data analysis for bulk RNA-seq, proteomics and metabolomics datasets. This will include differential comparison approaches and visualisation methods such as volcano plots, heatmaps and principal component analysis (PCA).
Course fee
£340
Cancellation policy
A refund will be issued if a booking is cancelled more than one week prior to the workshop.
Target group
Research students and staff who wish to deepen their understanding of high throughput data generation.
Registration and enquiries
Please provide a budget centre or PO number for the course fee and state which course you would like to register for.
Bioinformatics and R for Wet-Lab Biologists
About the course
We’re excited to offer a comprehensive and highly rated training programme designed to equip wet-lab scientists with all the practical skills and confidence to carry out their own bioinformatics data analysis, of any dataset.
The course is entry level – aimed at those with no previous experience of bioinformatics or coding, is gently paced but comprehensive. Covering the theory and practical skills in analysis of Transcriptomic, Genomic, Epigenomic, Metagenomic, Single Cell and Spatial Omic data.
Since its launch in 2020 we have had over 3,000 PhD, Post-Doc and PI attendees, and with a mean rating of 9.4 / 10 for course content and delivery, we must be doing something right!
Format
The course uses an innovative and popular combination of self-paced learning supplemented by live weekly Q&A sessions, via Teams. The course therefore runs all year round and fits into your work schedule. However, you can still benefit from 1-1 instruction by attending the drop-ins.
It is open to anyone, internal or external to University of Glasgow, and at any career stage.
Modules included in the course
The course is split into 6 modules, all housed on our Moodle training page. The first module “Omic Data Analysis & Visualisation Using R” is the essential starting place for beginners. It teaches the theort of omic analysis and how to use R to handle and analyse omic datasets. Upon completion you will have the skills and knowledge to analyse most omic datasets.
The remaining 5 modules are “follow on” modules which can be taken in any order or combination (including not at all), and cover advanced topics such as “Single Cell and Spatial Omics” or “Clinical Data in Omics”.
All other modules are “follow on” modules, and can be taken pic n’ mic style, in any order or combination, or not at all. Dependant on need. They cover more advanced topics such as “Single Cell and Spatial Omics” or “Clinical Data in Omics”.
- Omic Data Analysis & Visualisation using R (10 sessions)
- Single Cell & Spatial Omics (10 sessions)
- Further Omics, Statistics & Clinical Data in R (10 sessions)
- Essential Command Line Omics and Genome Biology (10 sessions)
- Metagenomics (4 sessions)
- Python for Biologists (8 sessions)
Course fee
Internal £495
External £695
Target Group
Research students and staff who wish to deepen their understanding of high throughput data generation and analysis.
Registration and enquiries
Please register here: https://forms.office.com/r/yu0jhVi426 or contact John Cole for more information.
Flow Cytometry Fundamentals
Upcoming Dates
TBA
Speakers
Diane Vaughan, Alana Hamilton, Hannah Scales
Description
Join our four-day theoretical course designed to build a strong foundation in flow cytometry and help you generate robust, reproducible, publication-quality data.
Throughout the course, you'll explore the key principles behind flow cytometry, learn how to avoid common pitfalls, and gain practical insights into experimental design, controls, analysis, and data interpretation.
Day 1: Understanding the Technology
How flow cytometers work and why it matters
Fluorescence and fluorochromes: why not all dyes are created equal
Day 2: Ensuring Data Quality
Compensation: correcting for spectral spillover
Essential controls for reliable flow cytometry experiments
Day 3: Experimental Design & Optimisation
Optimising sample preparation for better results
Panel design strategies for successful flow cytometry studies
Day 4: Data Analysis & Interpretation
Introduction to flow cytometry data analysis principles
Understanding statistics for flow cytometry
Getting started with FlowJo for data analysis
By the end of the course, you'll have a clearer understanding of how to design, perform, and analyse flow cytometry experiments with confidence.
Course Fee
£50 per day
Cancellation policy
A refund will be issued if a booking is cancelled more than one week prior to the workshop.
Registration and enquiries
Please provide a budget centre or PO number for the course fee and state which course you would like to register for.
Imaging Analysis Workshops
Dates
TBA
Location
TBA
Course Description
This hands‑on training series introduces participants to a range of widely used tools for fluorescence imaging, image analysis, and flow cytometry. Across the week, you’ll explore practical workflows, learn how to get the most from your data, and gain confidence in a set of approachable, research‑ready platforms. Each session is designed to be informative, friendly, and focused on real‑world use rather than theory alone. Please be aware you will need to bring your own laptop for this.
Day 1 – Introduction to Fluorescence
Day 1 – Basics of FIJI
Day 2 – Advanced Analysis with FIJI
Day 2 – Basics of CellProfiler
Day 3 – Sponsor Talk
Day 3 – Bring Your Own Data
A chance to apply what you’ve learned to your own datasets with guidance on troubleshooting, refining workflows, and choosing the right tools for your research questions.
Trainers
Leandro Lemgruber Soares, Hannah Scales, Anthony Dornan
Course Fee
£50 per module or £150 for all
Cancellation policy
A refund will be issued if a booking is cancelled more than one week prior to the workshop.
Registration and enquiries
Please provide a budget centre or PO number for the course fee and state which course you would like to register for.
Metabolomics Data Analysis Workshop
Upcoming Date
TBA
Location
TBA
Speakers
Gavin Blackburn, Erin Kerr
Description
Metabolomics can reveal rich biological insights, but getting meaningful answers starts with understanding how your data is generated: from the instruments that analyse your samples to the analytical pipeline that turns raw signals into biological stories.
In this course, you’ll get a practical, accessible introduction to metabolomics data analysis using the Shared Research Facilities’ online processing platform, MS Flow. We’ll explore how to interpret your data through both biological context and robust statistical approaches, how study design shapes your results, and how integrating meta-data can transform fragmented outputs into a complete, coherent picture.
If you want to get more from your metabolomics studies and develop the confidence to make informed analytical decisions, this course is for you.
Intended learning outcomes:
- To investigate the varied possibilities of metabolomics
- To learn the principals of data analysis in metabolomics
- To appreciate the checks and controls required to design a good metabolomics analysis pipeline across different software tools
- Statistical concepts in metabolomics
- To gain an understanding of what evidence is required to identify a metabolite in metabolomics
- To understand how to use prior knowledge in your system as well as biochemistry to interpret your data set
Course fee
£200
Registration and enquiries
Please provide a budget centre or PO number for the course fee and state which course you would like to register for.
Protein Production and Purification Workshop
Upcoming Dates
18 - 21 January 2027
10 - 13 May 2027
6 - 9 September 2027
Venue
Protein Lab, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow
Trainers
Susan Kitson, Mads Gabrielsen
Description
In this hands-on workshop, you will work on the expression and purification of a protein in E. coli. You’ll explore how smart construct choices can dramatically improve the success of downstream purification, and you’ll learn practical strategies for driving robust protein overexpression in E. coli.
Throughout the course, you’ll gain a clear, applied understanding of key chromatographic principles and get real experience running purifications on AKTA systems—knowledge you can immediately translate into your own research. By the end, you will have purified a protein yourself and analysed it using SDS‑PAGE and spectrophotometry to assess quality and yield.
Most importantly, you’ll leave with the confidence and capability to carry out your own expression and purification workflows independently, empowering you to generate high‑quality protein in‑house for future projects
Day 1
· Introduction to protein production tutorial.
· Practical- making agar plates, transforming plasmid into bacteria and plating.
· Introduction to Protein Purification techniques, affinity, desalting, HIC, AIEX and SEC.
Day 2
· How to measure and assess protein.
· Practical-picking colonies and setting up a 10 mL test expression.
· Practical- Make buffers for purification and getting to know the AKTA system.
Day 3
· Practical – Perform test expression of uninduced and induced samples to examine on an SDS-PAGE gel.
· Practical – Lyse a pre-expressed pellet by French Press then perform affinity chromatography on the AKTA.
· Assess samples after affinity chromatography.
Day 4
· Pool fraction samples together for Desalting column.
· Final assessment of all purification steps.
Target Group
Those working on a MSc, PhD or post-doctoral research project that involves protein production. Technicians and technical specialists who would like to gain more of an understanding of this area, and who wants to expand or solidify their skill base. Anyone who would like to add these skills to their repertoire.
Course Fee
£700
Registration and enquiries
Please be aware that as this is hands-on practical workshop spaces are very limited.
Please provide a budget centre or PO number for the course fee and state which course you would like to register for.
Protein Quality Assessment: From Sample to Solution
Upcoming Dates
21-22 October 2026
19-20 January 2027
Trainers
June Southall, Mads Gabrielsen
Description
Reliable data starts with high‑quality protein. This hands‑on course is designed for researchers across academia and industry who want to make confident, evidence‑based decisions about their protein samples before committing to costly and time‑intensive downstream experiments.
Participants will gain practical experience with powerful biophysical techniques that deliver fast, robust insights using minimal sample volumes. You’ll learn how to rapidly assess protein integrity, stability and suitability for future applications helping you avoid wasted time, materials and resources caused by poor‑quality samples.
By the end of the course, attendees will be able to quickly determine:
- Protein concentration and the presence of nucleic acid contamination
- Thermal stability and melting transitions
- Optimal buffer conditions for stability and performance
- Secondary structure content
- Molecular weight and oligomeric state
The course consists of:
- One full practical day focused on hands‑on training with key instrumentation, including:
- UV‑Vis Ez Drop - concentration
- Thermal Shift Assay - transition melting point and solubility
- Circular Dichroism - secondary structure
- Mass Photometry - molecular weight and sample purity
- One half‑day interactive session dedicated to data analysis, interpretation and discussion, ensuring participants leave with actionable understanding they can immediately apply to their own projects.
Course fee
£250
Cancellation Policy
A refund will be issued if a booking is cancelled more than one week prior to the workshop.
Registration and enquiries
Please provide a budget centre or PO number for the course fee and state which course you would like to register for.
Sequencing and Spatial Omics Primer
Upcoming Dates
Accessible at any time
Course Description
Our course is designed to provide attendees with everything they need to know about the current protocols and technologies used in sequencing and spatial omics. It includes practical information surrounding costs, experiment choice, strengths and weaknesses of different protocols, and how to approach the analysis.
Session 1 - Library preparation, sequencing (Illumina, PacBio and Nanopore), alignment, applications of genomics and metagenomics.
Session 2 – Read counting, differential expression and adjusted p-values. Applications of bulk, single cell and spatial transcriptomics.
Session 3 - Theory of omic analysis. Expression density, MA plots, dimensionality reduction & principal component analysis, volcano plots, heatmaps & clustering, and pathway analysis.
The course is a combination of pre-recorded lectures with live Q&A sessions. Resources will remain available via our Moodle site, for 1 year after registering.
Speakers
Mr John Cole, Dr Annabelle Smith, Dr Graham Hamilton and Dr David McGuinness
Course fee & registration
- Internal £149
- External £249
To register please fill in this form: Sequencing, Spatial Omics & Bioinformatics Primer - Registration Form – Fill out form