Bioinformatics is the field where biology meets computers, data science, and artificial intelligence. It is the technology behind genome sequencing, vaccine development, personalized medicine, and modern drug discovery. BDG Lifesciences' 10-Day Bioinformatics: Basics to Advanced program introduces high school students to this field through live, instructor-led training rather than recorded lectures or simplified simulations.

Over ten 120-minute live sessions conducted on Zoom, students progress from the foundations of biological databases to AI-driven protein structure prediction. The program opens with an introduction to major databases including NCBI, SWISSPROT, PDB, DDBJ, EMBL, CATH, and SCOP(E), then moves into protein sequence analysis using ProtParam, ProtScale, and TMHMM. Students explore protein-protein interaction networks with STRING and visualize molecular structures using RasMol and PyMOL. Sequence alignment and primer design are covered using BLAST, followed by multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree construction with Clustal and MEGA X. A dedicated session on genome browsing using NCBI MapViewer and the UCSC Genome Browser includes a case study analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Later sessions cover protein structure prediction and mutation analysis with Phyre2, functional annotation through InterProScan, and allosteric analysis using AlloSigMA. The program concludes with AI-driven homology modeling and AlphaFold-based protein structure prediction, demonstrating how artificial intelligence is reshaping structural biology.

The program is designed for high school students who are curious about biotechnology, medicine, or AI; preparing for science fairs; building a research profile for college applications; or exploring careers in biomedical sciences. Sessions are led by trainers with research backgrounds in bioinformatics, computational biology, drug discovery, molecular modeling, genomics, and AI applications in life sciences, several of whom have mentored students to science fair placements and peer-reviewed publications.

Each session includes a written summary for revision, and recordings are shared so students can revisit material at their own pace. Participants who complete the program receive a Certificate of Completion from BDG Lifesciences. The program also functions as a foundational entry point into BDG's deeper 3–5 month mentored research programs for students who want to pursue an independent research project after completing the basics.

The program fee is $199 USD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Bioinformatics program suitable for beginners with no coding or biology background?
Yes. The program starts from the foundations of bioinformatics, including how to navigate biological databases like NCBI and PDB, before progressing to more advanced tools. No prior programming experience is required, though a basic interest in biology is helpful.

What software and databases will students actually use during the program?
Students work hands-on with NCBI, SWISSPROT, PDB, DDBJ, EMBL, CATH, SCOP(E), ProtParam, ProtScale, TMHMM, STRING, RasMol, PyMOL, BLAST, Clustal, MEGA X, NCBI MapViewer, UCSC Genome Browser, Phyre2, InterProScan, AlloSigMA, and AlphaFold-based modeling tools — the same databases and software used by professional researchers.

How long is the program and what is the time commitment?
The program runs for 10 consecutive days, with one live 120-minute session per day conducted over Zoom. Each session includes a written summary, and recordings are provided for later review.

Will students receive a certificate after completing the program?
Yes. Students who successfully complete all sessions receive a Certificate of Completion issued by BDG Lifesciences, which can be included in research portfolios and college applications.

How can this program help with science fair projects or college applications?
The program builds practical skills in genomics, protein structure analysis, and computational biology that can be directly applied to independent science fair projects or research investigations. It also serves as a screening pathway into BDG's longer 3–5 month mentored research programs for students who want to develop a full original research project.

What is the cost of the program and what does it include?
The program costs $199 USD and includes ten live 120-minute training sessions, daily session summaries, recordings of all sessions, and a Certificate of Completion upon successful program completion.

Why is the registration fee charged in Australian Dollars (AUD) if the program fee is listed in USD?
Registration and payment are processed through Humanitix, our Australian payment platform. The ticket price you see in AUD at checkout is equivalent to the USD fee listed on this page, based on the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment.