GeneLab for Colleges and Universities Training Resources

GeneLab for Colleges and Universities (GL4U)

GL4U is designed by NASA GeneLab in collaboration with the GeneLab Educational Working Group (EWG) to provide space biology-relevant training in bioinformatics to the next generation of scientists through live direct and indirect approaches as well as on-demand learning.

The GeneLab team plans to host 1-2 annual data processing bootcamps designed for college-level students (direct) or for college educators (indirect – training of trainers), for a specific omics data type hosted on the Open Science Data Repository (OSDR). 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 Notebooks (JNs). 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. During the indirect bootcamp, educators will receive materials and training to enable them to run the direct bootcamp at their home institutions or alternatively to adapt the content to implement within existing college courses, thereby extending the reach of this initiative to more students.

The GL4U: Introduction and Omics-specific module sets are also available as on-demand courses through Canvas. These self-paced courses expand the reach of GL4U even further by providing flexible learning opportunities for students, educators, researchers, and citizen scientists. Visit the GL4U On-Demand Courses page for more info.

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 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 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.

Upcoming GL4U Bootcamps:

• Coming soon

Sign up for the GL4U Mailing List:

• Stay up-to-date on future GL4U events / bootcamps.
• Send an e-mail to GL4U-join@lists.nasa.gov with the Subject: subscribe

GL4U On-Demand

GL4U currently offers the following on-demand courses. For more information visit the GL4U On-Demand Courses page.

• GL4U: Introduction (this course serves as a pre-requisite for the omics-specific courses)
  • Enroll in GL4U: Introduction
• GL4U: RNA Sequencing
  • Enroll in GL4U: RNA Sequencing

Live Office Hours

GL4U is hosting live office hours for these on-demand courses during Summer, 2025! Office hours will be held Mondays and Thursdays from June 9, 2025 – August 11, 2025.

Office Hours Schedule:
Mondays 7:30am – 9am PT
Thursdays 3pm – 4:30pm PT
Note: The same topics will be covered both days each week.

Additional Details:

Visit the GL4U Office Hours for On‐Demand Courses: Summer 2025 wiki page for more info and a breakdown of topics that will be covered each week.

	Stay connected with the NASA Open Science Data Repository: