Application of Genomics Tools and Technologies for Crop Improvement

Location : ICRISAT

Date : 2026-11-04 10:38:00

ICRISAT is pleased to announce an intensive short course on ‘Application of Genomics Tools and Technologies for Crop Improvement’. The course is designed to provide young researchers and students, particularly those affiliated with the Learning Systems Unit (LSU), with a foundational understanding of concepts of crop genomics and practical exposure to key genomics tools, technologies, and data analysis approaches used in crop improvement.
The course is intended for enthusiastic researchers from diverse disciplines with limited training in genomics and genomics data analysis. It will introduce fundamental concepts in a systematic manner, beginning with the basics of DNA, genes, genomes, genetic variation, molecular markers, etc. Further, the course will also provide knowledge on genomics data generation, quality assessment, analysis, and interpretation of the results.
Through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experience, course participants will learn how genomics approaches can be integrated into crop breeding programs, with particular emphasis on dryland crops and climate-resilient agriculture.

The course is offered in person for learner participants currently enrolled at ICRISAT for internship or master’s study programs, as well as staff at grade 7 and below.

Course Structure:
The course will be conducted over four weeks, with two sessions per week on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Each session is planned to have a 30 min introductory lecture covering fundamental concepts, principles, methodologies, and applications, followed by 1-hour hands-on demonstration session. The demonstrations provide practical experience in the lab and data analysis of example datasets.
Upon successful completion of the sessions, participants will be awarded a certificate of achievement.
Learning Objectives:
This short course focuses on the foundational knowledge and technical skills necessary to generate genomics data, analyse the generated data, and apply it in crop breeding programs.
Proposed course topics:
•Introduction to Crop Genomics: Genomics and its application in modern crop breeding
•Genomics Technologies and Data Generation: Introduction to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), types of genomics data, experimental design, sample preparation and data generation.
•Introduction to Bioinformatics and Genomics Data Analysis: Computational genomics, reference genomes, principles of sequence alignment and mapping, genomic databases etc.
•Genetic Transformation and Genome Editing: Introduction to transgenic approaches, CRISPR-Cas systems, target selection and genome editing strategies.

By utilizing the data generated and showcasing practical implementations, this course prepares participants to understand and apply genomics information in crop breeding programs, bridging the gap between basic science and its application for crop improvement.

Course Duration: 04 Nov 2026 to 26 Nov 2026
Schedule: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Registration Fee: Rs. 1000
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/ZJBJENva55EFYY5MA