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The Department of Biosciences<\/strong>, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully organized a two-day Workshop on Transcriptomic Data Analysis for Beginners<\/strong> on 29\u201330 September 2025<\/strong> at Bilik Helixs, Block C17, Faculty of Science, UTM<\/strong>. Chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alina Wagiran<\/strong> as Program Advisor and Ts. Dr. Syazwani Itri Amran<\/strong> as Program Director, the workshop aimed to equip participants with foundational skills in genomic data analysis<\/strong> using popular open-source platforms such as Galaxy<\/strong> and Cytoscape<\/strong>. This workshop introduced participants to essential principles and workflows in transcriptomic data analysis<\/strong>, a crucial area of bioinformatics that enables researchers to study gene expression profiles and understand molecular mechanisms underlying diseases, stress responses, and drug interactions. The workshop aligns closely with UTM\u2019s strategic mission<\/strong> to nurture digitally skilled scientists capable of integrating biology with computational science. Such initiatives also support the Faculty of Science\u2019s agenda<\/strong> to build a sustainable research ecosystem that embraces emerging technologies, particularly in the era of genomics, systems biology, and personalized medicine.<\/p>\n Beyond its immediate technical training, the workshop had a broader institutional impact by strengthening academic staff capability<\/strong> in genomic data interpretation\u2014an area increasingly demanded in both academic and industrial biotechnology sectors. This initiative also contributes to the capacity building of UTM\u2019s Bioscience educators<\/strong>, enabling them to integrate bioinformatics modules into their teaching and research supervision. As a result, UTM continues to position itself as a leading institution for computational biology and genomic innovation<\/strong> in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The program was held in collaboration with the UVIS Committee of the Department of Biosciences<\/strong> as part of its strategic effort to enhance digital and computational competencies among researchers and postgraduate students in life sciences.<\/p>\n
A total of 16 participants<\/strong>, including 12 academic staff members<\/strong> and several postgraduate students, took part in the training\u2014reflecting strong interest from the Biosciences community in advancing bioinformatics expertise.<\/p>\nBridging Genomics and Data Science<\/strong><\/h3>\n
By integrating these computational tools into their research, participants can now analyze large-scale biological data more effectively, accelerating the discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.<\/p>\nEnhancing Research Capacity and Academic Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Participants reported notable improvement in their understanding and confidence in handling transcriptomic datasets, demonstrating the effectiveness of hands-on and guided learning approaches adopted throughout the program.<\/p>\n