Ngoni Faya.pdf (5.92 MB)
Capability growth continues: Genomics Aotearoa and NeSI set to reach 1,000 learners in 2022
presentation
posted on 2022-03-03, 01:17 authored by eRNZ AdmineRNZ Admin, Ngonidzashe Faya, Dinindu SenanayakeDinindu SenanayakeGenomics Aotearoa and New Zealand eScience Infrastructure (NeSI) had their sights set on raising Bioinformatics capability in New
Zealand since delivering their first joint workshop in June 2019. Fast forward 2.5 years later, 768 people
have attended workshops run by NeSI and Genomics Aotearoa (with help from other
institutions) and the partnership is expected to reach over 1,000 total learners in 2022.
With
this milestone in sight, the leaders of this training initiative consider what lessons have been
learned along the way and what the future of genomics training in New Zealand looks like.
Specifically, Dinindu Senanayake and Ngoni Faya will talk about the successes and
challenges of training in 2021 and beyond including:
● Maintaining momentum during extended bouts of online learning
● The shift to delivering advanced skills workshops, and
● What training initiatives NeSI and Genomics Aotearoa will be focused on in 2022
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dinindu Senanayake
Dini is an Applications Support Specialist (High Performance
Computing) at NeSI with a particular interest in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.
He joined NeSI following more than a half a decade of research experience gained in the
field of Cancer Genetics, Chemical Genetics and Bioinformatics/Computational Biology.
Ngoni Faya
Ngoni is Genomics Aotearoa’s Training Coordinator, tasked with supporting
and building capacity and capability in bioinformatics for New Zealand. He is mainly involved
in the development and delivering of Genomics workshops throughout the country in
partnership with NeSI and Otago Carpentries. On the research front, Ngoni is working on the
Clinical Diagnostic Project under Prof. Stephen Robertson. His interests are in gene
regulation and functional studies using both bioinformatics and molecular biology
techniques.