Workshop on Demographic Inference

Overview

We invite you to take part in a Workshop on Demographic Inference from genomic data!

Registration is open until 2 Novermber, please see details below.

Details

Date & Time: 17-19 November 2025 (10 am - 5 pm CET)
Format: Online (via Microsoft Teams)
Registration Deadline: 2 November
Fee: Free of charge

What You Will Learn

Prepare your sequencing data for demographic inference using ATLAS
Build site frequency spectrum with easySFS
Work with demographic histories using demes
Infer demographic history using GADMA

We will provide you with a toy example dataset, but you are welcome to analyse your own data (please see FAQ for details)!

Session Timings

The three-day workshop will take place on 17–19 November, with two sessions each day:

First session: 10 am – 1 pm CET (9 am – 12 pm GMT / 4 am – 7 am EST / 5 pm – 8 pm UTC+8, China time)
Lunch break: 1 pm – 2 pm CET (12 pm – 1 pm GMT / 7 am – 8 am EST / 8 pm – 9 pm UTC+8, China time)
Second session: 2 pm – 5 pm CET (1 pm – 4 pm GMT / 8 am – 11 am EST / 9 pm – 12 am UTC+8, China time)

Organizers

Ekaterina Noskova, University of Edinburgh
Daniel Wegmann, University of Fribourg

Registration

Registration is now open! Please register before 2 November 2025.

If you are interested but still unsure, you can sign up to receive updates about the workshop and other future workshops.

FAQ

Can I use my own data?

Yes, you are welcome to analyse your own data. Please bring a VCF file to the workshop.

Important:

Do not filter the VCF file beforehand; we will learn how to filter it together during the workshop.
If you have a large VCF file, such as whole-genome data, consider starting with a smaller portion, like one chromosome. Once you have practiced with a smaller dataset, you can run the full analysis on the complete VCF file.

Do I need a laptop or a server?

You can use either a laptop or a server for all tasks. Our toy example dataset and most hands-on activities are easier to run on a laptop. Your laptop should run either a) Linux, b) macOS, or c) Windows with WSL. Instructions for setting up WSL are provided in the course here. Ensure the necessary software is installed beforehand.

What software do I need to install?

Detailed instructions on the necessary tools and installation will be sent one to two weeks before the workshop. It is important to have the tools installed beforehand to maximize our time during the sessions.

What skills are required?

Basic command line knowledge is required, as we will use command line tools during the workshop. Need a refresher? Check out our course available at http://fribash.netlify.app/.

Will there be materials available after the workshop?

Yes, all workshop materials and recordings will be shared with participants afterwards.

Contact

If you have any questions, please email Ekaterina Noskova (ekaterina.e.noskova@gmail.com).

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