Overview of the product

The Bioinformatics Accelerator (formerly known as Analysis Hotel) is a structured mentoring program that helps address a common gap in bioinformatics expertise and analytical problem-solving within biology-focused research groups. Through hands-on guidance from QCIF bioinformaticians, participants build practical bioinformatics capability while advancing their research projects.

Designed for PhD students and researchers working in biology-focused research environments, the program provides direct access to QCIF bioinformatics expertise through regular one-on-one mentoring sessions. Participants are guided through project planning, data quality assessment, analysis, interpretation and presentation, developing the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate results and drive evidence-based decisions about downstream analysis, while maintaining ownership of their code, workflows and research outputs.

The program has a strong track record of delivering research outcomes and building long-term capability within research teams. It is a cost-effective approach to developing bioinformatics expertise and is increasingly sought after by researchers and organisations seeking to enhance their analytical capacity.

How it works:

The Bioinformatics Accelerator includes approximately 25 hours of expert mentoring, delivered through regular one-hour sessions on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Rather than completing analyses for participants, QCIF bioinformaticians provide guidance and coaching throughout the research process, ensuring participants gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of their data and bioinformatics analysis worklflows. 

Review and plan: Begin with a detailed review of the project, research objectives and available data & refine research questions and develop a clear analytical plan before selecting tools or methods.

Build your analysis workflow: Receive step-by-step guidance on appropriate bioinformatics approaches, tools and workflows and learn how to evaluate methodological options and make informed analytical decisions.

Analyse your data: Conduct your own analyses and coding, with support from QCIF experts and use mentoring sessions to troubleshoot challenges, interpret results and identify next steps.

Apply best practices: Develop skills in data management, workflow documentation and reproducible research practices and build analytical workflows that are robust, transparent and reusable.

Communicate your findings: Gain support in interpreting results and translating them into meaningful biological insights and receive guidance on preparing publications, creating high-quality figures and presenting a clear and compelling research narrative.

By the end of the program, participants will have progressed their research project while developing the practical bioinformatics skills needed to confidently undertake future analyses.

Testimonials: 

"With the mainstream use of AI and documentation that exists on the internet, there are a plethora of information out there. While that can be helpful, it can also be blinding to know what is right and wrong for the data you have. It’s been helpful having Nicholas to guide me through the initial steps of analysis, the type of questions I should be asking and also those I should have an answer for. While I gained confidence in learning a new technology, the process became smoother in a matter of “hello I performed xyz, I think this is working and this isn’t. What are your thoughts”. Having Nicholas there to bounce ideas from, answer my questions and assure me that I’m not doing something completely wrong has made me more confident in my ability to perform my job. I now know that I have done a few steps, I’ve talked through different types of analyses and troubleshot errors. When I come across these types of case studies in other projects, I know what to expect and how to go about solving them.“

Sarah Alshammery, PhD -Research Assistant,  Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute.