What is this workshop about?
The high diversity of crops in Peru has great potential for development of the country. However, an important proportion of current research projects lack an integrated approach, leading to fragmented knowledge of Peruvian crop biodiversity, and a limited impact on local agriculture.
This three-day workshop aims to understand the potential application of high-throughput “omics-technologies” for the characterization and valuation of the genetic biodiversity of Peruvian crop in a more holistic and integrated approach. The workshop will convene UK and Peruvian leading researchers and early-career researchers, with the aim of outlining the best strategies to integrate omic approaches in the research of Peruvian crop biodiversity. This would contribute to develop resilience in local agriculture under the context of climate change and the current demand for healthier foods and natural compounds.
Developed in collaboration with Universidad Catolica de Santa María, this workshop has been granted by the Newton-Paulet fund under the program “Researcher Links – Workshop Grants – Talleres 2018-01”. This grant is the result of an agreement between the British Council and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologia e Innovacion (CONCYTEC) from Peru.
Esta información está disponible en Español en la siguiente página (This information is available in Spanish in the following website): https://investigacion.ucsm.edu.pe/taller
What will I learn?
This workshop will train and promote the development of early-career researchers in omics technologies through interdisciplinary networking with the UK and Peruvian participants and mentors. This would allow the improvement of the current Peruvian scientific landscape in the mid-term by building on the UK experience.
This workshop will involve a multidisciplinary team of Peruvian and UK participants and sessions, which will combine keynote lectures with group discussion and networking activities. The sessions involving all participants will discuss the following subjects:
- Strengths, challenges, priorities, weaknesses, and opportunities in Peru for the application of omic-based technologies in an integrative approach for the valorization of Peruvian crop biodiversity (SWOT analysis).
- Needs and opportunities for capacity building, such as networking, training, technology.
- Partners, critical stakeholders and opportunities for prospective work based on a multidisciplinary and international framework.
Who is the workshop for?
- Early-career researchers from Peruvian and UK universities (PhD awarded in or after 2009) or from institutions in receipt of UKRI, British Council or CONCYTEC funding, and with experience in any of the omic technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics).
- Researchers (PhD awarded in or after 2009) from Peruvian Research Institutes such as CIP, INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agraria) or other national or international organisations with experience in the research in crop biodiversity.
- Early-career researchers without a PhD degree but with an equivalent level of demonstrable experience in crop biodiversity research (only in case of Peruvian attendants).
- Non-academic partners involved in political decisions related to the protection and use of Peruvian crop diversity.
Prerequisites:
The workshop will be developed in English, therefore all participants should have enough knowledge of this language.
Application requirements:
You will be required to submit an online application which would include the following documents:
1. A 2-page personal statement outlining the following:
- How could your professional expertise and experience contribute to the aims of this workshop?
- Description of your ability to develop creative and interdisciplinary research in a collaborative environment and relevant to the workshop objectives.
- What do you hope to gain from participating in the workshop?
2. A letter of support from the head of the department or equivalent figure. The letter must include: candidate name and position, date of the workshop, contact information of the head of the department and detail eligibility of the candidate to participate in the workshop.
3. CV of the candidate (max 2 pages), including contact information, education history, professional experience, relevant publications (last 10 years), research projects (last 10 years), other important background information or experience relevant to the workshop objectives.
Evaluation criteria:
Applications will be evaluated by a scientific committee according to the following criteria:
- Experience and knowledge in the field of the workshop.
- Ability to develop collaborative research projects.
- Potential for contribution to the objectives of the workshop.
- Ability to work within multidisciplinary teams including government and industry.
- The decision of the committee is definitive unless any administrative error.
Spaces available:
15 participants will be selected from each country and the costs of international and domestic flights, accommodation, subsistence expenses and local transportation (in Arequipa, Peru) will be covered.
The workshop will start on Tuesday 12th September 9am and finish on Thursday 14th September 3pm. Hotel accommodation in Arequipa will be provided for up to 3 nights.
