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JOBIM 2026 Mini-Symposium: “International Interactions in Bioinformatics”

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Full title: JOBIM 2026 Mini-Symposium “International Collaborations in Bioinformatics Focusing on Sequencing Technologies Applied to Health and Agriculture”

Date: July 2 (afternoon) during JOBIM 2026 in Strasbourg

This mini-symposium features a thematic session on international collaboration organized by the French Society for Bioinformatics (SFBI). It aims to foster scientific and institutional exchanges between the bioinformatics and computational biology communities.

Given that international collaborations play a central role in the development of interdisciplinary projects and the emergence of new methodological approaches, this session will provide a structured forum for discussion on the issues, opportunities, and challenges associated with such collaborations, particularly in the fields of health and agriculture.

Two professors will share their research and their perspectives on international trends in bioinformatics:

Professor Ana Tereza Ribeiro de Vasconcelos is a senior researcher at the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), which reports directly to the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. She heads the LNCC’s Bioinformatics Laboratory and the Darcy Fontoura de Almeida Computational Genomics Unit. She is a full member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), a member of the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB), and a member of The World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries (TWAS). She was the first president of the Brazilian Association of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (AB3C, the Brazilian Society of Bioinformatics).

Professor Justin PITA is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at the College of Agricultural Sciences at Pennsylvania State University (USA) and a Senior Lecturer at Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY University (Ivory Coast). He has over 25 years of experience in plant health research, particularly in the epidemiology of viral diseases and viral evolution, at renowned institutions in the United States and Africa, such as WAVE (Central and West African Virus Epidemiology), of which he is the Founder and Executive Director. WAVE operates in 14 countries across Central and West Africa (CWA), bringing together 17 research centers and universities. Its research-for-development program in CWA focuses on the diagnosis and surveillance of plant pathogens using high-throughput sequencing, modeling, and bioinformatics, as well as on strengthening infrastructure and human capacity.

The presentations will be followed by flash-talks by scientists from Brazil and Central and West Africa, followed by a discussion session aimed at identifying and discussing opportunities for future collaboration and interaction between our networks. 

This mini-symposium is open to all participants interested in the collaborative, organizational, and scientific aspects of bioinformatics and computational biology. The proposed partnerships may take various forms: setting up joint projects, reciprocal hosting of scientists, or organizing joint workshops and training sessions on topics where needs are identified. A focus will be placed on issues related to data management, computing infrastructure, and the principles of open science.

Participation is open to all JOBIM attendees. Registration for the mini-symposium will be available through the JOBIM registration portal starting April 30. Presentations, posters related to the mini-symposium, and participation will be available via videoconference.

Organizers & Sponsors

Sophie Schbath nommée ISCB Fellow 2026

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SFBI & Métal Hurlant Collaboration

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DNA in All Its Forms: A Dialogue Between Science, Art, and Society

In 2027, the CNRS will organise the thematic year "DNA in All Its Forms", an initiative dedicated to exploring the many dimensions of this essential molecule, from scientific advancements to societal challenges. Coordinated by the CNRS Research Groups Molecular Bioinformatics: Modelling and Methodology (BIMMM) and Fundamental Computer Science and Its Mathematics (IFM), in partnership with the French Society for Bioinformatics (SFBI), this year promises to bring together researchers, artists, and citizens for collective reflection.

A Special Issue with Métal Hurlant: When Science Inspires Art

As part of this initiative, the SFBI is collaborating with the legendary magazine Métal Hurlant, where science, art, and storytelling have intersected for decades. The goal? To create a special issue dedicated to DNA, where trios of researchers, writers, and illustrators will collaborate to produce original visual and literary narratives. These collaborations, facilitated by the collective La Coulisse, will explore themes from our research, including:

Combining Scientific Rigour with Creative Freedom

This project aims to make complexity accessible while sparking curiosity, emotion, and reflection. By pairing researchers (PhD students, postdocs, and permanent staff) with creators, we offer an immersive dive into DNA that is informative, engaging, and thought-provoking, sharing our research in an innovative and accessible way.

Selection Process for Proposals

Proposals will be evaluated in two stages: an ad hoc scientific committee will first assess their thematic relevance, originality, and pedagogical coherence, with the possibility of merging some proposals to enhance their impact. Pre-selected projects will then be reviewed by the Métal Hurlant editorial team, which will make the final selection based on narrative strength and visual potential. Due to editorial constraints, not all proposals can be included in this special issue.

By participating in this project, you commit to:

What We Expect From You

To participate (Deadline: 22 April 2026) : https://www.sfbi.fr/survey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=388832&newtest=Y&lang=fr.

REBIF 2026

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JobFAIR

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The French Association of Young Bioinformaticians (JeBIF) is actively working to foster the professional integration of young members within the bioinformatics community. Since last year, with the support of the SFBI and the JOBIM local organizing committee, JeBIF has been organizing the JOBIM JobFair: an annual event where young bioinformaticians can meet with various professionals in a friendly atmosphere to identify their needs and the recruitment processes within their organizations.

From its very first edition, the JobFair was a huge success: around fifty young bioinformaticians had the opportunity to meet with twenty different professionals, representing a total of ten organizations.

"Putting faces to real-world professions also helps reassure a generation increasingly worried about their employability, and sometimes anxious about the specter of being replaced by AGIs."
- Bastien Chassagnol, JeBIF organizer

"Thanks to your extensive feedback on the strengths and areas for improvement of the first edition, JeBIF and the SFBI have worked together to best prepare this second edition. Among the most notable changes, it will now be possible to register for the JobFair directly through the JOBIM registration form. Some surprises are also in store to thank all the professionals volunteering their time for this event. We look forward to seeing many of you there!

They stepped up last year!