Nanopore Sequencing for Student Research

Join us this spring to see how nanopore sequencing—a portable, cost-effective alternative to traditional commercial services—can be integrated into your classroom. This workshop demonstrates how to use nanopore technology for real-world applications, including generating DNA barcodes and performing microbiome or metabarcoding analyses.

The DNA Learning Center and Oxford Nanopore have collaborated to adapt these professional workflows for education, streamlining the protocol to ensure the technology is accessible for student use. Additionally, we will showcase the redeveloped DNA Subway 2.0, which now supports full mobile use and a dedicated line for metabarcoding analysis, enabling users to “analyze anywhere”.

Finally, attendees will learn how the DNALC’s Nanopore Research Accelerator partnership can offer ongoing support for implementing these projects in their own schools.

2026 Chancellor’s Day PD

Bacterial Transformation and Restriction Analysis

Join us to review two classic biology experiments!

Bacterial Transformation

Bacterial transformation illustrates the direct link between an organism's genetics (genotype) and its observable characteristics (phenotype), and demonstrates how genetic engineering is used to produce human proteins such as insulin. In this lab participants will introduce genes for antibiotic resistance and fluorescence into the bacterium E. coli. Following overnight incubation, transformed bacteria can be compared to control bacteria for their ability to grow in the presence of ampicillin and glow when exposed to UV light.

Restriction Analysis

The DNA restriction analysis experiment demonstrates that DNA can be precisely manipulated with enzymes that recognize and cut specific target sequences. In this lab, restriction enzymes—the scissors of molecular biology—are used to digest DNA from the bacteriophage lambda. After cutting, the DNA fragments are visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis, allowing students to identify a “mystery” enzyme through comparison with controls.

These experiments directly correlate with lab requirements for AP Biology courses and align with the New York State Science Learning Standards, with an emphasis on analyzing and interpreting data, planning and carrying out investigations and the structure and function relationship. Guided by an experienced DNALC educator, training will focus on lab skills and conceptual connections.

There is no charge to attend. Participants may receive CTLE hours, if requested. Teachers will then be eligible to rent a footlocker kit from the DNA Learning Center to teach these labs in their classroom. 

Summer of Nanopore Sequencing 2026

• May 20–22, 2026: Arecibo C3 STEM Center, Arecibo, PR
• May 27–29, 2026: Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY
• June 15–17, 2026: Southeast Community College, Lincoln NE
• June 15–17, 2026: Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
• June 29–July 1, 2026: Meharry Medical College DNA Learning Center, Nashville, TN

Nanopore sequencing, which analyzes individual DNA molecules in real time, is the “next big thing” in biology education. It promises to put real-time DNA sequencing within reach of any motivated bioscience teacher. We envision a MinION miniature nanopore sequencing device in every biology teaching lab within a decade.

The DNA Learning Center (DNALC) and Oxford Nanopore are working together to adapt nanopore sequencing for use in education – including improved chemistry, workflows, directions, and packaging/pricing attractive to high school and college faculty. The DNALC’s popular DNA Subway has been redeveloped for full mobile use, including a new workflow for nanopore sequence analysis. Workshop participants will be the first to test this streamlined approach for combining MinION sequence data with the DNA Subway 2.0 pipeline–providing DNA sequencing and analysis any time, any place, by anyone.

The workshop will appeal especially to high school and college faculty who mentor student research or participate in large, distributed projects, such as DNA barcoding (DNALC), SEA-PHAGES (Howard Hughes Medical Institute), and Tiny Earth (University of Wisconsin). At less than $10 per barcode or metabarcode sample and $30 per phage or organelle genome, nanopore sequencing is a speedy and cost-effective alternative to commercial sequencing. Nanopore takes DNA sequencing out of the “black box,” exposing students to every step of the workflow. Workshop participants will have the unique opportunity to immediately sequence and analyze DNA from samples they bring to the workshop. Barcode, metabarcode, and small genome sequencing will be covered.

Qualified workshop participants will receive a $300 stipend. Although we expect that most participants will commute to the workshop, funding for travel, room & board is available for a limited number of qualified applicants living outside commuting distance.

Applications will be reviewed and acceptances emailed continuously, beginning April 24, 2026.

Supported by: National Science Foundation: InnovATEBIO National Biotechnology Education Center (#2349809); Arecibo Center for STEM Education, Computing, and Community Engagement (#2321729); National Institutes of Health: Pathogen Data Network (1U24AI183840); Oxford Nanopore Technologies