Microbiome Science Certificate Program
Available now: Learning materials for Microbiome Science
We aim to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to the interdisciplinary field of microbiome science.
Learning resources for microbiome science
This program contains a mix of educational materials, anecdotes from microbiome researchers, resources that will help you to continue your education, and practical guidance for professional development. This 12-module Program is publicly available and includes:
Instructional Content
Presentations and videos that cover various aspects of microbiome science
Glossary
A Glossary for the program to help you keep track of definitions
Resources
Activities to help you engage, links to other educational resources, background information, references to relevant publications, and citations for content and images used
Readings
A scientific publication assigned as required reading to interpret microbiome science
The Program’s 12 modules span the breadth of microbiome science
| 1. Microbes & Our World: Introduction to Microbiome Science
This module establishes a foundation for understanding microbes and their role in biogeochemical processes. |
2. Multi-omics for Microbiomes
This module focuses on how researchers can utilize multi-omics approaches to understand complex microbiome interactions. |
3. Experimental Design for Microbiome Study
Individuals gain knowledge of experimental design principles, including controlling variables, formulating hypotheses, and considering the dynamic nature of microbiomes. |
4. Metadata, Data Stewardship & Data Management
This module emphasizes responsible data practices, and covers organization, storage, sharing, and the significance of metadata reproducibility. |
| 5. Microbiome Sampling, Preparation & Processing
Individuals learn practical techniques for collecting, processing, and preserving microbiome samples. |
6. Microbiome Data Generation
Individuals gain an understanding of sequencing technologies and mass spectrometry and their applications in microbiome research. |
7. Microbiome Data Analysis
This module equips individuals with basic bioinformatics skills, including the use of tools and pipelines for data analysis. |
8. Microbiome Data Integration, Visualization & Interpretation
Individuals learn the principles for data integration from various sources, how to generate visualizations, and how to interpret complex datasets and figures. |
| 9. Data Deposition, Accessibility & Reuse
This module promotes data sharing, covering data repositories and the FAIR principles for data reuse. |
10. Publishing, Funding, and Grant Writing for Microbiome Studies
Individuals are guided on manuscript preparation, funding acquisition, and navigating the publication process. |
11. Education & Career Paths in Microbiome Science
Individuals explore various career options in microbiome science, including academia, government, non-profit, and private companies. |
12. Career Development in Microbiome Science
This module captures how researchers can expand their networks, enhance their technical knowledge, and formulate career development plans. |
Citation: Kelliher, J., Prime, K. J., Rodriguez, F., Johnson, L., Roux, S., Miller, S., & Eloe-Fadrosh, E. (2026, January 1). NMDC Microbiome Science Certificate Program Materials. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18176387
Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license by The Regents of the University of California, operator of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for the US Department of Energy, and by employees of Triad National Security, LLC, operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory for US Department of Energy. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
