We are interested in participating as a partner in a consortia, that seeks expertise in either the development or application of (large scale) bioinformatic solutions in the field of OMICs, especially in metagenomics, metatrascriptomics or metaproteomics. In addition, our group has broad experience working with biogas-producing microbial communities and related multi-omics data, which we believe could provide valuable insights and contributions to such initiatives.

The Computational Metagenomics Group (IBG-5) at Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) is dedicated to bioinformatics research activities with a focus on the interdisciplinary sequencing and analysis of metagenomes. To this end, we have developed a workflow-based Metagenomics-Toolkit that enables robust, highly scalable, and reproducible data analysis. In particular, the focus of IBG-5 is on the use of cloud computing technologies to analyze particularly large amounts of data and to support various applications in the life sciences and biomedicine. The IBG-5 integrates service and infrastructure networks at both national and international level in order to make automated data analysis easier and more efficient for the scientific community and users. At national level, IBG-5 manages the German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure - de.NBI, founded in 2015, and develops strategies for open access offerings in the areas of tools, software, databases, data management and consulting for the life sciences. At the European level, IBG-5 serves as the coordinating institution for ELIXIR Germany, the national node within the European bioinformatics infrastructure ELIXIR (European Life Science Infrastructure for Biological Information). In addition, IBG-5 coordinates the de.NBI Cloud and, in cooperation with Bielefeld University, operates one of eight cloud locations nationwide, a comprehensive cloud computing infrastructure with connected software solutions for processing large amounts of data, such as public data repositories mirrored from EBI/ENA in an object storage. These include bioinformatics workflows using modular, containerized applications, frameworks as well as interfaces for simplified access to cloud resources, their configuration, management and utilization.