Community
Science advances furthest when people work together.
Our community is one of our greatest assets: a growing, continent-wide network of researchers, students, educators, clinicians, and data scientists united by a shared commitment to advancing bioinformatics across Africa.
Get Involved
We offer a range of membership pathways for individuals and institutions who want to contribute to and benefit from the Institute’s work. Whether you are an established research leader, a mid-career scientist, or an early-career professional looking to grow, there is a route into the ABI network for you.
Group Leaders
Group Leaders are the scientific backbone of ABI. Senior bioinformatics researchers based at African institutions, they anchor ABI sites and play a central role in shaping the Institute’s research, training, and service agenda. Appointments are for three-year renewable terms.
Ideal candidates will have a strong publication record, demonstrated experience in leading independent research groups, and a genuine commitment to building bioinformatics capacity in Africa.
Associate Group Leaders
Designed for mid-career researchers within 15 years of their PhD, the Associate Group Leader (AGL) programme recognises and supports the next generation of scientific leaders in African bioinformatics. AGLs become part of a continental network of emerging leaders and have the opportunity to help shape our scientific, training, and infrastructure agenda.
To be eligible, applicants must be based in Africa, lead a group of at least two staff or students, hold an active research grant, and have a strong recent publication record.
Applications are accepted in English and French.
Fellows
ABI Fellowships will offer postdoctoral researchers and early-career bioinformatics scientists the opportunity to engage with the ABI network, access mentorship, and develop their careers within a supportive pan-African community of practice. Full details of the Fellowship programme will be published here as the Institute grows.
Associate Group Leaders
Designed for mid-career researchers within 15 years of their PhD, the Associate Group Leader (AGL) programme recognises and supports the next generation of scientific leaders in African bioinformatics. AGLs become part of a continental network of emerging leaders and have the opportunity to help shape our scientific, training, and infrastructure agenda.
To be eligible, applicants must be based in Africa, lead a group of at least two staff or students, hold an active research grant, and have a strong recent publication record.
Applications are accepted in English and French.
COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE
ABI’s Communities of Practice (CoPs) bring together researchers, clinicians, data scientists, educators, policymakers, and students around shared scientific interests and challenges. Each CoP is an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional space for knowledge exchange, collaborative research, capacity building, and the co-creation of African-led solutions.
Membership is open to anyone with a relevant interest, regardless of career stage or institutional affiliation. Whether you are an established expert or just beginning to explore a field, there is a place for you in the ABI’s CoP network.
Artificial Intelligence
Sitting at the intersection of AI and bioinformatics, this CoP brings together a diverse community of researchers, practitioners, data engineers, students, policymakers, and funders from academia and industry. Its focus is on fostering knowledge exchange, building capacity, and driving locally relevant AI innovation in bioinformatics across the continent.
Areas of focus include AI in biomedical informatics, drug discovery, pathogen surveillance, omics data analysis, agricultural biotechnology, structural biology, and biomarker discovery.
Bioinformatics for Rare Diseases
This CoP unites clinicians, genetic counsellors, laboratory scientists, bioinformaticians, and researchers to address the significant unmet needs of patients with rare diseases across Africa. The group works to build a skilled workforce, improve diagnostic capabilities through African-specific training and AI tools, and strengthen local genomic data infrastructure.
By contributing African genomic data to global rare disease initiatives, the CoP aims to ensure that African patients are meaningfully represented in global research and receive timely, locally relevant diagnoses.
Human Genomics & Genomic Medicine
Connecting researchers, clinicians, data scientists, policymakers, and public health professionals, this CoP advances human genetics, genomics, and precision medicine across Africa. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation, members work together to develop genomics-driven solutions that improve health outcomes on the continent and beyond.
Pathogen Surveillance & Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most significant public health threats facing Africa and the world. This CoP brings together experts across human, animal, plant, and environmental health to share knowledge, strengthen skills, and collaborate on research and interventions that address AMR in African contexts.
By combining genomics, bioinformatics, and epidemiology, the group works to understand resistance mechanisms and transmission pathways, and to promote best practices in diagnostics, stewardship, and climate-aware approaches to infectious disease.
Psychiatry, Neuroinformatics & Mental Health
This CoP connects researchers, clinicians, and data scientists working at the frontier of psychiatric genomics and mental health research. Members collaborate to build capacity, share knowledge, and develop equitable, sustainable solutions that improve mental health research and accelerate its translation into clinical practice across Africa.
Student Forum
Students supervised by ABI Group Leaders are automatically part of the ABI community, and their voices and ideas are central to the Institute’s future.
The ABI Student Forum is being created to bring together students from across Africa to connect, collaborate on projects, share ideas, and support each other’s professional growth. Students not currently members of ABI groups are also welcome to participate.
The ABI is currently in the process of developing and identifying the right platform to host the Student Forum. While this work is underway, students can already get involved through a range of existing networks and opportunities that offer training, mentorship, and peer connection.
Existing student groups and networks
Stay Connected
For those who want to follow ABI’s progress without committing to a membership role, our mailing list is the easiest way to stay informed. Receive regular updates on new research, training opportunities, open calls, events, and Institute news.