On July 17–18, 2025, the Center for Ecology and Resources, Institute of Advanced Technology (IAT) successfully hosted a workshop titled “Basics in Molecular Systematics” in collaboration with the University of Science (VNU-HCM) and the University of Turku (Finland).
Dr. Sanna Huttunets and participants in the workshop
The training workshop, led by Dr. Sanna Huttunen and PhD candidate Ms. Luong Thien Tam from the University of Turku, combined theoretical foundations of molecular systematics with practical training in molecular data analysis, focusing on phylogenetic tree reconstruction.
The program introduced essential tools such as PhyDE, TNT, IQ-TREE, MrBayes, and FigTree for DNA sequence alignment, molecular data analysis, and phylogenetic tree reconstruction using Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian Inference. Hands-on sessions guided participants through each step of the workflow, building skills for direct application in their own research.
By combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience, the workshop strengthened the capacity of young scientists while promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange among scientific organizations across borders.
The workshop photos:
Written by: Vien Phan/Luc Nguyen