2026 AgBioData Community Workshop
Dates: April 20-22, 2026
Location: Kansas State University, Olathe & Virtual
Workshop Description
This workshop brings together AgBioData network members to celebrate progress made under the current grant, reflect on our shared objectives, and chart a clear path forward. Together, we'll tackle key questions around long-term sustainability, and walk away with concrete next steps, defined owners, and real commitments to keep our community thriving. Join us from anywhere – virtual attendance is fully supported and we encourage participants across time zones.
All virtual participants are asked to please register at https://tinyurl.com/agbiodata2026.
Agenda (All times are in Central Time - CT)
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Monday, April 20, 2026 (Find your local time here)
11:00 AM - (Optional) Welcome & Orientation for Online Participants - Host: David Molik, Zoom (15 min)
4:00 PM - Hybrid Welcome & Orientation - Host: David Molik, Great Plains, Zoom (10 min)
4:10 PM - PI Report: Grant Objectives & Progress - Presenter: Monica Poelchau, Great Plains, Zoom (50 min)
5:00 PM - Coffee Break
5:15 PM - Grant Writing Team Report - Presenter: Marcela K. Tello-Ruiz, Great Plains, Zoom (30 min)
5:45 PM - Dinner
6:30 PM - Presentation from Element Biosciences - Speakers: Amy Klegarth & Justin Kos; Great Plains, Zoom (60 min)
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Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (Find your local time here)
7:00 AM - (Optional) Virtual Re-Watch Party of Previous Day Sessions: PI Report & Grant Writing Team Report - Hosts: Sarah Dyer & Tim Cezard, Great Plains, Zoom (1 hour 45 min)
9:00 AM - Discussion: International Priorities for the Next Phase of the GGB Data Ecosystem - Facilitators: Doreen Ware & Sarah Dyer - Great Plains, Zoom
10:00 AM - Presentations from AgBioData Working Groups - Chair: Monica Poelchau
Introduction (5 min)
- Standards for Genetic Variation - Marcela K. Tello-Ruiz (5 min)
- Phenotypic Data Standardization and Management - John McNamara (5 min)
- AI-Readiness - Sarah Dyer (10 min)
- FAIR Scientific Literature - Leonore Reiser (10 min)
- Natural Language Processing for Biocuration - Tanya Berardini (10 min)
- scRNA-Seq Biocuration - Sunita Kumari (10 min)
Directions for Breakout Room Activity (5 min)
11:00 AM - Coffee Break
11:15 PM - AgBioData Working Group Breakout Rooms - Session 1 (45 min)
… Working Group Switching …
12:00 PM - AgBioData Working Groups Breakout Rooms - Session 2 (45 min)
The above sessions will serve to discuss activities and next steps for the Working Groups. Participants will have the opportunity to switch groups after 45 minutes
- AI-Readiness (Hosts: Sarah Dyer, Carson Andorf) - Great Plains B, Zoom
- FAIR Scientific Literature (Host: Leonore Reiser) - Classroom 221 A, Zoom
- Natural Language Processing for Biocuration (Host: Tanya Berardini) - Classroom 221 B, Zoom
- scRNA-Seq Biocuration - (Host: Sunita Kumari) - Conference Room 121, Zoom
12:45 PM - Lunch
1:45 PM - Working Groups: Report-Backs from discussion sessions - Chair: Olivia C. Haley, Great Plains B, Zoom (60 min)
2:45 PM - Coffee Break
3:00 PM - Database Sustainability Deep Dive - Chairs: Dorrie Main & Leonore Reiser, Great Plains B, Zoom
AgBioData Databases Sustainability - Speaker: Dorrie Main (30 min)
Database Sustainability Panel - Chair: Leonore Reiser; Panelists: Omar Harb, Heidi Imker, Tanya Berardini & Dorrie Main (30 min)
4:00 PM - Break
4:30 PM - Database Sustainability Working Session: 1- & 2-Pagers (75 min)
- Scientific/Research Audiences (Host: Monica Moelchau) - Great Plains B, Zoom
- Industry-related Audiences (Host: Carson Andorf) - Classroom 221 A, Zoom
- Legislative Audiences (Host: Dorrie Main) - Classroom 221 B, Zoom
5:45 PM - Break
6:15 PM - Networking Dinner Reception, Great Plains (60 min)
7:15 PM - ID3A Presentation - Speakers: Ajay Sharda & Rebecca Dale; Great Plains, Zoom (45 min)
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Wednesday, April 22, 2026 (Find your local time here)
6:45 AM - (Optional) Virtual Re-Watch Party of Previous Day Sessions on Database Sustainability Deep Dive & Networking Questions - Hosts: Sarah Dyer & Tim Cezard, Great Plains, Zoom (2 hours)
9:00 AM - Awards Reception - Great Plains, Zoom (30 min)
9:30 AM - Network Sustainability Working Session (90 min)
- Shared Infrastructure/Human Resources (Hosts: Natalie Myers, David Molik) - Great Plains B, Zoom
- Shared Funding Across Databases (Hosts: Nicholas Gladman, Stephen Richards) - Classroom 221 A, Zoom
- Network Coordination (Hosts: Marcela K. Tello-Ruiz, Gwen Myers) - Classroom 221 B, Zoom
11:00 AM - Coffee Break
11:30 AM - Network Sustainability Working Session - Commitments & Next Steps, Great Plains, Zoom (30 min)
12:00 PM - Community Sharing, Great Plains, Zoom (30 min)
12:30 PM - Closing Evaluations/Boxed Lunch