Official information
Ignacy Misztal's short course on programming and computer algorithms in animal breeding with a focus on single-step GBLUP and genomic selection
When
May 4 - 22, 2026, Athens, GA
From 9:00am to 5:00pm
Course Venue
Department of Animal and Dairy Science
425 River Road, Athens GA 30602
Course Structure
The course will last 3 weeks, and the weeks are split into 2 modules
Module A:
week 1 plus Monday through Wednesday of week 2
• Week 1 (5/4 - 5/8)
Introduction to programming in Fortran
• Week 2 (5/11 - 5/13), Monday - Wednesday
- Advanced programming in Fortran 95/2003
- Computer algorithms in animal breeding
Module B:
Thursday and Friday of week 2 plus week 3
• Week 2 (5/14 - 5/15), Thursday - Friday
- Introduction to BLUPF90 family programs
- Associated programs: renumf90, preGSf90,…
- Modeling:
- Basic models: single-trait, multiple trait, maternal,…
- Advanced models: random-regression, competition, threshold, censored,…
- Variance components estimation (Bayesian and frequentist approaches)
• Week 3 (5/18 - 5/22)
Monday
- Introduction: a brief history of genomic selection
- Basis of SNP data
- Data manipulation and scripts with Unix tools
Tuesday
- GBLUP, SNPBLUP, brief Bayesian Methods
- GBLUP with dominance
- BLUPF90 with user_file
Wednesday
- ssGBLUP
- Genomic Options in Blupf90
- Cross-validation methods
- Theoretical accuracies
Thursday
- Use of postGSf90
- SNP effects from ssGBLUP
- Indirect predictions
- Single-step GWAS
- When to weight SNPs
Friday. Single-step without limits and practical issues
- Real-life example of large application of ssGBLUP
- Variance components with large genomic datasets: Monte-Carlo ssGREML and Genetic Parameters via predictivity (GPP)
- Multi-trait threshold models
- Double Hierarchical Generalized Linear Models
Instructors:
Ignacy Misztal, Daniela Lourenco, Matias Bermann, Jorge Hidalgo (UGA)
Andres Legarra (Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding), Zulma Vitezica (Toulouse-INP/INRAE, France), and Ignacio Aguilar (INIA, Uruguay)
Guest speaker:
Paul VanRaden
Attendance:
The course can be attended in full or partially. The attendance in Module A is limited to 25 and in Module B is limited to 40 participants.
Prerequisites for Module A:
• Knowledge of mixed models and quantitative genetics;
• Familiarity with Linux /Unix environments;
• Knowledge of programming in any high-level programming language (e.g., Fortran, C, C++, Java, Python) is a strong plus.
Prerequisites for Module B:
• Knowledge of mixed models and quantitative genetics;
• Familiarity with Linux /Unix environments.
Fees:
1 Module:
- Graduate student - $700
- Academic - $900
- Industry - $1500
2 Modules:
- Graduate student - $1000
- Academic - $1300
- Industry - $2000
Forms of Payment:
Cash, checks (US), or wire transfers
We are unable to accept credit card or PayPal payments
Payment information will be emailed to you as soon as your application is processed
Deadline Application:
February 28, 2026.
Download the Application Form
Email your application form to Christa Dempsey christa.dempsey@uga.edu and nce.ads.uga@gmail.com
All applications received after February 28, 2026 will be put on a waiting list with no guaranteed acceptance.
Submitting an application does not guarantee the acceptance in the course. All the applications will be evaluated after February 28, and a decision will follow. Invitation letters for U.S. visa will be prepared upon request for the accepted applicants.
If you have any questions, please email Christa Dempsey christa.dempsey@uga.edu
Logistics:
The closest airport to Athens is in Atlanta. For transportation to and from the Atlanta airport, see: https://groometransportation.com/athens/
Housing:
On-campus hotel (Georgia Center) is also an option: https://www.hotel.uga.edu/
Other housing options can be booked through regular booking websites and Airbnb:
Booking https://www.booking.com/
Expedia https://www.expedia.com/
Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/
Airport Shuttle
Athens information:
See the official website or separate pages.