Planetary Biology Call for eDNA/Metabarcoding Protocol Pilots

SciLifeLab Planetary Biology invites researchers across Sweden to submit their existing environmental DNA (eDNA) extraction and library-preparation protocols for development into production-scale workflows. Metabarcoding projects are equally welcome, whether the protocol covers extraction, library preparation, or the full eDNA-to-amplicon workflow. 

Selected research groups will provide protocols which will be optimised, automated, and made publicly available – with full credit to the contributing research groups – and potentially incorporated into NGI’s eDNA service line.

Background

The eDNA community is one of the fastest-growing user segments at SciLifeLab, which creates an opportunity for further assay and service development to meet the growing needs of this community. At present, NGI does not offer routine, biome-scale eDNA extraction, largely because protocols often need to be tailored to different sample types and per-project sample throughput varies significantly. As a result, a substantial amount of wet-lab work is carried out by PhD students and postdocs, limiting the time they can dedicate to data analysis and biological interpretation. Furthermore, automated services offer higher scalability, consistent quality, and accessibility for the broader community.

For the metabarcoding community, NGI (the Stockholm site) already offers a proven eDNA/metabarcoding platform, having processed thousands of samples across dozens of projects. To unlock the field’s full potential, NGI needs to scale further – supporting more gene targets, running full end-to-end workflows (including extractions and initial PCR for more targets). At the same time, turnaround times need to be kept as low as possible allowing the community to grow its research. Hence, projects in testing new gene targets are encouraged to apply as well. 

What we are looking for

We will select 1–2 projects focused on eDNA or metabarcoding from one of the following sample categories:

• Soil
• Water (freshwater, marine, or sediment)
• Air filters
• Insect bulk samples
• Dead wood or similar recalcitrant material that host complex microbial communities
• Plant material sampled from the environment (e.g. roots)

Selection criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on:

• Existing protocol maturity – protocol development must already be completed in the applicant’s group; this call funds *productionisation*, not invention.
• Research funding in place for sequencing of the applicant’s own samples.
• Wide community applicability – the protocol must be useful well beyond the applicant’s own group, with concrete evidence of who else would benefit.
• NGI service expansion potential – a credible path from validated pilot to standing NGI service offering (estimation of number of samples to be processed at NGI per annum).
• Sample availability – there must be sufficient samples for optimisation testing and experimental material for subsequent deployment of the developed protocol to demonstrate feasibility to address scientific questions. Samples should be available before September 10, 2026. 
• For metabarcoding samples, suitable primers need to be available as well.

Selected projects will receive

• Dedicated lab engineer time (50% FTE equivalent September-December 2026) covered by Planetary Biology to bring the protocol to robustness, automation and production readiness.
• Reagent costs covered for the pilot validation work, via the NGI OpenLab cost line (up to 100K SEK per project).
• A pathway toward NGI evaluation for potential incorporation into NGI’s service portfolio. At the end of the pilot, the validated protocol and results will be presented to NGI, and NGI will assess whether it is suitable to be provided as a service in terms of technical robustness, practical feasibility for a production setting at NGI, user demand, and a sustainable cost model. Incorporation can not be guaranteed a priori. 
• While NGI does not commit dedicated resources to these protocol pilots, NGI’s experts will be available for discussions and guidance on what types of protocol features would be a good match for a potential future service. 
• Co-authorship/credit on the publicly released open-source protocol.

Open-source commitment

All final, validated protocols developed through this call will be released under an open licence in a public repository, with named credit to the originating research group. This is non-negotiable and is what justifies PB’s investment on behalf of the wider community.

Prepare your application

Applications need to include:

1. The protocol – current state, validation data, biome and sample type, throughput limits.
2. Community user base – who else (named groups, institutions) would use this service if it were available at NGI, and why.
3. Sample volume projection – realistic estimate of samples per year that NGI could expect within 1–3 years of service launch.
4. Funding and samples – confirmation that your own group has funding for downstream sequencing.
5. Willingness to participate in the open-source publication of the final, NGI-ready protocol, with credit to the developing group.

Contact

For questions about scope, eligibility or submission, please contact the SciLifeLab Planetary Biology Coordinator, Anabella Aguilera (anabella.aguilera@scilifelab.se), or the Scientific Lead, Olga Vinnere Pettersson (olga.pettersson@scilifelab.se).

Timeline

17 June 2026	Call opens
4 September 2026	Deadline to submit applications
15 September 2026	Selection and applicant feedback
20 September – December 2026	Project discussion | Protocol robustness, automation and validation work
End of 2026 – Spring 2027	Handover to NGI; public release of protocols