5.2 Staffing and training

As described above, a WGS system requires at minimum laboratory scientists with genomics experience, bioinformaticians with epidemiology and microbiology training, and an epidemiologist. Ongoing skills development should be considered as part of your budget owing to the continually evolving nature of genomics technologies, protocols and bioinformatic approaches.

The cost of hiring staff and training them in new skills will vary depending on the local job market – but note that specialists skilled in these areas can be difficult to hire and retain in LMICs (Halpin, 2025).