firefly®

This resource explores how automated liquid‑handling technologies are reshaping next‑generation sequencing (NGS) workflows, with a focus on reducing bottlenecks in sample and library preparation. Drawing on qualitative insights from NGS laboratories, the resource highlights key opportunities around throughput, space efficiency, sustainability, ease of use, and miniaturization, and outlines a future vision for accessible, high‑performance automation across genomics research and clinical applications.

In oncology R&D, speed and scale is crucial, however in terms of generating high-quality RNA-seq data across increasingly large cohorts, traditional library prep workflows struggle to keep pace. AstraZeneca is facing this exact challenge and were seeking out a solution to reduce delays in discovery pipelines and limitations in data-driven decision-making.

Discover how AstraZeneca was able to find a solution that supported large-scale oncology projects and was able to optimize resources and produce reliable and consistent data.

Resource details:

• Resource type: Case studies
• Pages: 1
• Read time: 2 mins

In this application note, SPT Labtech demonstrates how the NEBNext® Ultra™ II FS DNA Library Prep Kit for Illumina has been automated on firefly®, providing details on the steps performed in each protocol, together with data to demonstrate the performance of these protocols in generating high quality libraries for sequencing.

The Illumina DNA Prep kit is an optimized, user-friendly workflow for preparing normalized and ready-to-sequence libraries in under four hours, from a wide range of DNA inputs. In this application note, SPT Labtech demonstrates how high-quality libraries can be prepared on firefly® using the Illumina DNA Prep kit.

Genomics research has come a long way in recent years, supported by ever-evolving technologies which aim to mitigate on-going challenges such as increased R&D costs, achieving greater throughput, and the need for reproducible and reliable experimental results.

Miniaturization has been a major step forward in tackling issues with laborious manual sample preparation and is particularly feasible for next-generation sequencing library preparation due to the sensitivity and precision of the enzymes involved.

In this SelectScience guide, discover how SPT Labtech’s automated platforms are revolutionizing liquid handling and providing consistency across multiple users within the same facility, or even across different sites.

Download this SelectScience guide to learn about:

• Key automation & miniaturization considerations
• Miniaturization & automation of NGS library prep
• Miniaturized library prep for high-throughput screening
• Accurate, miniaturized DNA quantification assays
• Low-volume, single-cell RNA-seq library prep
• Proven miniaturization of NGS methods

Resource details:

• Document type: SelectScience guide
• Page count: 31
• Read time: 47 mins
• Edition: 2nd

3D cell culture has become an essential tool for advancing research in biology, medicine, and drug discovery. Learn how automation and positive displacement technology improves throughput and scalability in 3D cell culture development through accurate and reliable dispensing of hydrogels and cell suspensions.

DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) have emerged as a transformative technology within drug discovery. Building upon traditional DEL methods, Totus Medicines has developed a platform capable of identifying covalent small molecule ligands via high-throughput cell-based DEL screening. In this poster from SPT Labtech, explore how Totus Medicines is streamlining hit identification, optimization, and technology development, to accelerate the discovery of novel therapeutic candidates using SPT Labtech’s firefly® automated liquid handling platform.

In this application, SPT Labtech highlights how next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed genomic research by enabling faster genome sequencing, expanding beyond research into clinical settings, and creating new scientific opportunities. However, there are still workflow bottlenecks that require innovative solutions to increase efficiency, maintain sample integrity, and automate repetitive tasks. Automated liquid-handling technology is a promising solution that can reduce costs and increase sequencing efficiency by optimizing tasks such as pipetting, mixing, dispensing, incubating, and shaking. This note summarizes the opportunities and considerations for laboratory leaders in implementing these solutions, shares qualitative research with NGS customers on library preparation experiences, and presents a vision for the future.

Monday, November 10, at 16:00 GMT | 17:00 CET | 11:00 EST | 8:00 PST

Join José Couto, SPT Labtech, and Vincent Hahaut, Alithea Genomics, for an application-driven session on removing RNA-seq library prep bottlenecks from both single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq. They will unveil a new automated solution that combines MERCURIUS™ FLASH-seq with the firefly® liquid handler, streamlining scRNA-seq for rare cell detection or ultra-low input samples.

Plus, they will also uncover how high-throughput transcriptomics are made possible with the combination of extraction-free, plate-based RNA-seq technologies like MERCURIUS™ Total DRUG-seq and on firefly®.

Certificate of attendance

All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes. If you view the on-demand webinar, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.

Webinar details

• Cost: Free to attend
• Location: Online
• Duration: 60 minutes

Registration is required to secure your place. If you register but can’t attend live, you will receive a link to the on‑demand recording once it becomes available.

Friday, June 19 at 15:30 BST | 16:30 CEST | 10:30 EDT | 07:30 PDT

Explore the latest evolution of the firefly® liquid handling system from SPT Labtech with this comprehensive walkthrough. Learn how the system's dual technologies combine precision pipetting with high-speed non-contact dispensing to unlock flexible, high-throughput workflows. Whether you're new to automation or an experienced user, this SelectScience TechTalk reveals how the smart design features of the firefly® and firefly®+ can maximize efficiency and boost productivity in your lab.

Certificate of attendance
If you attend the live TechTalk, you will automatically receive a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes. If you view the on-demand TechTalk, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.

TechTalk details

• Cost: Free to attend
• Location: Online
• Duration: 5 minutes

Registration is required to secure your place. If you register but can’t attend live, you will receive a link to the on‑demand recording once it becomes available.

Join our on demand Accelerating Science Forum – held in partnership with SPT Labtech – for future-focused scientists looking to get the most out of their next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows.

As part of our Accelerating Science Feature, viewers will have the opportunity to gain the practical, NGS-focused guidance essential for optimizing your current workflows and successfully solving complex sequencing challenges.

Who should attend?

This on demand event is perfect for molecular biologists, lab managers, technicians, bioinformaticians, and researchers currently utilizing or planning to implement NGS technologies.

Certificate of attendance:

If you view the on-demand webinar, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.

Have a question about our online events? Get in touch here.

Tuesday, January 27, at 16:00 GMT | 17:00 CET | 11:00 EST | 08:00 PST

Long-read transcriptomics is helping researchers capture full-length RNA transcripts, resolve complex isoforms, and better understand gene expression, alternative splicing, and regulatory biology. As these studies scale, automated RNA library preparation is becoming essential for improving reproducibility, consistency, and throughput.

In this SelectScience® webinar, Dr. Rebecca Martin, Scientific Lead of the Genomics and Spatial Biology CoLab at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, and Dr. Liz Tseng, Product Manager at PacBio, discuss the automation of PacBio long-read RNA sequencing workflows using the Kinnex™ RNA kit on the SPT Labtech firefly® liquid handler.

The session will explore how Kinnex RNA library preparation supports PacBio Iso-Seq® analysis by preserving full-length transcripts and enabling high-resolution isoform detection, while automation on firefly® helps reduce hands-on time and improve preparation consistency. Speakers will also discuss how these automated protocols support the 1000 Genomes Long Read Project, an open-access effort to generate Iso-Seq data from 1,000 diverse samples.

Certificate of attendance
If you attend the live webinar, you will automatically receive a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.

If you view the on-demand webinar, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.

Webinar details

• Cost: Free to attend
• Location: Online
• Duration: 60 minutes

Registration is required to secure your place. If you register but cannot attend live, you will receive a link to the on‑demand recording once it becomes available.

High-throughput organoid screening is transforming drug discovery by enabling researchers to test compounds across large panels of physiologically relevant 3D models, helping to better predict clinical outcomes. However, the complexity of culturing and handling organoids has traditionally limited scalability and efficiency. In this SelectScience interview, Peter van Schaik of Crown Bioscience discusses how his team has overcome these challenges by implementing the firefly® automated liquid handling platform from SPT Labtech to support scalable, high content screening workflows.

This SelectScience interview was recorded at SLAS Europe 2026.

Marcella Ferrero, an automation scientist at Camena Bioscience, discusses how SPT Labtech's firefly automation system is helping to transform its gene synthesis workflow gSynth®, a platform which enables complex gene synthesis without the use of harmful chemicals.

Discover how the automation capabilities and firefly’s all-in-one design — combining dispensing, pipetting, thermal control, and shaking — has streamlined operations, maximizing productivity and hands-free time at Camena Bioscience.

This video was filmed at SLAS2025.

Join Paul Lomax, Head of Genomics at SPT Labtech, as he introduces the firefly®+ module – an exciting addition to the renowned firefly® platform, a leading genomics liquid handling system. This innovative module combines pipetting and non-contact dispensing, empowering genomics workflows with a walkaway solution. firefly+ stands out with its compact design, user-friendly software, and state-of-the-art positive displacement technology, setting a new standard for liquid handling systems. Watch the video to find out more about how these new developments expand on firefly’s already established liquid handling capabilities.

This video was filmed at SLAS2024.

Learn how you can accelerate your genomics research with the firefly® all-in-one compact liquid handling workstation. Paul Lomax, Head of Genomics at SPT Labtech, explains how this system incorporates pipetting, dispensing, incubating, and shaking, ideal for genomics applications. The system is ideal for laboratories looking to progress from manual, lower throughputs to higher throughputs, while its compact size and small footprint also benefits laboratories with limited space.

This video was filmed at SLAS2023, San Diego.

In this video, Paul Lomax, Genomics Product Manager at SPT Labtech, provides an overview of the firefly® liquid handler and shares how the technology is helping to accelerate genomic research. The firefly® offers a variety of features, including a compact design, innovative software, and high accuracy.

This video was filmed at SLAS Europe 2022

In this video, SPT Labtech demonstrates firefly® executing a PCR setup protocol.

Miniaturization and automated liquid handling transform NGS workflows for precious sample processing

In our SelectScience NGS Forum, genomics leaders discussed the challenges and opportunities driving the next chapter of next-generation sequencing

Validated methods support Twist FlexPrep UHT and Enzymatic Fragmentation Kit 2.0, enabling higher throughput and reproducibility in NGS library preparation

Integrates Alithea Genomics’ MERCURIUS FLASH-seq single-cell RNA-seq protocol with SPT Labtech’s firefly liquid handling platform

Rob Walton, CEO of SPT Labtech, shares how a customer-centric approach is shaping the next generation of life science research and inspiring ingenuity

This guest editorial outlines how the collaboration between Camena Bioscience and SPT Labtech is driving innovation in the field of DNA synthesis Discover how Camena Bioscience is using its gSynth® platform and SPT Labtech automated liquid handling to overcome DNA synthesis bottlenecks and accelerate applications in CRISPR screening and drug discovery

Explore the role of SPT Labtech's firefly system in core labs for proteomics, genomics, and multiomics applications

Aiding in the fight against species extinction and biodiversity loss

Automated protocols now available for mRNA and DNA sequencing

Find out how a pioneering biotech firm is revolutionizing drug discovery by integrating cutting-edge technologies, such as DNA-encoded library screening and state-of-the-art automation platforms