diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker_R_binder.yaml b/.github/workflows/docker_R_binder.yaml
index eb7b6ec16c..c03ed539fe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker_R_binder.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker_R_binder.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
-          ref: binder-R
+          ref: main
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v2
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
diff --git a/binder/R/Dockerfile b/binder/R/Dockerfile
index 57df361734..d89ce8fa27 100644
--- a/binder/R/Dockerfile
+++ b/binder/R/Dockerfile
@@ -1,46 +1,37 @@
 FROM rocker/binder:latest
 
-#USER root
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install cron
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install jags
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install libgd-dev
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install libnetcdf-dev
+# Ensure the commands are run as root user
+USER root
 
-RUN sudo update-ca-certificates
-
-#USER ${NB_USER}
-
-RUN apt-get -y install python3 python3-pip
+# Update the package list and install required packages
+RUN rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* && \
+    apt-get update && \
+    apt-get -y install cron jags libgd-dev libnetcdf-dev python3 python3-pip && \
+    apt-get clean && \
+    sudo update-ca-certificates
 
+# Install R packages
 RUN install2.r devtools remotes reticulate
 
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('cboettig/minioclient')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/stac4cast')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/EFIstandards')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('cboettig/aws.s3')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/score4cast')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('EcoForecast/ecoforecastR')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/neon4cast')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('cboettig/prov')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/read4cast')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/gefs4cast')"
-RUN sleep 180
-RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('mitchelloharawild/distributional', ref = 'bb0427e')"
-
-RUN install2.r arrow renv rjags neonstore ISOweek RNetCDF fable fabletools forecast imputeTS duckdbfs gsheet
-
-RUN install2.r ncdf4 scoringRules tidybayes tidync udunits2 bench contentid yaml RCurl here feasts future furrr jsonlite
-
-#RUN R -e "reticulate::install_python(version = '3.9:latest', list = FALSE, force = FALSE)"
-
+# Install R packages from GitHub
+RUN R -e "remotes::install_github('cboettig/minioclient')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/stac4cast')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/EFIstandards')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('cboettig/aws.s3')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/score4cast')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('EcoForecast/ecoforecastR')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/neon4cast')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('cboettig/prov')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/read4cast')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('eco4cast/gefs4cast')" && \
+    R -e "remotes::install_github('mitchelloharawild/distributional', ref = 'bb0427e')"
+
+# Install additional R packages
+RUN install2.r arrow renv rjags neonstore ISOweek RNetCDF fable fabletools forecast imputeTS duckdbfs gsheet && \
+    install2.r ncdf4 scoringRules tidybayes tidync udunits2 bench contentid yaml RCurl here feasts future furrr jsonlite
+
+# Copy cron script
 COPY cron.sh /etc/services.d/cron/run
 
+# Switch back to the default user if necessary
+# USER ${NB_USER}