BIOL5511 - Biological Data Analysis

Status
A
Activity
LEC
Section number integer
401
Title (text only)
Biological Data Analysis
Term
2025A
Subject area
BIOL
Section number only
401
Section ID
BIOL5511401
Course number integer
5511
Meeting times
TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM
Level
graduate
Instructors
Susheel Sagar Bhat
Description
This course focuses on the underlying principles, implementation, and interpretation of statistical methods commonly used in biology. Lectures will incorporate exercises that implement these analyses in the open source software R, as well as exercises in data visualization. We will draw on examples from ecology, evolution, genetics, and genomics.
Course number only
5511
Cross listings
BIOL4511401
Use local description
No

BIOL4511 - Biological Data Analysis for High Throughput Sequencing Data

Status
A
Activity
LEC
Section number integer
401
Title (text only)
Biological Data Analysis for High Throughput Sequencing Data
Term
2025A
Subject area
BIOL
Section number only
401
Section ID
BIOL4511401
Course number integer
4511
Meeting times
TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM
Level
undergraduate
Instructors
Susheel Sagar Bhat
Description
This course focuses on the underlying principles, implementation, and interpretation of statistical methods commonly used in biology. Lectures will incorporate exercises that implement these analyses in the open source software R, as well as exercises in data visualization. We will draw on examples from ecology, evolution, genetics, and genomics.
Course number only
4511
Cross listings
BIOL5511401
Use local description
No

BIOL1821 - The Intersection of Biology and Health

Status
A
Activity
SEM
Section number integer
301
Title (text only)
The Intersection of Biology and Health
Term
2025A
Subject area
BIOL
Section number only
301
Section ID
BIOL1821301
Course number integer
1821
Meeting times
TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM
Level
undergraduate
Instructors
Ala Stanford
Description
This first year seminar explores the foundational role of biology in various health professions, including careers as physicians, nurses, physician assistants, health policy experts, basic science research, social scientists, and health entrepreneurs. The course delves into the broader factors influencing health outcomes, such as politics, systemic racism, bias, social determinants of health, the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of underrepresentation in healthcare. Students will engage with a range of materials, including case studies, peer-reviewed articles, current events, medical biographies, and historical and contemporary examples of bias and discrimination. Key discussions include: healthcare as a right or privilege, response to a public health crisis in theory and in practice, and how wealth, home ownership, education, bias, and health outcomes are interconnected to racial injustice. The course will include a visit to a health center in an underserved community, opportunities for volunteer work, and may include guest speakers. Students will be assessed through writing assignments, quizzes, class participation, and group presentations on educational and opposing viewpoints. No prerequisites are required, and the course encourages collaborative learning to better understand the intersection of biology, health, and society.
Course number only
1821
Fulfills
Cross Cultural Analysis
Living World Sector
Use local description
No

BIOL6010 - Communication for Biologists

Status
A
Activity
SEM
Section number integer
301
Title (text only)
Communication for Biologists
Term
2025A
Subject area
BIOL
Section number only
301
Section ID
BIOL6010301
Course number integer
6010
Level
graduate
Instructors
Brian Gregory
Joshua Benjamin Plotkin
Description
Basic science writing and presentation skills for PhD students in Biology. Designed for second year graduate students preparing for qualifying exams. In the first half of the course, students will produce weekly writing assignments and critique writing submitted by others. In the second half, students will learn techniques for effective research presentations in both seminar style environments and chalk-talk settings.
Course number only
6010
Use local description
No

BIOL5825 - Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Superlab

Status
A
Activity
LAB
Section number integer
401
Title (text only)
Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Superlab
Term
2025A
Subject area
BIOL
Section number only
401
Section ID
BIOL5825401
Course number integer
5825
Meeting times
TR 1:45 PM-4:44 PM
Level
graduate
Instructors
John D Wagner
Description
Intensive laboratory class where open-ended, interesting biological problems are explored using modern lab techniques. Topics may include protein structure/function studies; genetic screens, genomics and gene expression studies; proteomics and protein purification techniques; and molecular cloning and DNA manipulation. The course emphasizes developing scientific communication and independent research skills. Course topics reflect the interests of individual Biology faculty members. This course is recommended for students considering independent research.
Course number only
5825
Cross listings
BIOL4825401
Use local description
No

BIOL5711 - Microbial Diversity and Pathogenesis Lab

Status
A
Activity
LAB
Section number integer
401
Title (text only)
Microbial Diversity and Pathogenesis Lab
Term
2025A
Subject area
BIOL
Section number only
401
Section ID
BIOL5711401
Course number integer
5711
Meeting times
TR 12:00 PM-2:59 PM
Level
graduate
Instructors
Karl G Siegert
Description
The importance of microbiology in complex issues, such as the impact of the microbiome in human health or as alternative energy sources, is being appreciated more and more each day. This upper level laboratory course provides students with a robust technical skill set while also giving them an opportunity to participate in an authentic research project that may lead to novel discoveries. Students will generate research questions, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, analyze data, and present their research findings to the class. In each project, students will use the cutting edge approach of metagenomics to evaluate the microbial diversity of their environment via Next Generation Sequencing. Students will also examine the function of microbial species within their communities. Potential projects include the isolation of novel antibiotic producers and the antibiotic they produce, designing and optimizing microbial fuel cells that can be used to generate electricity, or isolating antibiotic resistant bacteria and attempting novel approaches to inhibit or prevent their growth.
Course number only
5711
Cross listings
BIOL3711401
Use local description
No