Graduate Courses

Survey of the wealth of information arising from genomic research conducted on diverse species across the tree of life. Students will explore the evolutionary diversification of genomes in phylogenetically remote organisms and refine critical thinking and technical writing skills through…

Examination of the diversity of plant-animal interactions from an ecological (population, community), evolutionary (phylogeny, adaptation), and mechanistic (structure-function, interaction dynamics, development) perspective.

 

Designed for students to learn how modern problems in medicine, agriculture, and biology are solved using big data “omics.” Topics include comparative gene and genome sequence analyses, transcriptomics, metabolomics, phylogenomics, and application of these approaches in medical, agricultural,…

History of taxonomy, nomenclature, characters, identification principles, classification, taxonomic relationships, taxonomic literature, species biology, collecting and herbarium, floristic studies.

 

History of taxonomy, nomenclature, characters, identification principles, classification, taxonomic relationships, taxonomic literature, species biology, collecting and herbarium, floristic studies.

 

Introduces computational techniques to students who are new to programming or do not regularly program using examples from plant science. In doing so, the course introduces basic simulation techniques and imaging techniques that can be specialized and further developed in higher level graduate…

Variation and evolution in plants, genotypic and phenotypic patterns, genetic diversity, adaptation, breeding systems, polyploidy, hybridization, apomixis, empirical data in population genetics and evolution, literature, experimental design, population sampling, variation analysis, breeding…

Designed for graduate students and post-docs interested in learning how to teach biology effectively in their own courses rather than as teaching assistants.

Principles and experimental methods in plant genetics, gene expression, and gene evolution. Topics are interrelated with those of Plant Cellular Biology and Plant Development.

The fundamentals of research grant proposal writing through preparation of a dissertation proposal; provides insight into the submission and review process. The course is aimed at second year graduate students conducting research on the ecology and genetics of plants, fungi, and microbes.

Students will learn how to design effective, informed, experimental, and observational studies for field plant biology. The course will also cover statistical analyses and software to interpret and visualize those data.

Students will be introduced to a variety of comparative approaches for elucidating the evolution of species, populations, and molecules. Methods for phylogenetic, population genetic, and molecular evolutionary analyses will be covered with examples drawn from the primary literature. Computer…

Students will be introduced to a variety of comparative approaches for elucidating the evolution of species, populations, and molecules. Methods for phylogenetic, population genetic, and molecular evolutionary analyses will be covered with examples drawn from the primary literature. Computer…

The dynamics of single- and multi-species populations and communities, emphasizing unique characteristics of plants. It is intended to complement other population-oriented courses. Topics include: population growth; stage-structure; dispersal; competitive interactions; herbivory; mutualisms;…

Seminar on current botanical research topics.

Not offered on a regular basis.

Seminar on current topics in plant genetics, molecular biology, and related areas.

Not offered on a regular basis.

Seminar on current plant ecology and related research topics.

Not offered on a regular basis.

Principles of plant reproductive and physiological ecology as they relate to plant ecological and evolutionary success, including pollination ecology, breeding systems, patterns of gene flow via pollen and seed dispersal, flower arrangement and phenology, water relations, photosynthesis, mineral…

Principles of plant reproductive and physiological ecology as they relate to plant ecological and evolutionary success, including pollination ecology, breeding systems, patterns of gene flow via pollen and seed dispersal, flower arrangement and phenology, water relations, photosynthesis, mineral…

Classical genetics and molecular biology of budding yeast, fission yeast, and model filamentous fungi. Includes life cycle, cell cycle, cytoskeleton, mating types, morphogenesis, pathogenesis, mutant screens, and cloning strategies.

Offered spring semester every even-numbered year.