This course uses a student-centered approach to explore the diverse careers available to life science PhD students. Students will identify their skills and experiences that match with professional opportunities, and they will develop a career individual development plan to guide their career planning. This class is open to all life science PhD students after the 2nd year in their program. This class is part of the PhD Plus Career Design series.

New course in the subject of biology.

This course introduces grad students to a breadth and depth of concepts and theories in modern ecology and evolutionary biology. The couse is co-taught by two BIOL faculty each fall, with different faculty rotating into the course in alternate years, providing expertise in molecular population genetics, genomics, phylogenetics, integrative biology, speciation, microevolution, life-history evolution, and mating systems.

How has a bioluminescent jellyfish saved lives? What does a Himalayan pond fish have to do with research into the origins of psychiatric disorders? Innovative methods in biomedical research have played a significant part in the development of revolutionary disease cures, treatments and diagnostics. This course will examine many of these technical approaches and how they have led to such significant discoveries in basic biomedical research.Prerequisite: BIOL 3010

This laboratory course provides hands-on experiences with experimental approaches used to study animal behavior. The laboratory exercises explore visual and auditory sensory perception, biological clock, reproductive and aggressive behaviors using actively behaving animals such as hamsters, cichlid fish, crickets and electric fish. Students are given opportunities to design hypothesis-testing experiments in some laboratories.

By applying the principles of engineering to biology, students will design molecules, viruses, and cells to solve global problems in public health, food security, manufacturing, information processing, and the environment, changing the traditional question of 'How do cells work?' to 'How can I get a cell to work for me?' Students will gain experience in writing internationally competitive research project proposals. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission

Introduces professional skills to first-year graduate students in the life sciences. This includes personal skills such as research management, ethics training and career awareness. Skills for communicating in science include small grant writing, poster creation and presentation. Emphasis will be placed on developing a scientific community that recognizes and values diversity.

Practical usage of various microscopy imaging methodologies to study the morphology and cellular function in various biological systems from single cell to single molecule in cells and tissues. Topics include basics theory of microscopy, imaging and image analysis to solve various biological questions, fluorophore labeling, technical and hands on training on various microscopy techniques applied in different biological and biomedical investigations. Lectures, discussion, student presentations and laboratory.

This course for advanced undergrads focuses on Alzheimer's disease research. The first 3 weeks are didactic. The remainder of the course emphasizes a "journal club¿ format where teams of students lead research paper discussions. Assessment: how well students lead/ participate in journal club discussions, periodic quizzes, and a final exam. Requirements: Students must have completed BIOL 3000 AND BIOL 3050 or PSYC 2200 or PSYC 3200. Anti-Requisite: BIOL 4559 topic: Neurodegenerative Diseases.

This course will explore case studies of research on phenotypes that emphasize the insights and advances gained by bringing a multilevel integrative approach to a target question. Students will learn to apply an integrative perspective to their own research topics by developing a research proposal that expands across levels. This class is open to all life science PhD students with recommendation for those in their 1st or 2nd year.