workshops

Workshop on Molecular Evolution

• Workshop on Molecular Evolution, Europe

The Workshop on Molecular Evolution has been the finest course on the subject since first offered in 1988 in Woods Hole, USA. The Workshop consists of a series of lectures, demonstrations and computer laboratories that cover various aspects of molecular evolution. Faculty are chosen exclusively for their effectiveness in teaching theory and practice in molecular evolution. Included among the faculty are developers and other experts in the use of computer programs and packages such as BLAST, BEAST, Clustal W and Clustal X, FASTA, FigTree, GARLI, Genealogical Sorting Index, LAMARC, MAFFT, Migrate-n, MrBayes, PAML, PAUP*, and SeaView who provide demonstrations and consultations. The course is designed for established investigators, postdoctoral scholars, and advanced graduate students with prior experience in molecular evolution and related fields. Scientists with strong interests in molecular evolution, phylogenetics, population genetics, and related fields are encouraged to apply for admission. Lectures and computer laboratories total ~90 hours of scheduled instruction. An optional all-computer laboratory of 54+ hours of independent work with guidance and consultation of some faculty and teaching assistants is offered during the third week. Admission is limited and highly competitive, with admissions decisions determined by an international committee. Participants find the individual research session to be especially useful.

Topics to be covered include:

• Databases and sequence matching: database searching: protein sequence versus protein structure; homology; mathematical, statistical, and theoretical aspects of sequence database searches
• Phylogenetic analysis: theoretical, mathematical and statistical bases; sampling properties of sequence data; Bayesian analysis; hypothesis testing
• Maximum likelihood theory and practice in phylogenetics and population genetics: coalescent theory; maximum likelihood estimation of population genetic parameters
• Molecular evolution integrated at organism and higher levels: population biology; biogeography; ecology; systematics and conservation
• Molecular evolution and development: gene duplication and divergence; gene family organization; coordinated expression in evolution
• Comparative genomics: genome content; genome structure; genome evolution
• Molecular evolution integrated at lower levels: biochemistry; cell biology; physiology; relationship of genotype to phenotype

Workshop on Molecular Evolution, Europe

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

23 January - 4 February 2011, individual research session 4 - 11 February 2011 Application Deadline: not yet announced Application Form | Housing information for participants | Schedule

Michael P. Cummings, Scott A. Handley, and Naiara Rodríguez-Ezpeleta Co-Directors

Český Krumlov, is situated on the banks of the Vltava (Moldau) River in Jihočeský kraj, Česká republika (South Bohemia, Czech Republic) and is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe (see history of the town). The central region of town is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lectures will be held in the Town Theater, which is traditionally styled, but modernly equipped. The computer laboratories will be in the House of Prelate, which dates to the 14th century, with design befitting its heritage.

2011 Fee: 1800 USD, plus an additional 750 USD for the highly recommended, but optional, third week of all-computer laboratory for work on your own data with guidance and consultation of some faculty and teaching assistants. Fees include the opening reception and mid-course dinner, but do not include other meals or housing. Special discounted pricing has been arranged for hotels, pensions and hostels. There is no external funding for the course, and it is entirely funded by course fees. Therefore we are unable to offer support. Most participants pay the fee from sources coming from their lab, their department, their institution, or some external source.

Workshop on Comparative Genomics

• Workshop on Comparative Genomics, Europe

The Workshop on Comparative Genomics consists of a series of lectures, demonstrations and computer laboratories that cover various aspects of comparative genomics. Faculty are chosen exclusively for their effectiveness in teaching theory and practice in comparative genomics. Included among the faculty are developers and other experts in the use of computer programs and packages such as Ensembl and Galaxy who provide demonstrations and consultations. The course is designed for established investigators, postdoctoral scholars, and advanced graduate students. Scientists with strong interests in the uses of short-read sequence data, analytical methods, comparative structure of genomes, SNP detection and analysis, CNV, genome visualization tools and related areas are encouraged to apply for admission. Lectures and computer laboratories total ~90 hours of scheduled instruction. Admission is limited and highly competitive, with admissions decisions determined by an international committee.

Topics to be covered include:

• Sequencing technologies: short-read sequencing technologies of various types
• Assembly and alignment: basic analyses in de novo and resequencing studies
• Gene finding and annotation: functional description of genomic data
• Genome characterization: gene content; genome structure; synteny; SNPs; copy number variation (CNV)
• Assigning sequences to taxonomic groups in metagenomic studies: moving from sequences of unknown taxa to known taxa

Workshop on Comparative Genomics, Europe

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

9 - 21 January 2011 Application Deadline: not yet announced Application Form | Housing information for participants

Scott A. Handley, Michael P. Cummings, and Dag Ahren Co-Directors
Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta, Associate Director

Český Krumlov, is situated on the banks of the Vltava (Moldau) River in Jihočeský kraj, Česká republika (South Bohemia, Czech Republic) and is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe (see history of the town). The central region of town is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lectures will be held in the Town Theater, which is traditionally styled, but modernly equipped. The computer laboratories will be in the House of Prelate, which dates to the 14th century, with design befitting its heritage.

2011 Fee: TBA. Fee includes the opening reception and mid-course dinner, but does not include other meals or housing. Special discounted pricing has been arranged for hotels, pensions and hostels. There is no external funding for the course, and it is entirely funded by course fees. Therefore we are unable to offer support. Most participants pay the fee from sources coming from their lab, their department, their institution, or some external source.

Offered in partnership with GENECO