BIO 197, Fall 2022


Instructors

Dr. Luna L. Sanchez Reyes

Office: SE1 280

Email: lsanchezreyes2@ucmerced.edu

Office hours: By appointment and/or Monday 3pm-4pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 11am-12pm, & Wednesday 4pm-5pm.

Prof. Emily Jane McTavish

Office: SE1 281

Email: ejmctavish@ucmerced.edu

Office hours: By appointment


Class times & location

Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 2:30-4pm

Zoom link: https://ucmerced.zoom.us/j/82767962714

In-person location: SE1 390


Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills

Evolution


Semester schedule

The schedule, including class information, homeworks materials, lectures and in-class activities is available here. Check the website periodically for updates.


Course Communications

Email: lsanchezreyes2@ucmerced.edu, ejmctavish@ucmerced.edu


Suggested Texts


Web resources


Course Description

This is a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) in using data science to address research questions of biological significance in ecology and evolution. The course will focus on bioinformatic and phylogenetic methods, using state-of-the-art computational tools and statistical skills to design appropriate analyses to describe and explain general patterns in the species distribution and evolutionary history of organisms. Special attention will be given to phylogenetic patterns of biodiversity and their basis in both ecological (dispersal, competition) and evolutionary (speciation, extinction) processes. The course will be conducted seminar style and student-centered. Most of the reading will be drawn from recent primary literature. The application of research methods using published data, computational tools, and best practices in reproducibility to address questions in ecology and evolution, will be an integral part of this course. Students will communicate their results in written, oral and visual formats.


Course Goals and Learning Objectives

Goals

Learning Objectives

Students completing this course will be able to:


Teaching methods


Our flipped course structure


Grading rubrics

Homework and in-class activities

Homework Rubric


Participation

Homework Rubric


Attendance

Homework Rubric


Semester project

Homework Rubric Homework Rubric


Semester project Structure


Course Policies

We follow the Carpentries code of conduct.