Instrument specific topics course designed and highly recommended for research students (special studies, honors, SURF, etc.) requiring future access to microscope equipment in the Center for Microscopy and Imaging (CMI). Students will discuss the need of the Microscope system of their choice for their research project by preparing and presenting short presentations and a poster (or alternative format). Emphasized are group and/or individual demonstration sessions required to learn about the principles and operating parameters of a microscope system (see topics).

Instrument specific topics course designed and highly recommended for research students (special studies, honors, SURF, etc.) requiring future access to microscope equipment in the Center for Microscopy and Imaging (CMI). Students will discuss the need of the Microscope system of their choice for their research project by preparing and presenting short presentations and a poster (or alternative format). Emphasized are group and/or individual demonstration sessions required to learn about the principles and operating parameters of a microscope system (see topics).

Instrument specific topics course designed and highly recommended for research students (special studies, honors, SURF, etc.) requiring future access to microscope equipment in the Center for Microscopy and Imaging (CMI). Students will discuss the need of the Microscope system of their choice for their research project by preparing and presenting short presentations and a poster (or alternative format). Emphasized are group and/or individual demonstration sessions required to learn about the principles and operating parameters of a microscope system (see topics).

A course dealing with current topics in biology that are important in understanding important issues in today’s modern world. Many of these issues present important choices that must be made by individuals and by governments. Topics include cloning of plants and animals, human cloning, stem cell research, genetically modified organisms, CRISPR, bioterrorism, emerging infectious diseases such as coronavirus, Ebola, Zika and West Nile, gene therapy, DNA diagnostics and forensics, genome projects, human origins, human diversity, species extinction and de-extinction and others.

Students in this seminar discuss articles from the primary literature representing diverse fields of biology and present on their own research projects. Journal articles will be selected to coordinate with departmental colloquia. In alternate weeks, students present talks on research goals, data collection and data analysis. This course is required for graduate students and must be taken both years.

This lab course involves field and laboratory investigations of plant ecology, with an emphasis on Northeastern plant species and plant communities. The labs explore interactions between plants and insects, visit wetland and upland habitats, and investigate plant population dynamics at sites around western Massachusetts. Students gain hands-on experience with descriptive and experimental research approaches used to investigate ecological processes in plant communities. BIO 364 must be taken concurrently. Enrollment limited to 20.

This course surveys the environmental factors, historical processes and ecological interactions that influence the distribution and abundance of plant species in the landscape. The class examines how plant communities are assembled and what processes influence their structure and diversity, including past and present human activities. We focus in particular on plant communities of the Northeast, using examples from the local landscape to illustrate key ecological concepts. Prerequisite: a course in plant biology, ecology or environmental science; statistics is recommended (e.g., MTH 220).

This lab introduces the computational and quantitative tools underlying contemporary bioinformatics. We explore the various approaches to phylogenetic reconstruction using molecular data, methods of data mining in genome databases, comparative genomics, structure-function modeling, and the use of molecular data to reconstruct population and evolutionary history. Students are encouraged to explore datasets of particular interest to them. Prerequisite: BIO 334 (normally taken concurrently), or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 14.

This course focuses on methods and approaches in the emerging fields of bioinformatics and molecular evolution. Topics include the quantitative examination of genetic variation; selective and stochastic forces shaping proteins and catalytic RNA; data mining; comparative analysis of whole genome data sets; comparative genomics and bioinformatics; and hypothesis testing in computational biology. We explore the role of bioinformatics and comparative methods in the fields of molecular medicine, drug design, and in systematic, conservation and population biology.

The use of immunological techniques in clinical diagnosis and as research tools. Experimental exercises include immune cell population analysis, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, ELISA and agglutination reactions. An independent project is completed at the end of the term. Prerequisite: BIO 306 (may be taken concurrently). Enrollment limited to 16 students.