This course aims to:
1. Provide a variety of practical tools for the study of microbiome-related high-throughput sequencing data. 2. Ground students in the literature of a fast-moving field, while differentiating the microbiome concept from traditional microbiology. My teaching approach will be geared at students with minimal background in computer science, but a solid background in ecology, microbiology, soil science, or a related field. The goal is to not only teach the mechanics of existing sequence analysis tools, but through hands-on projects, learn how to learn unfamiliar computer programs. I will provide frequent opportunities for student feedback, and plan to evolve my approach to teaching over time. |
In this course, students pursue a major writing project (e.g. thesis proposal; manuscript) from start to finish. The course is focused on clarity of communication as opposed to grammatical skills. The course incorporates numerous exercises, a rigorous writing schedule, and extensive peer review. I am a writing coach as opposed to a judge. Our goal is to improve the quality of student projects, with the understanding that students enter graduate school with vastly different writing abilities and experiences. |