I will be teaching a 1 credit Special Topics course in Microbial Genomics (BIOM 595, CRN 35344) in Spring 2011. Here is the course description:
Genomic methods have revolutionized the study of microbial communities. Our understanding of the roles of microbes in three complex environments in particular—the human gut, the ocean, and the soil—has been greatly enhanced by culture-free high-throughput genomic techniques (e.g., metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing). This special topics course will focus on recent developments in these three environments, with particular emphasis directed at understanding the power and limitations of huge genomic data sets. These highthroughput techniques often push technological boundaries, and time will be taken to discuss the details of how each method works so that students are better able to design similar experiments in their own systems. Towards the end of the semester, students may choose relevant papers from the literature as dictated by their own interests.
Students will be expected to read 1-2 primary literature articles per week, and to lead the discussion on these readings 1-2 times during the semester, depending on enrollment. The course is open to all graduate students, and undergraduates may enroll with consent of the instructor.