Topic Courses
Most topics last for six weeks with one 2-hour session each week (i.e., 12 total hours in-class). Topics for the CBMG track consist of 24 hours in-class and are therefore the equivalent of two topics. In-class sessions generally include lectures by professors and presentations by students on current literature. Classes often involve discussion of research papers. Topics usually are evaluated through assignments and class participation. Marks are available within four weeks after the due date of the last assignment for the course.
Registration & Deadlines
Opening of registration and how to register for Topics will be communicated to students by email from the department. The deadline to register is February 4th, 2022. Note that Topics are generally offered every other year.
Registration is not on a first-come, first-served basis. All students will be given equal consideration for registration in topics as long as they submit a request by the deadline. In cases where a topic course is oversubscribed, preference may be given to senior Molecular Genetics students. Note that Molecular Genetics Students may also enroll in courses from other departments to fulfill topic requirements upon approval from Graduate Coordinators in both departments, instructors, and their PI. In particular, the Department of Biochemistry course modules fulfills Topic requirements. Contact the Graduate Office for more information.
Non-Molecular Genetics Students
Students from other departments may enroll in Topics. However, preference is given to Molecular Genetics students. Biochemistry students may use Topics from this department to count towards the topic courses offered by the Biochemistry department (check with your home department for details). Please contact the Graduate Office for more information. Note that students from other departments must also select their topics by the deadlines above.
2022/23 Topic Courses
MMG1004H: A Practical Course in Programming for Biologists (Winter/Spring 2023)
Prerequisite: This course is intended and required for first-year MoGen students (MSc or direct entry Ph.D.) who do not have advanced computational biology training. Graduate students from other departments will be considered on a case-by-case basis if there is capacity. Students with advanced computational biology training (approved on a case-by-case basis by the instructors), will enrol in Foundational Computational Biology I (MMG1344; 0.25 FTE) instead of MMG1004.
Course Instructors: Philip M. Kim and Gary D. Bader
Course Time and Dates: Monday/Wednesday (10-11:15)
MMG1344H: Foundational Computational Biology I (Winter/Spring 2023)
Course Overview
The Foundational Computational Biology (FCB) courses are two 6-meeting topic courses offered through the Molecular Genetics Graduate program, covering foundational concepts and current applications for computational biology and bioinformatics. The courses are targeted to first-year graduate students, with preference given to students in the CBMG track of the Molecular Genetics Graduate Program.
Assignments will be pen-and-paper and practical assignments requiring programming (e.g., Python) or statistical environments (e.g., R).
Instructors: Drs. Fritz Roth and Kieran Campbell
Date: April - May 2023
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Enrollment: Subject to Instructor approval (for non-CBMG students) and will require:
- Emailing the course coordinator with the following information:
- evidence of comfort with computer programming and
- excellence in two or more quantitative subjects, including calculus, linear algebra, probability/statistics, or other mathematics courses.
Once approval is acquired, email the Graduate Coordinators to confirm enrollment.
Syllabus: Course Outline
MMG1345H: Foundational Computational Biology II (Spring 2023)
Course Overview
The Foundational Computational Biology (FCB) courses are two 6-meeting topic courses offered through the Molecular Genetics Graduate program, covering foundational concepts and current applications for computational biology and bioinformatics. The courses are targeted to 1st-year graduate students, with preference given to students in the CBMG track of the Molecular Genetics Graduate Program.
Assignments will be pen-and-paper and practical assignments requiring programming (e.g., Python) or statistical environments (e.g., R).
Instructors: Dr. Fritz Roth
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Enrollment: Subject to Instructor approval (for non-CBMG students) and will require:
- Emailing the course coordinator with the following information:
- evidence of comfort with computer programming and
- excellence in two or more quantitative subjects, including calculus, linear algebra, probability/statistics, or other mathematics courses.
Once approval is acquired, email the Graduate Coordinators to confirm enrollment.
MMG1311H: Functional Genomics – Experimental Approaches (Fall 2022)
Course Overview:
The course provides a survey of current and emerging approaches in functional genomics and proteomics, with a focus on experimental design and data interpretation.
The course consists of a series of presentations and guided discussions by researchers that are developing cutting-edge functional genomics and/or proteomics approaches. The course is designed to be highly interactive — the presentations by invited speakers provide a framework for discussion and students are expected and encouraged to engage as fully as possible. It’s a great opportunity for students to explore cutting-edge genomics methods with great invited speakers and to learn through these discussions.
Topics to be covered this year will include: a) Next Generation nucleic acid sequencing, b) Genetic interactions in model organisms, c) Proteomics and protein interactions, d) High content screening, e) CRISPR technologies, and f) Systematic assay development, g) computational analysis.
Course outline: Syllabus
Course Location: TBD
Course Time and Date: TBD
Course Instructor(s): Charlie Boone and Andy Fraser
MMG1306H: Epigenetics and Transcriptional Control (Winter 2023)
Course Overview:
In this topics course, we will explore the fascinating world of epigenetic inheritance and chromatin-based gene regulation.
The format for this course is a little different from other topics courses you may have taken and will require a greater sustained effort but will not involve a lengthy final assignment. We’re aiming for maximal student engagement and will in fact require you to assume much responsibility for the development of the course curriculum as well as marking. Brief weekly written assignments will comprise a significant portion of your grade and will be evaluated by you. The quality of the class you lead (as explained below) will comprise another major area of evaluation.
Course outline: See syllabus here
Course Location: TBD
Course Time and Date: February 16th – March 23rd, 2023 (2:00-4:00 PM)
Course Instructor(s): Marc Meneghini and Paul Delgado Olguin
BCH2024H: From Chaperones to CRISPR-Cas: the incredible power of phages (Winter 2022)
Course Overview
This course will cover both classical and contemporary studies involving phages that have led to major technological breakthroughs.
Your grade will be based on participation, presentation of a journal article and a written assignment (Cell Preview or Nature News & Views style paper).
Instructors: Karen Maxwell & Alan Davidson
Date: March 26, 2021- April 30, 2021
Time: 1:30-3:30 pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Enrollment: Student limit is 10
Syllabus: Course Outline
Click here for more information
MMG1312H: Growth Factor Control of Nervous System Development (Fall 2022)
Course Overview
This course will focus on selected topics in Growth Factors and Nervous System Development, with development defined in a broad sense that includes plasticity. The first class will be an introductory class, and then will be followed by 6 additional classes. Each of these will be comprised of a short introduction followed by a presentation of selected research papers by two students. Other students in the class will be responsible for having read the papers and for participating in the discussion.
Students will be assessed on their paper presentation, as well as on their participation in the discussion of the other selected papers. In addition, students will be asked to identify an important/timely topic or question in the general area, and to very briefly present ideas about how they could experimentally address their chosen topic/question. This will be considered as part of their class participation.
Course outline: Syllabus
Instructors and Contact Information: David Kaplan
Course Dates and Times: November 7-December 12, Monday 3PM-5PM
Course Location: TBD - PGCRL (likely)
MMG1313H: Membrane Proteomics in Biomedical Research (Fall 2022)
Course outline:
This course will cover the fundamentals of membrane proteomics from a structural, biochemical and genetic standpoint. Among these will be cryo-EM, crystallography, NMR, and EPR methods as well as mammalian membrane two-hybrid screening and mass-spectrometry-based methods. A number of in vivo approaches to the discovery of drugs that modulate biological systems will also be covered. Finally, the techniques used for the development of antibodies against membrane proteins with therapeutic potential will be introduced.
The course will be completed in a total of 12 hours in two-hour blocks and will run over two weeks. In-class sessions will include lectures by professors and presentations by students on current literature. Classes will involve discussion of research papers.
Course outline: Syllabus
Course Location: TBD
Course Time and Date: TBD, usually November (12-2 pm)
Course Instructor(s): Oliver Ernst and Igor Stagljar
MMG1314H: Viral Pathogenesis (Winter 2023)
Course Overview:
Given recent studies documenting the wide range of viruses, both bacterial and mammalian, found in the human microbiome, the question arises as to why some viral infections induce pathologies while others do not. This course will examine the mechanisms underpinning the pathogenesis of a number of viruses, with emphasis on the role played by viral factors and the host response to infection.
Course outline: Click Here
Course Location: MSB4174
Course Time and Date: Friday 10-12 March 17 to April 28, 2023
Course Instructor(s): Alan Cochrane, James Rini
MMG1330H: Stem Cells I (Fall 2023)
Course Overview:
Stem cells are at the heart of development and regeneration in organisms from plants to humans. We will pursue issues of cell fate, cell division, differentiation and self-renewal (see the weekly topics below). This is a reading and discussion course, so everyone will read the papers for each week before coming to class. This means you should come to the first meeting having read all of the week one papers or don’t bother coming to class. Each person may be asked to give the synopsis of a paper and/or initiate the discussion by answering the first questions about the papers. For this course, you must be prepared for robust discussion and presentation. This course will be fun, and everybody will do well if they participate in the class discussion.
Course outline: Syllabus
Course Location: Room 1112 – CCBR (11th Floor, 160 College Street)
Course Time and Date: October 5 to November 23 on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Course Instructor(s): Derek van der Kooy and John Dick
Enrollment: 15
BCH2024H: Biomolecular Dynamics and Function (Fall 2022)
The course will describe some of the experimental methods to study biomolecular dynamics and present examples of functional motions from a variety of systems.
Course Objectives: Provide the student with a moderate level of understanding of biophysical approaches used to understand the role of biomolecular motion in function.
MMG1317H - Special Topics in Advanced Cancer Proteomics
The premise the course is that cancer is largely a product of the sequence-to-phenotype continuum: DNA-to-RNA-to-Proteome-to-Phenotype (i.e. cancer). The course comprises a series of lectures delivered by leading proteomics experts and researchers. Students will learn about mass spectrometry-based proteomics including spectral analysis, and tissue proteome profiling as methods to discover cancer drivers and biomarkers, and to define and compare phenotypes such as normal versus cancer; drug responsive versus drug resistant. Innovative high-content proteomics technologies will be introduced that have been developed and applied to systematically interrogate proteomes for protein interactions associated with disease, cell regulation, and drug responsiveness.
MMG1308H - Human Genome Analysis (Winter/Spring 2023)
Course Overview:
The course will start with an introductory lecture, covering the basic theoretical and practical aspects of human genome analysis, including a historical perspective of current advances in the field. Subsequent sessions will involve class presentations of papers covering topics related to human genome analysis.
Course Outline: See syllabus here
Course Coordinator: Ryan Yuen and Gregory Costain
Course Location: Peter Gilgan Centre for Research & Learning (PGCRL), room TBD
Course Time and Date: Thursdays 1:30pm-3:30pm (March 23, 2023 – April 27, 2023 inclusive))
MMG1315 - Gene and Protein Evolution (Winter/Spring 2023)
Course Overview
This course will survey the genetic and biophysical forces that have shaped the evolutionary history of genes and proteins. The first lecture will review basic concepts in molecular evolution and mutational processes, while the latter lectures will discuss recent theoretical and experimental advances. Topics to be covered include: mutational processes; positive and negative selection; neutral theory of protein evolution; predicting deleterious protein mutations; evolution of gene expression and gene regulation; de novo mutations; biophysical models of protein evolution; protein sequence and structure spaces; mutational robustness; evolvability; epistasis and co-evolution of interacting amino acid residues; and examples of using evolutionary information to infer biophysical properties of proteins. Student grades will be based on participation in discussions, a written CIHR grant LOI, and referee reports on two grant proposals submitted by fellow students
Instructor: Zhaolei Zhang
Date: Wednesday 1-3pm, March 22 to April 26, 2023 (6 weeks)
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: Online via Zoom
MMG1316 - Cancer Genetics (Winter 2023)
This course will focus on recent advances in cancer molecular genetics and application to human disease. Specifically, we will address genetic factors with respect to cancer susceptibility (tumor suppressor and DNA repair genes), tumor-specific genomics and gene expression (tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes), and therapies targeting this knowledge. Within each area, clinical application and relevance will be emphasized. Scientific tools that enable this research will be addressed, such as statistical genetics, expression profiling, genomic screens, and siRNA approaches to targeted therapies. The course will consist of lectures and presentations and discussion by students of selected publications. The course grade will be based on presentations, participation in discussions and a short written paper.
Course Time and Date: Feb 23rd, March 2nd, 9th, 23rd, 30th, April 6th. 2:00pm-4:00pm
Course Instructor(s): Irene Andrulis/ Daniel Schramek
Course Outline: Click Here
BCH2110H - Eukaryotic Signalling (Winter 2023)
Link: https://biochemistry.utoronto.ca/courses/bch-2110h/
Course Time and Location
Start date: March 20
End date: March 31
Day(s) of the week: Mon / Wed / Fri
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Location: TBA
MMG1318H - Cytoskeletal Dynamics (Winter 2023)
The course will discuss recent advances in our understanding of the structure and function of the cytoskeleton. Discussion will include, but not be limited to cell division (prokaryotic and eukaryotic), cell migration and ciliogenesis.
Delivery: In person
Time: Thursdays 10-12 Dates: February 23 - March 30
MMG1320H - Genome Duplication, Repair and Transmission (Genome DRT) (Winter/Spring 2023)
Course Overview: This discussion-based course will rely on student presentations of recent papers from the literature related to mechanisms of genome structure and function. We will take examples from model organisms to humans. Topics covered vary every year based on the very recent literature, but generally include DNA replication and repair, chromatin, checkpoint control, genetic instability, fundamental genetic elements (centromeres, telomeres), chromosome structure/function and inheritance during cell division. In teams, students will present and lead discussions on 2 assigned papers during the class, and will also participate in all class discussions. Students will write a short grant proposal on a topic related to class (but unrelated to their own area of research) and participate in a peer review grant panel providing and receiving constructive feedback to/from peers on their grants.
Course Location: TBD
Course Time and Date: Wednesdays 3pm- 5pm (starts March 29)
MMG1322H - Protozoan Pathogens (Winter 2023)
Protozoans comprise a large and diverse group of eukaryotic microbes. There are dozens of protists that infects humans, which together kill over a million people every year. Protozoan parasites that infect humans include apicomplexians, kintoplastids, amoebas, and giardia. There are few treatments for these pathogens and there is still much to understand about how these protists infect hosts and cause disease. Papers selected for discussion will focus on recent advances in protozoan evolution, invasion and virulence mechanisms, and development of therapeutics. There will be a specific emphasis placed on new technologies that are driving discoveries in these challenging organisms. Student grades will be based on written assignments, presentations, and participation in discussions.
Course Location: Mars, 16th floor, 1622
Course Time and Date: Wednesdays 10am-12pm (Feb. 15 – March 22, 2023)
Course Instructor: Aaron W. Reinke
2021 Topic Courses
Winter-Fall 2021
MMG1206: Cancer Genetics (Winter 2021)
Course Overview
This course will focus on recent advances in cancer molecular genetics and its application to human disease. Specifically, we will address genetic factors for cancer susceptibility (tumour suppressor and DNA repair genes), tumour-specific genomics and gene expression (tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes), and therapies targeting this knowledge. Within each area, we will emphasize clinical application and relevance. Scientific tools that enable this research will be addressed, such as statistical genetics, expression profiling, genomic screens, and siRNA approaches to targeted therapies. The course will consist of lectures and presentations, and discussion by students of selected publications. The course grade will be based on presentations, participation in discussions and a short written paper.
Instructors: Dr. Irene Andrulis and Dr. Daniel Schramek
Dates: February 18, 2021 – March 25, 2021
Time: 2-4 pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Enrollment: Class size is limited to 15 students
Syllabus: Course Outline (will be added later)
MMG1217: Gene & Protein Evolution (Winter 2021)
Course Overview
This course will survey the genetic and biophysical forces that have shaped the evolutionary history of genes and proteins. The first lecture will review basic concepts in molecular evolution and mutational processes, while the latter lectures will discuss recent theoretical and experimental advances. Topics to be covered include: mutational processes; positive and negative selection; neutral theory of protein evolution; predicting deleterious protein mutations; evolution of gene expression and gene regulation; de novo mutations; biophysical models of protein evolution; protein sequence and structure spaces; mutational robustness; evolvability; epistasis and co-evolution of interacting amino acid residues; and examples of using evolutionary information to infer biophysical properties of proteins. Student grades will be based on participation in discussions, a written CIHR grant LOI, and referee reports on two grant proposals submitted by fellow students
Instructor: Zhaolei Zhang
Date: March 25, 2021 to April 29, 2021 (6 weeks)
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: Online via Zoom
MMG1218: Genome Duplication, Repair and Transmission (Winter 2021)
Course Overview
This discussion-based course will rely on student presentations of recent papers from the literature related to mechanisms of genome structure and function. We will take examples from model organisms to humans. Topics covered vary every year based on the very recent literature, but generally include DNA replication and repair, checkpoint control, genetic instability, fundamental genetic elements (centromeres, telomeres), chromosome structure/function and inheritance during mitosis and/or meiosis. In teams, students will present and lead discussions on 2 assigned papers during the class, and will also participate in all class discussions. Students will write a short grant proposal on a topic related to class (but unrelated to their own area of research) and participate in a peer review grant panel providing and receiving constructive feedback to/from peers on their grants.
Instructors: Dr. Brigitte Lavoie, Dr. Daniel Durocher & Dr. Christopher Pearson
Dates: March 3, 2021 - April 28, 2021
Time: Wednesdays (3pm - 5pm)
Location: Online via Zoom
Enrollment: Class size is limited to 10 students
Syllabus: Course Outline
MMG1228: Protozoan Pathogens (Winter 2021)
Course Overview
Protozoans comprise a large and diverse group of eukaryotic microbes. There are dozens of protists that infect humans, which together kill over a million people every year. Protazoan parasites that infect humans include apicomplexians, kintoplastids, amoebas, oomycetes, and giardia. There are few treatments for these pathogens and there is still much to understand about how these protists infect hosts and cause disease. Papers selected for discussion will focus on recent advances in protozoan evolution, invasion and virulence mechanisms, and the development of therapeutics. There will be a specific emphasis placed on new technologies that are driving discoveries in these challenging organisms. Student grades will be based on written assignments, presentations, and participation in discussions.
Instructor: Aaron W. Reinke
Date: February 18, 2021 – March 25, 2021
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 10am-12pm (Thursday)
Syllabus: Course Outline
MMG1344H: Foundational Computational Biology I (Winter 2021)
Course Overview
The Advanced Computational Biology (ACB) courses are two 6-meeting topic courses offered through the Molecular Genetics Graduate program, covering foundational concepts and current applications for computational biology and bioinformatics. The courses are targeted to first-year graduate students, with preference given to students in the CBMG track of the Molecular Genetics Graduate Program.
Assignments will be pen-and-paper and practical assignments requiring programming (e.g., Python) or statistical environments (e.g., R).
Instructors: Dr. Fritz Roth and Kieran Campbell
Date: April 1, 2021 - May 6, 2021
Time: 1-3 pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Enrollment: Subject to Instructor approval and will require:
1) evidence of comfort with computer programming and
2) excellence in two or more quantitative subjects, including calculus, linear algebra, probability/statistics, or other mathematics courses.
Syllabus: Course Outline
MMG1345H: Foundational Computational Biology II (Winter 2021)
Course Overview
The Advanced Computational Biology (ACB) courses are two 6-meeting topic courses offered through the Molecular Genetics Graduate program, covering foundational concepts and current applications for computational biology and bioinformatics. The courses are targeted to 1st-year graduate students, with preference given to students in the CBMG track of the Molecular Genetics Graduate Program.
Assignments will be pen-and-paper and practical assignments requiring programming (e.g., Python) or statistical environments (e.g., R).
Instructors: Dr. Fritz Roth and Kieran Campbell
Date: May 13, 2021 - June 17, 2021
Time: Thursday, 1-3 pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Enrollment: Subject to Instructor approval and will require:
1) evidence of comfort with computer programming and
2) excellence in two or more quantitative subjects, including calculus, linear algebra, probability/statistics, or other mathematics courses.
Syllabus: Course Outline
MMG1301H: Developmental Neurobiology (Fall 2021)
Course Overview
The aim of this graduate course is to discuss current issues in developmental neurobiology. Topics will include cell fate decisions in the nervous system; axon guidance/cell migrations; synaptogenesis, neuronal function; genetic analysis of behaviour, learning & memory & genetic models of neurodegenerative diseases. The format will consist of 1-2 hours class/week. Each class will consist of a lecture component and presentations from students. Students will be assessed using two criteria: presentation of current papers from the literature and an NSERC style grant on a topic discussed in class. Click here for the 2018 Syllabus.
Instructors: Dr. Julie Lefebvre
Date: October 20, 2021 to December 1, 2021
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Location: PGCRL 5-59701
Enrollment: minimum 12 students, maximum 16 students
MMG1304H: Bacterial Pathogens (Fall 2021)
Course Overview
This course focuses on recent advances in the study of bacterial pathogens and the mechanisms by which they cause disease. Specifically, we will examine the virulence factors used by pathogens to infect their host, to subvert host innate and adaptive immune defences and transmit to new cells and new hosts. The course will consist of lectures and presentations and discussions by students of selected publications. The course grade will be based on presentations, participation in discussions and a short written paper.
Instructors: Dr. J. Brumell & Dr. J. Liu
Date: October 6, 2021 - November 10, 2021
Time: TBD
Location: Zoom (Link will be provided in class)
Enrollment: Limited to 12 Students
Syllabus: Course Outline (Please note this syllabus is from 2020)
MMG1324H: Mitochondrial Genetics in Health and Disease (Fall 2021)
Course Overview
Mitochondria are essential intracellular organelles that contain their own genomes. This course will focus on understanding how mitochondrial genomes are maintained, inherited and expressed, and how their dysfunction contributes to diseases such as cancer. Students will learn both fundamental concepts as well as recent advances in the field of mitochondrial genetics.
The structure of the course is as follows. Students will be organized into 6 groups. Each group will be assigned a topic from endosymbiotic theory to the role mitochondria play in cancer (see below). Groups will then develop and present a 30-minute power point-assisted lecture that would be suitable to teach this topic to a class of first-year graduate students.
Course Instructor(s): Neal Sondheimer and Thomas Hurd,
Date: October 6, 2021 - November 10, 2021
Time: Wednesday, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: MaRS or Zoom
Enrollment: Limited to 12 Students
Syllabus: Course Outline (Please note this syllabus is from 2020)
MMG1326H: Post‐Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanisms (Fall 2021)
Course Overview
This course will cover topics related to the mechanisms underlying post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Topics change yearly, reflecting the most recent state of the field, and may include concepts such as: RNA binding proteins, alternative ribosomes, lncRNAs, phase separated RNA granules, riboswitches, small RNAs regulation, etc.
Students will be organized into 6 groups. Each group will be assigned a topic, develop a ~45 min power point-assisted lecture that would be suitable to teach this topic to a class of first year graduate students, and present the lecture to the class.
Following the presentation the class will discuss a paper related to the topic. Students (either volunteers of chosen at random) who were not involved in that week’s presentation will present individual figures from the paper.
Instructor: Dr. Julie Claycomb and Dr. Craig Smibert
Date: October 4, 2021 - December 13, 2021
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Location: Zoom (link will be provided before the course begins)
Enrollment: 18 students
Syllabus: Course Outline (Please note this syllabus is from 2020)
MMG1229: Signalling Networks in Development, Regeneration and Disease (Fall 2021)
The course will focus on the role of morphogen signalling pathways in regulating cell fate determination and patterning during development. The emphasis will be on mammalian models. Topics to be covered will include an overview of famous morphogen pathways and how they regulate gastrulation, heart and kidney development, cell and tissue polarity and pluripotency and cell fate decisions in stem cells.
Instructor: Dr. Jeff Wrana
Dates: November - December 2021 (Exact dates TBD)
Time: TBD
Place: TBD
Enrollment: Class size is limited to 12 students
Syllabus: Course Outline (Please note this syllabus is from 2020)
MMG1331H: Stem Cells II (Fall 2021)
Course Overview
Stem cells are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into functionally diverse cell types. As these cells from patients can be phenotyped in comparison to healthy cells, they have been utilized for disease modeling and drug screens. This is an advanced discussion/journal club-oriented course covering both the general concepts and translational aspects of stem cell biology. Students will learn how stem cell biology is applied not only to understand disease mechanisms but also to help develop novel therapies. Students will read and discuss assigned papers; at the end of semester, they will submit a stem cell research plan, and review their proposals in a grant panel format. Course grades will be based on journal club presentations, proposals, and the discussions of both.
Instructors: Dr. James Ellis and Dr. Tae-Hee Kim
Date: October 14 – November 18
Time: Thursdays, 1-3 pm.
Location: Zoom Meeting
Enrollment: Class is limited to 10 students
Syllabus: Course Outline
MMG1333H: Virus Replication (Fall 2021)
MMG1333H: Virus Replication
This course will consider new developments in understanding of the ways in which viruses and viral proteins interact with host cells to generate thousands of progeny virus particles from a single infected cell. This version of the course is for students with no background courses in virology at the undergraduate or graduate level. The first class will comprise a discussion of virus replication in the context of selected viruses, to set the stage for specific papers that will be covered in the subsequent weeks. Classes consist of student presentations of selected papers from the literature, followed by class discussion. Assessment is based on presentation of one or more papers (depending on class size), participation in class discussion and a written assignment.
Coordinator: Dr. Martha Brown
Date: October 22, 2021 - November 26, 2021
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: MS 2278
Molecular Mechanisms in Psychiatric & Neurobiologic Disorders (Fall 2021)
Over the last few years molecular genetic analyses have uncovered a variety of molecular mechanisms that can lead to human psychiatric and neurobiologic disorders. Mutations that affect everything from regulated secretion of neurotrophins, biosynthetic enzyme activity, and alternative splicing to epigenetic transcriptional regulation have been shown to affect mental health. For most any molecular mechanism, nervous system function provides one of the most sensitive biologic read-outs. In this six week course, students will present and discuss the latest findings on molecular mechanisms involved in neurobiologic and psychiatric disorders, which include autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar and phobic disorders. Aside from the presentation and active participation in discussions, students are expected to write a mini review.
Coordinators: Dr. Sabine Cordes
Dates: October 27, 2021 to December 1, 2021
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Place: TBD
Graduate Professional Development for Scientists (Fall 2021)
This course is designed to empower trainees to be market-ready at a time when the job market continues to become more competitive, whether it’s in academia or outside academia. Embarking on a career path requires strategic consideration of who you are, what skills you have and what kind of value you can deliver. Importantly, many graduate-level trainees have strong technical skills as well as well-developed soft skills but may lack the ability to communicate these skills effectively during the job search process. The primary goals of this course are to broaden students’ self-awareness around their skills, interests and overall value and to teach trainees how to explore and create career options and opportunities. Students will learn how to generate a professional development plan and how to confidently market themselves during and after graduate school.
Note: This is a co-curricular topic and cannot be used for credit.
Coordinator: Dr. Bruce T. Seet
Dates: September 10, 2021 - October 29, 2021
Time: 1-3 PM
Place: Online
Enrollment: 12 to 15 students