Statistical and Mathematical Challenges in Molecular Evolution

How to join a SAMSI course working group

Schedule:
Tuesdays 4:30 pm at SAMSI, Research Triangle Park, NC, beginning August 26, 2014.
No class September 9, or during week of Thanksgiving: Tuesday Nov 25, 2014
Last class: December 2, 2014

This course aims to provide students with an overview of the statistical, mathematical, and computational aspects of studying molecular evolution. Dr. Ziheng Yang (R.A. Fisher Professor of Statistical Genetics at University College London) will lead the course. Much of the content in the course will be closely aligned with the Computational Molecular Evolution (Oxford series in Ecology and Evolution) book written by Dr. Yang. Coverage of other current research topics in this area will also be provided. Additional instructors in this course will include Dr. Jotun Hein (Bioinformatics Professor of the Statistics Department, University of Oxford), Dr. Scott Schmidler (Statistical Science and Computer Science, Duke University), Dr. Seth Sullivant (Department of Mathematics, N.C. State University), and Dr. Jeffrey Thorne (Departments of Biological Science and Statistics, N.C. State University). This course will be aimed at an interdisciplinary audience. The first portion of the course will be introductory in nature and will emphasize the key issues that make molecular evolution such a stimulating area of study. The remainder of the course will consist of short modules that are devoted to cutting-edge topics that are at the forefront of the molecular evolution field.

Subjects that will be addressed in the course include:
(1) Phylogenetics;
(2) Divergence time estimation;
(3) Detection of positive selection;
(4) The relationship between protein structure and protein evolution;
(5) Connections between intraspecific and interspecific genetic variation

Registration for this course is being processed through your respective university:
UNC-CH: STOR 893 Section 001 cross listed with MATH 891 Section 001
Duke: STA 790.03
NCSU: MA 810.001

For additional information about this course, send e-mail to [email protected]