Fall Course 2014-15: Statistical and Mathematical Challenges in Molecular Evolution

Schedule: Tuesdays 4:30 pm at SAMSI, Research Triangle Park, NC, beginning August 26, 2014.
No class 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. The 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 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; and (5) Connections between intraspecific and interspecific genetic variation.

Instructors:
 Jotun Hein (Oxford)
 Scott Schmidler (Duke)
 Seth Sullivant (NCSU)
 Jeff Thorne (NCSU)
 Ziheng Yang (UCL)

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