BIOL 5710 Graduate Modules 2024/2025

NOTE: The module list will be updated as the descriptions are submitted. The final number of modules could > or < 10.  Please check in regularly for updates.  You will be notified via e-mail when the list is finalized.

This list is now final. There is only one more module description to update.

No.

Short Title






Instructor

Date














1

 Species distribution models






Tittensor
 Oct/Nov

2

 Programmed cell death (PCD)






Gunawardena Jan/Feb

3

 Literature reviews in ecology






Piczak
 Winter

4

 Methods for aquatic respirometry






Hugo Flávio Feb

5

 Working with spatial data






Lennox
 Winter

6

 Diversifying science






Bielawski
 Nov+

7

 The value of long-term field studies






Whitehead Jan

8

 The Krebs cycle in life and death







Guderley Fall

9

 Arctic marine microbiology






Bertrand Jan/Feb

10

 (No more modules)






TBD TBD



























11+ FoA module selection (link to their site) 






see ag website















* Note: (module-specific notes will be posted here).

On-line modules: (as necessary)

(Note: The Biology program does not offer modules over the summer.)

Individual module descriptions



Module No:

1

Title:

Species distribution models in theory and in practice

Instructor(s):

 Derek Tittensor

Preferred time:

 Likely mid-Oct to mid-Nov

Contact:

 Dr. Tittensor: (902) 494 7720  |  derek.tittensor@dal.ca

Description:

 Species distribution models (SDMs) are a key tool in the arsenal of ecologists and conservation biologists, allowing mapping and inference on the suitability of habitats when data on species are limited. But what are their limitations? When can – and should – they be applied? What are examples of their use and misuse?

This module gives an introduction to both the theory and practice of SDMs, beginning with an understanding of the strengths and limitations of the various techniques, reviewing formative papers from the applied conservation literature, examining how SDMs can be used to make forecasts in a changing environment, and exploring the range of tools and packages for applying SDMs. Practically speaking, we will aim to create a species distribution model from scratch.

This course deals with modelling approaches; basic familiarity with R is essential to explore the approaches, and an understanding of quantative methods and basic modelling will also be useful.

Grading: The grading will be based on contributions to discussions, short-format questions, and a practical application of SDMs (final grading scheme TBC after discussion with class).
 



Module No:

2

Title:

 The role of programmed cell death in an organism’s life
 

Instructor(s):

 Arunika Gunawardena

Preferred time:

 January/February 2025

Contact:

 Dr. Gunawardena: (902)  494-1594  | arunika.gunawardena@dal.ca

 

Description:

 Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically controlled, active process that plays a vital role in the lives of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. In this module, we will discuss the different examples of PCD and their role in development and defense, PCD detection techniques, and the mechanisms that regulate PCD.

The module will consist of a presentation and discussion of recent PCD papers. Evaluation will be based on oral presentations, a written essay, and class participation.

For details please contact Arunika Gunawardena.
 


Module No:

3

Title:

 How to conduct a literature review in biological research.

Instructor(s):

 Morgan Piczak

Preferred time:

 Winter term, 2025 (details TBD)

Contact:

 Dr. Piczak:  905-570-5205  |  mr785307@dal.ca

Description:

 This module will focus on the process of conducting a literature review in biological research. Students will engage in in-person sessions where they break into small groups to collaboratively work through each step of the review process, from identifying research questions to synthesizing findings. Group activities will include searching for relevant literature, performing various levels of screening, full-text data extraction and analysis, and developing a well-organized narrative review. These interactive meetings are designed to foster collaboration, generate peer feedback, and develop hands-on experience writing a literature review.

 

Module No:

4

Title:

 Methods for aquatic respirometry

Instructor(s):

 Hugo Flávio

Preferred time:

 Feb
 

Contact:

 hflavio@dal.ca

Description:

An animal's rate of oxygen consumption is directly proportional to the amount of energy it uses. This in turn relates to the animal's capacity to survive, grow, reproduce, etc. In other words, their fitness. As such, respirometry (the measurement of biological oxygen consumption) is a powerful and widely used tool to understand how different factors may affect an animal's fitness. Aquatic respirometry is the sub-branch that deals with measuring oxygen consumption in aquatic animals.

Measuring oxygen consumption underwater is challenging not only because water is far more viscous than air, but also has much less oxygen in it. When well calibrated, aquatic respirometers can produce data of exquisite quality. However, there are several pitfalls that may get in the way of success. In this course, we will discuss how to perform respirometry experiments, from the basics of assembling a respirometer (and the different types available), to the more intricate considerations to keep in mind when planning your own experiments. Among others, during this course we will perform food-colouring tests of a respirometer's hydrodynamics.

 

Module No:

5

Title:

 Visualizing and manipulating spatial data
(provisional title)

Instructor(s):

 Robert Lennox
Scientific Director, Ocean Tracking Network (Ocean Tracking Network)

Preferred time:

 Starts 1st week of Winter term

Contact:

 Dr. Lennox: (902) 399-6139  |  Robert.Lennox@Dal.Ca

 

Description:

In this module we will explore how to think about spatiotemporal studies in ecology, including time series and landscape-scale designs. We will have a couple of short lectures and discussions around the theory of spatial and temporal studies followed by practical data analysis sessions in R. Students should bring their own data or example data to work on practical problems. We will ultimately learn to use generalised additive models to account for spatial and temporal autocorrelation in data sets and learn about how to account for violations of independence with smoothers in such additive models.


Module No:

6


Title
Diversifying Science

Instructor(s):

 Jospeh P. Bielawski

Preferred time:

 Begin in Nov.  Meeting over Winter term

Contact:

 Dr. Bielawski:  j.bielawski@dal.ca


Description:

With invaluable input from Biology Graduate students, I created a new undergraduate program called the Dalhousie Science Scholars and Leaders Program (DSSLP).  Launched in 2022, the goal of DSSLP is to change the way that traditional undergraduate education determines who can and should do science. Students join an academic program that affirms and supports the growth of each student’s individual science identity. The program is open to all students with a passion for science and a desire to make a difference in the world through a STEM career. We especially encourage applications from historically excluded and underrepresented STEM students.

 

Critical to the development of this program was a peer-reviewed paper that was co-produced by Biology graduate students as part of a graduate module.  That graduate module was called “Diversifying Who Succeeds In Science” and the paper is Massey, M. D. B., Arif, S., Embuldeniya, S., Nanglu, K., & Bielawski, J. (2022). Ten simple rules for succeeding as an underrepresented STEM undergraduate. PLOS Computational Biology, 18(6), e1010101.

 

To further support this effort, I am proposing to use this module to identify new aspects of the literature on diversifying science relevant to the goals of DSSLP.  My plan is that students will identify new topics and themes, research those topics, and provide key readings. We will then explore the possibility of co-writing another paper, or co-developing new educational resources.

 

Module No:

7

Title:

 The value of long-term studies in ecology, evolution and behaviour

Instructor(s):

 Hal Whitehead

Preferred time:

 TBD

Contact:

 Dr. Whitehead: (902) 414-6140  |  hwhitehe@dal.ca

Description:

 Long-term field studies have given us remarkable insight into ecology, evolution and behaviour. Examples include the Experimental Lakes Area studies, the Grants’ studies of Galapagos finch evolution, and the Gombe Stream study of chimpanzees.

We will look what long-term studies have achieved and which results could only have been achieved with a long-term study.

The challenges of long-term studies include. environmental change, logistics, finances, consistency, and personal.

The class will begin with a general summary of long-term studies by HW.  Then each student will describe a different long-term study: how it operated, its successes, its failures, and how it overcame the challenges inherent in all long-term studies, and particular to the study in question.
Students will be marked based on their presentation as well as a short report on the study that they presented, and very brief assessment of all the studies presented.

 

Module No:

8

Title:

 The Krebs cycle in life and death

Instructor(s):

 Helga Guderley

Preferred time:

 Oct-Nov; Tuesday; 13:30-15:20 (negotiable)

Contact:

 Dr. Guderley: helga@guderley.ca
902-820-2979
902-266-8046

Description:

 One of the most creative thinkers in bioenergetics, Nick Lane, has put together a book examining why the exact role of the Krebs cycle, the perfect system we all memorized that is at the heart of metabolism, remains so elusive more than 80 years after its discovery.  Textbooks teach us that this cycle removes hydrogen from carbon skeletons and that these hydrogens allow mitochondrial metabolism to generate ATP by transporting electrons and protons. But is that the original role of the Krebs cycle? 

In this book, Nick Lane explains how the Krebs cycle and its role in energy metabolism was discovered, he shows how this cycle, spinning in reverse created the chemical building blocks of life and allowed the emergence of life.  He shows how in multicellular animals, spinning the Krebs cycle in reverse is related to aging, cancer and death.  The liner notes describe the book’s contents as follows:  “What brings the earth to life and our own lives to an end?  Transformer unites the story of our planet with the story of our cells – what makes us the way we are and how it connects us to the origin of life.” 

This module will analyze Lane’s book, Transformer, with discussions guided by myself and module members of the different chapters of the book.  The book is available from Amazon in paperback for $25. 

I propose 4-5 meetings, on Tuesday afternoons in October and November, but am open to alternative afternoons. 

 

Module No:

9

Title:

 Current Topics in Arctic Marine Microbiology

Instructor(s):

 Erin Bertrand

Preferred time:

 Jan/Feb time to be  agreed upon with participants

Contact:

 Dr. Bertrand: (902) 494-1853  |  erin.bertrand@dal.ca

Description:

 The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the globe (1), with potentially profound implications for marine ecosystems, many of which are underpinned by microbes.

Through discussions and critical review of current literature, this module will explore current topics in Arctic marine microbiology. We will consider phytoplankton, bacteria, and heterotrophic eukaryotic microbes, with a focus on their responses to rapid climate changes.  Consult Erin for details.

(1) Rantenen et al 2022. Communications Earth & Environment 3,168

 

Module No:

10

Title:

 Advances in Cellular Ageing and De-ageing 

Instructor(s):

 Patrice Côté

Preferred time:

 November 2024, exact time TBD

Contact:

 Dr. Côté:  902-494-1318  |  patrice.cote@dal.ca

Description:

 Ageing and death have always been thought to be inevitable natural processes. However, recent advances in our understanding of the molecular process of ageing have led to the identification of targets to stop, and – astonishingly – to reverse this process have raised the prospect that ageing could eventually be considered a treatable disease. These processes/targets include epigenetic reprograming of Yamanaka factors, senolytics, NAD+ restoration, telomere extension, metabolic ageing and caloric restriction.

In this journal club-style module I will introduce the molecular hallmarks of ageing and we will review seminal articles in the burgeoning field of de-ageing.

Assessment: 40% article presentation, 50% essay, 10% attendance and participation.


Module No:

11

Title:

 Module 11

Instructor(s):

 TBD

Preferred time:

 TBD

Contact:

 Dr. XXX: (902) xxx-xxx  |  xxx.xxxxx@dal.ca


Description:

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Module No:

12

Title:

 Module 12  

Instructor(s):

 TBD

Preferred time:

 TBD

Contact:

 name.name@Dal.Ca  |  902 xxx xxxx (office)

Description:

 TBD



Module No:

11+

Title:

 Faculty of Agriculture module selection (link to their site)

Instructor(s):

 Faculty of Agriculture

Preferred time:

 link to their site

Contact:

 link to their site

Description:

 Modules offered through the Faculty of Agriculture (formerly NSAC) do count towards BIOL5705/5706.