The American Genetic Association in conjunction with the National Cancer Institute, The Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, Frederick, Maryland, NOAHS-Smithsonian Institution and The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) is presenting a 13 day intensive course January 18, 2009 through January 31, 2009, at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in the Republic of Panama.

The course will be directed by Dr. Stephen J. O’Brien and taught by renowned scientists in methods, interpretation, and applications of molecular genetic analyses for conservation of endangered species.  Local hosts include, Dr. Eldredge Bermingham, Director and Senior Staff Scientist and Dr. Harilaos A. Lessios, Staff Scientist.

Faculty: The visiting faculty for 2009 will include the following (subject to change):

• Scott Baker, (Molecular Ecology and Evolution, University of Auckland)
• Brian Bowen, (Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii)
• Carlos Bustamante, (Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University)
• Andrew Crawford, (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)
• Scott Edwards, (Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University)
• Paul Hebert, (Director of Biodiversity, Institute of Ontario)
• Robert Wayne, (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA)
• James Wilgenbusch, (Computational Science, Florida State University)

In addition, members of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, NCI-Frederick include: Warren Johnson, Bailey Kessing, Sher Hendrickson, Shujin Luo, Joan Pontius, Jill Slattery, and Victor David.

TOPICS include:

• Sampling strategies
• Technologies for detecting genetic variation
• Genetic analysis:
  • bioinformatics and the use of molecular genetic databases
  • estimating genetic diversity with molecular markers
  • phylogenetic algorithms: use and interpretation
  • phylogeography
  • population structure and demographic history
  • kinship and paternity assessment
• Emerging pathogens in natural populations
• Integration of genetics in conservation management
  

Applicants should be conservation-minded scientists (advanced graduate students, post-docs, teachers, and researchers with advanced degrees) from academia, government, non-government organizations, or industry who are studying the genetics of endangered species and who will apply the knowledge gained from this course to the conservation of such species. Application forms will be available on-line by May 5, 2008.

Please visit this website periodically for course updates.


This page last updated September 28, 2008..