This training initiative in Environmental Genomics at the MDI Biological Laboratory seeks to guide research towards understanding how gene function is influenced by environmental conditions while accounting for variation that exists within and among natural populations. Two significant advances create opportunities to finally link gene-environment interactions to the fitness of individuals and to population-level outcomes affecting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning:
- Genome and transcriptome sequences are now available for a growing number of species whose ecology and physiology are well understood.
- Sophisticated tools for high-throughput biology, statistical analysis and informatics are rapidly becoming more accessible to single investigators.
This course is built on the paradigm that the research field will most effectively grow by training early career environmental scientists to properly design comprehensive, large-scale, experiments enabled by drastically increased sample-throughput and lower costs. Most importantly, the challenges of manipulating and analysing population-level genomics (big) data must be addressed.
Topics covered in seminar and laboratory formats:
- bioinformatics, including sequence analysis workflows and use of R statistical analysis tools
- experimental design for environmental genomics research and laboratory training
- robotic platforms for sample preparation as well as preparing RNA-sequencing libraries.
The course provides a significant introduction and some hands-on real-world project training experience for PhD students and early career scientists, who will acquire sufficient knowledge, and build an important network of experts and peer investigators, to initiate their own environmental genomics study and launch Environmental Scientist careers in academia and industry.
Tuition
Registration Fee: $300.00 USD
Tuition for US citizens and permanent residents is paid by a research education grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (1R25EB022367-01)
On-campus double occupancy housing and meals are provided to all accepted attendees. Single occupancy, if available, may be purchased for an additional fee.
Partner

Course Directors
- John Colbourne, Ph.D.Chair of Environmental GenomicsUniversity of Birmingham
- Benjamin L. King, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of BioinformaticsUniversity of Maine
- Joseph Shaw, Ph.D.Associate Professor, School of Public and Environmental AffairsIndiana University
Faculty
- James Ben Brown, Ph.D.Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Gary Churchill, Ph.D.Professor, Karl Gunnar Johansson ChairThe Jackson Laboratory
- Thomas H. Hampton, Ph.D.Research ScientistGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
- Michael A. Herman, Ph.D.Co-director, Ecological Genomics InstituteUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Steven Munger, Ph.D.Assistant ProfessorThe Jackson Laboratory
- W. Kelley Thomas, Ph.D.Director, Hubbard Center for Genome StudiesUniversity of New Hampshire
- Wesley C. Warren, Ph.D.McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis
Additional Faculty
University of Chicago
This course trains participants in big data biomedical science needed for population-scale genomic studies of environmental stress, from which a network of BD2K skilled practitioners will be developed. The network will provide any individual participant access to the multidisciplinary collective skillset of the group.
This course is designed to give participants the knowledge and computational skills to design, analyze, and interpret population-scale genomics studies of environmental stress.
This course is supported by a research education grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (1R25EB022367-01).