Computational Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Postgraduate

In London

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Location

    London

  • Start date

    Different dates available

This MRes is designed for students with a passion for the diversity of life on earth, and who wish to be trained in cutting-edge biological research.New technologies such as next-generation DNA sequencing are revolutionising biology. There are also huge amounts of biodiversity data to be collated and meta-analysed to respond to urgent research needs in a world of rapid global changes.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

New technologies such as next-generation DNA sequencing are revolutionising biology. There are also huge amounts of biodiversity data to be collated and meta-analysed to respond to urgent research needs in a world of rapid global changes. This course will offer an intensive one-year full-time programme designed to provide you with postgraduate-level training in research skills. Uniquely, it will start with seven-week intensive training modules in the latest developments of informatics and genomics for whole-organism research. This is followed by a single nine-month research project in the Division of Ecology and Evolution, which may be jointly hosted by one of our peer-institutes such as the: Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology the Natural History Museum Project opportunities include genetics, conservation, tropical and environmental biology; they will either be purely analytical or have strong field and/or laboratory components. It will also provide you with a solid grounding in a range of professional and transferable skills, and the opportunity to make a more informed decision on the area of research and specific PhD project you wish to pursue in the future. It will be ideal training for those who wish to pursue a career in academic, government or non-governmental organisations engaged in research into biodiversity.

All applicants must apply online. You can usually apply for up to two courses, although your second choice will only be considered if your first-choice application is unsuccessful. Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but popular courses close when they are full, so you should apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you. You will need to upload documents with your applications, which may include...

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Subjects

  • IT
  • Project
  • Ecology
  • Biodiversity
  • Biology
  • Computational
  • Global

Course programme

Modules shown are for the current academic year, and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.

The course will include:

  • Two-week module on genomics, including lectures and practicals in molecular ecology
  • Two-week module on biodiversity informatics, including lectures and practicals in GIS techniques (geographic information system)
  • Two-week module in programming, introducing core concepts such as control flow and simulation, R and languages such as Perl and Python
  • One-week module in statistics
  • A series of workshops, seminars and guest lectures on research techniques and rapidly-changing fields
  • One-week summer school on ‘Grand Challenges in Biodiversity Research’ (largely organised by the students as a retreat). This summer school will provide a relaxed set-up to run forums on current ‘hot’ topics, such as ‘biodiversity under climate change’, ‘ethics and genomics’, etc.
  • Training in complementary skills, personal development and business
  • One 36-week research project covering different research areas hosted by a laboratory within the Division of Ecology and Evolution, possibly in conjunction with a laboratory at an affiliated institution. The choice of project will be student-led, and the first eight weeks will provide ample time to choose a suitable host. Each project will be written up by the student in the format of a scientific publication. Although not compulsory, the expectation will be that the students will submit their reports for publication by the relevant peer-reviewed journals, e.g. Global Change Biology, Systematic Biology, Molecular Ecology, Genome Research as appropriate

The elements and components to be assessed will be weighted as follows:

  • Coursework (25%)
  • Mid-project report (15%)
  • Mid-project presentation (10%)
  • Final report (35%)
  • Final viva (15%)

The research project therefore attracts a total of 75% of the overall mark for the degree.

The best 36-week research project will receive a £1,000 prize from Illumina.

Course location

The course is based at the Silwood Park Campus. This is located between Ascot and Windsor, and is a one-hour journey west of central London.

With its large, research-active faculty, ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities, and wide links to academic researchers and science professionals in the UK and abroad, Silwood Park is in an ideal position to offer such a course.

Some accommodation is available on campus, together with sport and recreational facilities.

The research projects can also be partly based in our collaborating institutes elsewhere in London, and/or even overseas for projects where research in the field is necessary.

Computational Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Price on request