Drosophila Genetics and Genomics

This will be an advanced course on the genetics and genomics of Drosophila. The intended audience is postdoctoral and graduate students now working in a fly lab, or students who have recently completed a PhD in another field and are moving into Drosophila research for their postdoctoral studies. However students with other backgrounds will be considered on their merits.

The course will cover advanced genetic methods in Drosophila, including screens, mosaics and P-element systems, the Drosophila genomes, the evolutionary and population biology of Drosophila, the genetic analysis of complex characters, of behaviour and sex determination, as well as databases, resources and high-throughput screens with Drosophila.

The Course will be led by Michael Ashburner (Cambridge), R. Scott Hawley (Stowers Institute, Kansas) and Casey Bergman (University of Manchester), who will form the core teaching staff. The course will also feature a stellar cast of guest lecturers (see below).

Programme
Introduction to Drosophila
Advanced genetics
Meiosis
The Drosophila genomes
Evolutionary genetics
Genetic analysis of complex characters
Genetic screens
Mosaics and P-element systems
Neurogenetics
Genetic analysis of sex determination
Transcriptomics and Proteomics
Developmental genetics

Course organisers
Professor Michael Ashburner (University of Cambridge, UK)
Dr Scott Hawley (Stowers Institute for Medical Research, MO, USA)
Dr Casey Bergman (University of Manchester)
Guest lecturers
Steve Russell (University of Cambridge, UK)
Ruth Lehmann (New York University School of Medicine, USA)
Daniel St Johnston (The Gurdon Institute, Cambridge, UK)
Kent Golic (University of Utah, USA)
Brian Charlesworth (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Trudy Mackay (North Carolina State University, USA)
Leslie Vosshall (The Rockefeller University, NY, USA)
Bruce Baker (Stanford University, CA, USA).

Cost
This is a residential course, without exception, and although the course is subsidised by the Wellcome Trust for academics there is a charge of £1400 towards board and lodging (sharing a twin room with en suite bathroom, subject to availability), or £1800 (private room and en suite) for academic applicants.The fee for commercial (non-academic) applicants is £3600.

Bursaries
Limited bursaries are available for academics (50 per cent of fee) and are subject to open competition.

Applications
Applicants will be required to complete an application form containing their CV together with a 300-word outline of the relevance of the course to their research. Please note that documentation supporting their application will be required from the applicant's supervisor/head of department.

Bursaries for Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses
The Wellcome Trust subsidises all courses and workshops, so there are no tuition fees. The ‘course fee' for the UK courses (held at Hinxton) covers on-site accommodation and food for the duration of the course. Bursaries are available to assist with UK course fees, but not travel costs. We are committed to building scientific capacity in developing countries and are expanding the number of courses and workshops run outside of the UK (‘overseas' courses). There is no fee for these courses and bursaries are available for travel, sustenance and accommodation. Please see below for full details.

UK Courses (held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton)
A limited number of bursaries are available for each course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. The bursary usually covers 50 per cent of the course fee, though in exceptional circumstances an application for the total course fee may be considered. Where there are many bursary applications, the selection committee may issue smaller amounts. We cannot assist with travel costs. All bursary requests to attend UK courses must be accompanied by a bursary application form. This must be completed and signed by your scientific sponsor (supervisor or head of department) and include justification for the bursary. Applicants will be notified of a bursary award along with their place on the course, usually within one month of the application deadline. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Overseas courses (held outside the UK)
A number of bursaries are available for each overseas course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. There is no course fee.The bursary will cover travel, accommodation and sustenance. The maximum award for travel (in economy/second class) will be £750. All likely travel costs must be detailed in the overseas bursary application form, which must accompany all bursary requests for courses held outside of the UK. We will notify you of the chosen hotel and sustenance award if successful. The selection committee may judge that a partial award should be granted. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline.