Biology (BIOL)

This course enables thesis research and thesis writing activities during the Summer session, while not actively enrolled in graduate summer classes. Learning Objectives: Enable the Faculty Mentor – Mentee relationship. Engage in thesis research activities, including laboratory, field and/or thesis writing.

This course enables non-thesis research and writing activities during the Summer session, while not actively enrolled in graduate summer classes. Learning Objectives: Enable the Faculty Mentor – Mentee relationship. Gain research and learning experiences in a biology area of interest. Engage in laboratory, field and/or literature review writing.

Independent study projects provide research experience and academic credit for laboratory, field work, or theoretical research. Independent study projects may be done with any faculty in the biological sciences.

This course provides graduate students with an opportunity to explore current primary research across a variety of biological disciplines. This seminar will use a variety of modalities including journal club style review of literature, invited talks by leading biologists and proposal presentations by the students to evaluate current topics in biology.

Independent study projects provide research experience and academic credit for laboratory, fieldwork, and/or literature research. Independent study projects to be done with a faculty mentor in the biological sciences. Course Objectives: Enable the Faculty Mentor – Mentee relationship Expand study in the biological Sciences on a topic of interest Demonstrate conceptual knowledge of the field of science in a research paper or literature review Demonstrate the ability to present, analyze and interpret scientific data. Non-Thesis Track student only

This 3-hour credit course is designed to provoke thought about patterns and processes of biogeography and biodiversity as well as to familiarize students with key terms and concepts from both fields of study. Historic perspectives, current hypotheses, and important figures that shaped these fields will be discussed at length. Aside from traditional lectures and exams, there are significant components of reading, writing, discussion, and presentation.

This course will help students understand the physical, chemical and biological processes regulating the dynamics of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We will review theory, discussion of key scientific papers and analysis of case studies. Students will develop a more in depth understanding of ecosystem organization and function over time. We will trace the interconnectedness between anthropogenic or natural disturbance on ecosystem processes such as nutrient transfer and its role on ecosystem composition. Students will also understand how theoretical concepts and models are applied in management and restoration of ecosystems from belowground-aboveground linkages to global change.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of advanced research methods in cell and molecular biology, integrating techniques from immunology, cell biology, microbiology, plant physiology, genomics, virology, and bacteriology. Designed for students pursuing research careers or advanced studies, the course combines theoretical foundations with extensive hands-on laboratory experience. Students will engage in practical laboratory exercises that cover a range of methodologies essential for modern biological research. The course begins with an introduction to fundamental techniques and progresses through advanced topics, including cell culture, molecular cloning, protein expression, and immunological assays. Students will also explore microbiological techniques, plant physiology, genomics, virology, and bacteriology, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the tools and techniques used in these fields.

Research contributing to the graduate degree program.

This advanced course offers an in-depth exploration of the fundamental principles and current advancements in cell and molecular biology. Designed for students with a strong foundation in biological sciences, the course provides a comprehensive understanding of cellular structures, molecular mechanisms, and the intricate processes governing cellular functions. Students will examine key topics including cell structure and function, molecular genetics, gene expression and regulation, and protein synthesis. The course delves into advanced concepts such as cell signaling pathways, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and the molecular basis of disease. Emphasis is placed on integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications, including an introduction to the latest research techniques and technologies.

This course provides graduate students with an introduction to biological research methods including scientific ethics, writing, and citation, and grant writing.

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of research methodologies employed in field biology, encompassing techniques in ecology, physiology, behavior, and evolution. Designed for advanced students, the course integrates theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience to equip students with the skills necessary for conducting rigorous field research. Students will engage in a series of laboratory sessions and field exercises, each focused on different aspects of field biology research. The course begins with an introduction to field research methods and progresses through experimental design, habitat and vegetation sampling, wildlife tracking, physiological measurements, behavioral observations, and evolutionary studies.

This course provides graduate students with guidance on and application of written and verbal communication skills in reading, analyzing, writing, and sharing scientific information in the Biological Sciences. Course objectives are to: Enhance written and oral communication skills Develop and deepen disciplinary knowledge related to student research project Prepare and present scientific information in diverse professional formats Prepare research proposal and/or thesis towards fulfilling requirements of the MS in Biology degree.

This 3-hour credit course is designed to provoke thought about the biodiversity of the state of Texas as well as the climatic, geological, and hydrological variables that determine and define them. Natural history, current research, and important figures that shaped research and conservation will be discussed at length. Aside from traditional lectures and exams, there are significant components of reading, writing, discussion, and presentation.

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) covers the history, terminology, and basic applications of GIS and its use in biology, conservation, and environmental science.

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of experimental design, parameter estimation via sampling, and statistical inference. Emphasis will be placed on the selection and appropriate use of widely used statistical methods in the life sciences (e.g., t-tests, correlation, general linear modeling). Students will also learn the principles of model criticism and how to assess whether data meet the assumptions of a variety of inferential statistical approaches. Students will gain hands-on experience with statistical computing, with the goal of developing students’ abilities to implement the methodologies covered in the course using a modern statistical computing environment (e.g., R; www.r-project.org).

This course introduces students to data analytics tools and techniques tailored for biological research. Students will learn to manage, analyze, and interpret large datasets commonly encountered in modern biology. Topics may include; database management, dimensionality reduction, cluster analysis, anova variants, generalized linear modeling, survival analysis, time-series analysis, and multi-omics integration. The course emphasizes practical applications, reproducible research practices, and ethical considerations when handling data.

This course is designed to introduce students who have successfully completed Graduate Biostatistics I to advanced topics in statistical modeling that are commonly used in ecology and evolutionary biology. Initially, emphasis is placed on extending the general linear model in ways that incorporate random effects (i.e., mixed effect models) and/or allow for non-normal error terms (i.e., generalized linear models). Students will also be introduced to parametric and nonparametric models commonly applied to survival data and information theoretic approaches to model selection and model-based inference. Students will then receive an overview of some of the most commonly used multivariate methods in the life sciences before receiving an introduction to basic flow control and resampling with and without replacement.

This course is designed to allow the program to add a specialized course that fits the needs and requirements of the cohort of graduate students but will not be a permanent elective course topic. Special topics courses allow the students and faculty to explore current new topics in the scientific field, to focus specialized training on a particular biological subfield, and/or provide specialized training in a unique subfield/topic that is currently not an elective.

This course will explore the current use of biotechnology in biological research.

This course is the study of how different biochemical, metabolic, and molecular pathways of the cell work together to produce the many functions of cells such as movement, response to hormones, growth, protein synthesis, etc. The topics included in this course are transcription, translation, signal transduction pathways, protein targeting, secretion, endocytosis, cell death, cellular organization, and motility. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic mechanisms will be discussed when applicable. Cell-cell interactions and tissue formation will be discussed, including the loss of cell division control leading to cancer.

This course provides an advanced view of the concepts that underlie the spatial and temporal dynamics of populations and the communities within which they are embedded using mathematical and graphical analysis and empirical investigations. Lectures will emphasize concepts and models. Readings from the primary literature will facilitate the student’s abilities to critically evaluate the primary literature and will provide a historical perspective of the discipline. Topics to be covered will include population growth and regulation, species interactions, eco-evo dynamics, food webs, and patterns of diversity.

This course is designed to allow the program to add a specialized course that fits the needs and requirements of the cohort of graduate students but will not be a permanent elective course topic. Special topics courses allow the students and faculty to explore current new topics in the scientific field, to focus specialized training on a particular biological subfield, and/or provide specialized training in a unique subfield/topic that is currently not an elective.