CONTACT US

Instructors: Miquel Gonzalez-Meler (mmeler@uic.edu) and
Robie Mason-Gamer (robie@uic.edu)
Syllabus here
Overview (Power Point Presentation)

INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION I

Faculties participating in our Ecology and Evolution Program represent an array of research interests spanning basic and applied ecological and evolutionary sciences. Areas of strength include global change ecology, evolutionary ecology, restoration ecology, phylogeny and molecular evolution.
In their first year, students enrolling in our Graduate Program must complete a 2-semester course offered by the Program's faculty. These courses (BioS 531/532) are intended to provide background information to the student as well as the current research top questions to the topic, focusing on contributions by UIC faculty. Bios 531 will focus on issues of EVOLUTIONARY PATTERN AND PROCESSES, EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY and SCALING AND INTEGRATION OF EVOLUTIONARY AND ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES. In addition, topics on career development and tips and hints on developing "inquisitive" skills will be offered through the course. Bios 532 will focus on POPULATION AND ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY, RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION, GLOBAL CHANGE and EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN.
After a lecturer presents each topic, we will have a paper journal-club day. For these, each of you should bring a short (one-page) paragraph of what you thing the papers are about and what research questions are being addressed in them before discussion starts. After discussions end, you should add a paragraph on how the discussions helped (or not) in understanding the topics and how they may relate to your research interest.
During the semester students will be required to write a 4-5 page pre-proposal for a dissertation improvement grant and a poster-like presentation of your research interests (guidelines will be provided).