Yeast Genetics & Genomics
July 25 - August 14, 2017
Application Deadline: April 15, 2017

Instructors:

Maitreya Dunham, University of Washington 
Grant Brown,
University of Toronto, Canada
Elçin Ünal, University of California Berkeley

See the roll of honor - who's taken the course in the past

The Yeast Genetics & Genomics course is a modern, state of the art, intensive laboratory course designed to teach students the full repertoire of genetic approaches needed to dissect complex problems in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Combinations of classical and modern genetic approaches are emphasized, including the isolation and characterization of mutants, tetrad analysis, and complementation. Synthetic biology is explored through CRISPR/Cas9-directed engineering of heterologous biosynthetic pathways in yeast. Students will learn genome-based methods of analysis facilitated by the yeast genome sequence, the gene deletion collection, and other genomic resources available to the community. Molecular genetic techniques, including yeast transformation, gene replacement by PCR, construction and analysis of gene fusions, and generation of mutations, are also emphasized.

Students will use classical approaches and modern whole genome sequencing to gain experience in identifying and interpreting different kinds of genetic interactions, including suppression, synthetic lethality, and chemical-genetic interactions. Students will perform genome-scale screens using the synthetic genetic array (SGA) methodology. Students will be immersed in yeast genomics and perform and interpret experiments using DNA arrays, colony arrays, whole genome sequencing, and multiplexed DNA barcode sequencing. Computational methods for data analysis are introduced. Students will gain first-hand experience in modern cytological approaches such as epitope tagging and imaging yeast cells using fluorescence microscopy with GFP-protein fusions and fluorescent indicators for different subcellular structures and organelles. Lectures on fundamental aspects of yeast genetics will be presented along with seminars given by prominent experts in the field on topics of current interest.

Please note that students are expected to attend the entire course, which spans evenings and weekends, with the exception of a day off on August 6.

2017 Speakers:

Anastasia Baryshnikova, Princeton University
Sue Biggins, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
David Botstein
, Calico Labs
Gloria Brar
, University of California, Berkeley
Leah Cowen
, University of Toronto
Allan Drummond, University of Chicago
John Dueber, University of California, Berkeley
Karen Fortmann, White Labs
Marc Gartenberg, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University
Hannah Klein, New York University School of Medicine
Soni Lacefield, Indiana University
Greg Lang, Lehigh University
Hiten Madhani, University of California, San Francisco
Rob Nash, Saccharomyces Genome Database, Stanford University
Joseph Schacherer, University of Strasbourg

Applications are especially welcome from:
  • Professors and instructors who wish to incorporate yeast into their undergraduate genetics classrooms
  • Scientists trained in mathematical, computational, and/or engineering disciplines who are transitioning into bench science
  • Researchers from small labs or institutions where it would otherwise be difficult to learn the fundamentals of yeast genetics/genomics
  

Support & Stipends

 Major support provided by the National Science Foundation


Stipends are available to offset tuition costs as follows:

       

US applicants (National Science Foundation)
Interdisciplinary Fellowships (transitioning from outside biology)  & Scholarships (transitioning from other biological disciplines) (Helmsley Charitable Trust)
International applicants (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Please indicate your eligibility for funding in your stipend request submitted when you apply to the course. Stipend requests do not affect selection decisions made by the  instructors. 

Cost (including board and lodging): $4,800

This button links to a short form which confirms your interest in the course. No fees are due until you have completed the full application process and are accepted into the course.

Students accepted into the course should plan to arrive by early evening on July 24 and plan to depart after lunch on August 14.