A second course that I developed was accepted at the University of Maine! AVS 454-554 DNA Sequencing Data Analysis will be offered to undergraduate and graduate students starting Spring 2021.
AVS 454-554 teaches bioinformatics using DNA data. Starting with raw DNA sequencing data, students go through the process of quality assurance, statistical analysis, graphics design, as well as drafting a scientific manuscript. The course integrates research into teaching by using unpublished data, ideally data the students bring from their own research projects. Not only do students learn highly sought-after analytical and scientific writing skills, but it makes them active participants in research and their own learning. Most of the course time and skillset are focused on amplicon sequencing data, but we’ll also dabble with whole-genome, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics.
Along with my Introduction to Animal Microbiomes course, I hope to get students interested in microbial ecology earlier in their studies, such that they have time to get involved with microbial ecology research in Maine in time for them to develop a Capstone research experience around it in their senior year. And what a coincidence, I’ll be teaching the Capstone courses for AVS (401 and 402) starting in fall 2020, as well.
This course is based on the precursor version, AVS 590, which I taught as a small, special topics version in the 2020 spring semester. And, even that is conceptually based on a lab section I taught at Montana State University in 2015 and 2016. DNA data analysis and I go way back.
It can take several months to get course proposals approved, especially if you are proposing they meet general education requirements, are listed as required for a major degree, or have other levels to them. I started Sept 1, and the AVS faculty curriculum committee, the first step in the approval process, was meeting in early October. I didn’t have time to develop two course proposals in time, so I first proposed my data analysis course as a “special topics” version. These versions are offered selectively and are not counted the same way as an approved course. But, it gave me time to shore up my teaching materials, and teach several students who were graduating and couldn’t wait another year to learn these skills.
DNA sequencing data analysis is challenging to teach as well as to learn, but once over the learning curve, it can be extremely fun and rewarding. I’ve previously taught bioinformatics to undergraduates, and have or continue to publish with a number of them. In AVS 590 in the 2020 semester, there were 4 datasets being analyzed, and 3 of those led to manuscripts which are anticipated to be submitted to for review in scientific journals sometime this year!
