1. Integrating research in teaching
Filip Volckaert

2. The chicken & egg problem
Shall I teach a master course based on the general principles in the field or shall I take a more exemplary approach?
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3. Content What is the EEG course about? What’s my scientific background?
How does one combine course requirements with personal research interests?
Take home messages
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4. What is the course Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics about?
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5. What is the course Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics about?
Course aims
You have a sound insight in the application of genomic/bioinformatic tools to address ecological and evolutionary questions.
You rely on complementary scientific disciplines (such as biochemistry and genomical statistics) and biological subdisciplines (such as physiology and molecular biology).
You are able to consult genomic databases, to use and analyse large date sets, and to interpret results critically. 
You handle the international appropriate professional literature on ecological and evolutionary genomics critically, and tackle new complex challenges independently.
You use advanced knowledge of theories and models, concepts and processes to work on complex genomic data.
You communicate your findings based on the literature written and orally in English, and can work in team. You remain up to date on the latest international developments and methods.
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6. Master programme Master Biologie/Biology
Inleiding ecologie en evolutie (ba1)
Ecologie (ba2)
Evolutiebiologie (ba3)
Natuurbehoud (ba3)
Common core (18 ECTS)
 Computational Biology
Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics
Advanced biology (54 ECTS)
Evolutionary Ecology and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics
Master Biologie/Biology
Advanced Ecology
Elective courses (18 ECTS)
Biogeography and Macro-ecology
Master thesis (30 ECTS)
Global Change, Ecosystems and Sustainability

7. What is the course Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics about?
Theory – Introduction 1. The rise of ecological and evolutionary genomics 2. Molecular markers in ecology and evolution Genomics and the tree of life 3. Genomics of speciation 4. Molecular identification 5. Metagenomics 6. Phylogeography Ecological and population genomics 7. Neutral patterns in population genomics 8. Genomics and phenomics of adaptive evolution Functional genomics 9. Comparative functional genomics Integrated analysis 10. Case studies in ecological & evolutionary genomics
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8. What is the course Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics about?
Background knowledge
This is an advanced course, taught in English, that incorporates knowledge from a range of disciplines like bioinformatics, biostatistics, ecology, evolution, genetics and genomics.
Open to students with a bachelor in
Biology
Bio-engineering
Biomedical sciences
and other applied Biological Sciences
Background knowledge
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9. What is the course Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics about?
Teaching activities and material
- Interactive teaching with lecture notes, multimedia, scientific papers and data banks (13 x 2 h)
- Course book (highly recommended): An introduction to Molecular Ecology (3rd edition). Rowe, Sweet & Beebee. Oxford. ISBN
- Paper
- Computer labs (7 x 4 h)
All teaching material is available on
the teaching platform TOLEDO
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10. What is the course Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics about?
Evaluation
Paper writing: 20% of the marks
Computer labs : 40% of the marks
Oral exam with written preparation: 40% of the marks, consists of conceptual questions on the chapters taught
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11. What’s my scientific background?
1979: Master in Biology (Ugent, Gent, Belgium)
1983: Master in Oceanography (Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada) – Benthic Ecology
1988: PhD in Oceanography (Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada) – Population Genetics
1990: researcher at the Belgian government
1990 – today: researcher at the KU Leuven
today: professor of Marine Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the KU Leuven
Principal investigator at the Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics (LBEG) : One technician, one postdoc and 7 PhD students
Member of the Sustainability Council
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12. What’s my scientific background?
Evolution
Ecology
Fundamental research at the interface of ecology & evolution
with applications in fisheries, aquaculture, human biology and conservation biology
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13. What’s my scientific background?
Research topics :
Macro-evolution of fishes and their parasites
Micro-evolution of fishes and their parasites
Biogeography and phylogeography of fishes
Conservation genetics
Fisheries genetics
Aquaculture genetics
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14. How does one combine course require-ments with personal research interests?
EEG colleges:
Stick to the general principles
Use cases from the historical key literature and my personal research
EEG computer labs:
Explain the general principles (based on computer software to handle and analyse big data)
Use cases from the research of the postdoc tutors
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15. How does one combine course require-ments with personal research interests?
Lecture
4. Molecular identification
I borrowed a ready-made lecture from a colleague-expert (prof. Simon Creer, Univ. Bangor, UK)
Linked to research expertise in our team
Possibility for input from small student groups: during class students look up a suitable reference and we discuss in class.
Generates great interest (food authentication, species ID, tracing scat, and so on).
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16. How does one combine course require-ments with personal research interests?
Computer lab
Case of the population genetics of marine flatfish
Based on a scientific publication
Organised step-by-step in a logical order
Includes on site and home assignments
On site evaluation
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17. How does one combine course require-ments with personal research interests?
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18. How does one combine course require-ments with personal research interests?
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19. Take home message
Teaching involves the transfer of structured knowledge
Stories help to convey the message
You are most familiar with your own research; use it as a source of stories
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20. Acknowledgements
LBEG 20
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