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Ecosystem Genomics is an emergent discipline that integrates across biotic systems from genes to ecosystems to solve grand challenges in sustainability and innovation in a rapidly changing world. As an innovative, interdisciplinary area of study, ecosystem genomics represents the synthesis of ecosystem- and genomic sciences.
The ultimate aim of the Ecosystem Genomics GIDP is to foster a new generation of diverse transdisciplinary scientists to address the challenges of sustaining natural and managed ecosystems on which humans depend, including wildlands, agricultural systems, forests, arid lands, and marine environments. The coursework supported by this minor will help students think across scales from ‘genes to ecosystems’ as they develop skills in interdisciplinarity, scientific communication, and collaboration. At is core the minor will foster and extend students’ excellence in areas such as data science, microbiology, plant sciences, insect science, environmental science, atmospheric science, biosystems engineering, ecology and evolutionary biology, geography and information science, and it is intended to attract students majoring in these UArizona programs. Ultimately the minor will help students translate ideas into meaningful scientific advances while cultivating deep and broad skill sets and promises to prepare students for important roles in solving grand challenges relevant to regional, national, and international issues in sustainability and innovation.
Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs
The Graduate College sponsors several Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs) in addition to the many interdisciplinary possibilities available through regular graduate degree programs. GIDPs transcend departmental boundaries by facilitating cutting edge teaching and research at the nexus of traditional disciplines. The high value placed on interdisciplinary research and education is indicative of The University of Arizona's enthusiasm and commitment to fostering innovation and creativity among its faculty and students.
Graduate College/GIDP
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
We welcome active doctoral students who are enrolled full time at the University of Arizona, with background and training in ecology, evolutionary biology, entomology, plant sciences, biosystems engineering, hydrology, atmospheric science, environmental science, natural resource management, geography, and/or information science. While students from diverse programs will be considered, we anticipate that students generally will be enrolled in a graduate program aligned conceptually with ecosystem genomics (e.g., but not limited to, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), Entomology and Insect Sciences (EIS), School of Plant Sciences (SPLS), Biosystems Engineering (BE), Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences (HAS), Environmental Sciences (ENVS), School of Natural Resources and the Environment (SNRE), School of Information (INFO), and School of Geography, Development, and Environment (GEOG).
There are no additional GPA requirements beyond a 3.0.
11
Students must complete at least 11 units (3 core + a min. of 8 elective units) for an Ecosystem Genomics minor.
Per the Graduate College's requirements for the official Plan of Study, a minimum grade of C for each course is required (assuming the student's overall GPA remains 3.0 or higher, per Graduate College requirements).
Core Coursework:
-RNR 696A (2 units) Ecosystems Genomics Seminar
-EIS 596A (1 units) Ecosystem Genomics Seminar
Complete 3 courses (min. of 8 units), choosing one course from each of three of the following four areas (to be chosen in conjunction with advisor/graduate advising committee).
1. Communication & Dissemination
-ENVS 508 (3 units, Sp) Scientific Writing for Env., Ag., & Life Sciences
-ENVS 515 (3 units, Sp) Translating Environmental Science
-WSM/GEOS 595E (3 units, F) Scientific Writing: Topics in Dendrochronology
-INFO 520 (3 units, F, Sp) Ethical Issues in Information
-INFO 536 (3 units, F, Sp, Su) Data Science and Public Interests
-RNR 546 (3 units, Sp) Principles of Research
-PLP 596B (1 unit, Sp, F) Research Discussions
2. Theory & Concepts: Ecosystem & Earth Science
-ENVS 511 (3 units, Sp) Environmental Metabolomics
-ENVS/ECOL/GEOS/PLS 510 (3 units, F) Microbial Biogeochemistry and Global Change
-RNR 558 (3 units, Sp) Ecosystem Ecology and a Sustainable Future
-ENVS/IMB 525 (3 units, F) Environmental Microbiology
-ECOL/GEOS 578 (3 units, F) Global Change
-ATMO/ENVS/GEOG 536A (3 units, Sp) Fundamentals of Atmospheric Sciences
-GC/ARL/GEOG 530 (3 units, Sp) The Climate System
-GC/ANTH 597A (3 units, Sp) Global Change Research, Application, and Decision Making
-EIS/ECOL 544 (3 units, F, odd years) Insect Ecology
-RNR 529 (3 units, F) Ecological Climatology
-ATMO 460/560 (3 units, Sp) Bioclimate
-GEOG/ARL/GC 530 (3 units, F) The Climate System
3. Theory & Concepts: Genomic Biology
-ECOL/BIOC/EIS/MCB 553 (4 units, F) Functional and Evolutionary Genomics
-ECOL 596A (2 units, F, even years) Evolutionary Ecology
-ECOL 600A (3 units, Sp) Fundamentals of Evolution
-ECOL/EIS 565 (3 units, Sp, even years) Phylogenetic Biology
-PLP 550 (4 units, Sp, odd years) Principles of Plant Microbiology
-PLP 596B (1 unit, Sp, F) Research Discussions
-PLS/ECOL/GENE/MCB 549A (3 units, Sp) Plant Genetics and Genomics
-PLP 575 (3 units, Sp, alt years) Advanced Mycology
-PLP 528R (3 units, Sp) Microbial Genetics
4. Tools & Data: Data Analytics
-BE 534 (3 units, Sp) Biosystem Analytics
-BE 587 (3 units, F) Metagenomics: From Genes to Ecosystems
-ECOL/MATH 580 (3 units, Sp) Mathematical Models in Biology
-ENVS 567 (3 units, Sp) Statistical Analysis of Ecological and Environmental Data with R
-RNR 621 (3 units, F) Applied Statistics
-INFO/LIS 533 (3 units, Sp) Medical On-Line Searching
-INFO 554 (3 units, F) Informatics in Biology
-INFO 553 (1-6 units, Su) Biodiversity Informatics
None.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.