Winter Semester Courses 2011

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Winter semester dates

Official dates of instruction for weekly courses: October 17th, 2011 - February 12th, 2012 

Block I: October 17 - November 4
Block II: November 7 - November 25
Block III: November 28 - December 23
Block IV: January 9 - February 12


"Vorlesungsverzeichnis"

  • The winter semester schedule with detailed times and locations is already available online!
  • Once the online course catalog is available, you can browse EES courses by navigating to "Vorlesungsverzeichnis" - "Fakultät für Biologie" - "Veranstaltungen der Fakultät" - "Master's Program in Evolution, Ecology, and Systematics"
  • Within the 3rd semester, the elective courses are listed under the Blocks I to IV, as well as under "elective courses". The required courses are listed under Module P9.


Required Courses for Third Semester Students:

  • Individual Research Training 3 (IRT3)
    • Schedule: All semester
    • ECTS: 10
    • Module: P9.1

The goal of this module is for students to conduct a larger semester-long independent pilot study as preparation for their Master’s thesis, in which they will collect preliminary data. They are also trained in the writing of grant proposals, as well as writing their own proposal which includes a budget and a time-plan (also see Skills 4). Students will also be preparing high-quality scientific presentations and conducting scholarly discussions on the topics of presentations, in order to further improve their ability to communicate verbally about science. After conducting the study, a final report in the style of a scientific manuscript (10.000 – 30.000 characters) needs to be written.


  • Skills 4: Grant Writing
    • Schedule: Mondays, 14:00 - 15:00
    • ECTS: 2
    • Module: P9.2

Students will learn how to write a grant proposal, following the guidelines of big funding agencies. They will learn how to make a time-plan and a budget. They get an overview of the most important grant agencies in Germany and Europe. They also learn how to compile a good job application, including CV and a statement of interest.


  • Seminar & Discussion 3: Hot topics in evolution, ecology and systematics
    • Schedule: Mondays, 15:15 - 16:45
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P9.3

Students read and discuss scientific publications on hotly debated topics in ecology, evolution and systematics. They will further improve their experience with presentations in different formats, asking critical questions about papers, participating in and leading discussions.


Block Courses for Third Semester Students:

No Set Dates, please contact instructor or go to preliminary meeting:

  • Earth-Life interactions
    • Instructor: Gert Woerheide
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P 8


  • Malacology
    • Instructor: Gerhard Haszprunar
    • ECTS: 6
    • Module: P10

Please register under haszi@zsm.mwn.de


  • Biology of Lichens
    • Instructors: Andreas Beck, Susanne Renner
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P10.0.13/14

Preliminary meeting on 17.10.2011 at 17:00 (C00.013).


  • Using Molecular Clocks
    • Instructor: Susanne Renner
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8

Preliminary meeting on 17.10.2011 at 17:00 (C00.013).

Lectures in this course will present the theory and practice of molecular clock dating and will show how clocks are being used in biogeography (as well as other disciplines). Students will analyse published or original data sets or their own data, using available computer software (i.e. Sanderson’s r8s and Rambeaut et al.’s BEAST). Students will be required to give two short talks (by student teams), as well as write up a report on the results of a research assignment.


  • Palynology
    • Instructor: Guenther Heubl
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8

Preliminary meeting on 17.10.2011 at 17:00 (C00.013).


  • Ecophysiology in Birds
    • Instructor: Wolfgang Goymann
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8

Preliminary discussion and application for the practical on Ponza on 10.01.2012, 17:00, D00.013 Proposed date for the excursion: 29.04.2012 – 07.05.2012


Block I (17.10. - 04.11.2011):

  • Population Genetics II (Part I)
    • Instructor: Wolfgang Stephan, Stephan Hutter
    • ECTS: 6
    • Module: P10.0.27/28

This lecture is separated into parts I and II. Part I takes place from 17.10. – 04.11.2011, part II takes place from 07.11. – 25.11.2011. For part II, it is necessary to complete part I. Please note that this course spans 2 blocks (Block I and Block II) for a total of 6 ECTS!


  • Computational Methods in Populations Genetics I
    • Instructor: Dirk Metzler, Martin Hutzenthaler
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8


  • Aquatic Ecology
    • Instructor: Herwig Stibor
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8


Block II (07.11. - 25.11.2011):

  • Population Genetics II (Part II)
    • Instructor: Wolfgang Stephan, Stephan Hutter
    • ECTS: 6
    • Module: P10.0.27/28


  • Experimental Plankton Ecology
    • Instructor: Herwig Stibor
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8


  • Computational Methods in Population Genetics II
    • Instructor: Dirk Metzler, Martin Hutzenthaler
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P10

In order to take part in Computational Methods in Population Genetics II, you must have completed Comp. Methods in Pop. Gen I!


Block III (28.11. - 23.12.2011):

  • PERL for Beginners
    • Instructors: Wolfgang Stephan, Stephan Hutter
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P10.0.33/34


  • Phylogenetics I
    • Instructor: Dirk Metzler, Martin Hutzenthaler
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8


  • Tropical Rainforests
    • Instructor: Florian Siegert
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8


Block IV (09.01.2012 - 12.02.2012):

  • Phylogenetics II
    • Instructor: Dirk Metzler, Martin Hutzenthaler
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P10

In order to take part in Phylogenetics II, you must have completed Phylogenetics I!


  • Experimental Evolutionary Ecology
    • Instructors: Christian Laforsch, Justyna Wolinska
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8.0.23/24


  • Functional Anatomy
    • Instructors: Gisela Grupe, Peters, Marina Vohberger
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8

In this lecture, students will be made familiar with basic principles in anatomic mechanics of primates, as well as the development of domestic animals.


Courses taking place during the break between the winter and summer semester (mid February to mid April 2012)

  • An Introduction to R
    • Instructors: Martin Hutzenthaler, Dirk Metzler
    • Dates: 01.03.2012 - 16.03.2012
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8.0.67/68

R is becoming more and more important for analysing data in biology. Therefore it is important to learn it. R is a few statistics software and can be downloaded from www.r-project.org. In the beginning of the course, we become familiar with R by typing some simple commands. Then we learn how to simulate data and how to apply standard statistical tests. Necessary theoretical background will be provided in accompanying lectures. At the end of the course, students are going to be familiar with a selection of statistical features of R. Requirements: none. Language: German or English. Questions: please send any questions to hutzenthaler@biologie.uni-muenchen.de


  • Phylogenetic Analysis of Morphological and Molecular Characters (PAMM)
    • Instructor: Gerhard Haszprunar
    • Dates: 19.03.2012 - 23.03.2012
    • ECTS: 3
    • Module: P8.0.61/62

Theory and practice (with PC) of phylogenetic analysis of morphological and molecular data. Software: TNT, Mr. Bayes Please register under haszi@zsm.mwn.de


  • Evolutionary Ecology Modelling I
    • Instructor: Wilfried Gabriel
    • Dates: 22.03.2012 - 13.04.2012
    • ECTS: 6
    • Module: P8.0.7/8

This course, which consists of both lectures and exercises, will provide an overview of models and modelling approaches. During the lectures, students learn about various population growth models, different population interactions, simple quantitative and population genetics and stochastic processes. The theory is applied to an example such as the evolution of pesticide resistance. Students learn methods such as time continuous models, time discrete models, individual-based models and modelling of stochastic processes. During the exercises, students will analyse and apply different modelling approaches. They will be trained to outline, develop and run a model using programming tools. Please note: when signing up for the course, students must select another block in which to complete their independent modelling project.

Seminars during the semester

  • EES Seminar Series
    • Times: Mondays, 17:00 - 18:00
    • Where: kleiner Hoersaal 2


  • Current research results in evolutionary ecology
    • Times: Mondays, 13:00 - 15:00
    • Where: B02.015


  • Current literature in evolutionary ecology
    • Times: Wednesdays, 13:00 - 15:00
    • Where: B02.015


  • Journal club in evolutionary biology
    • Times: Tuesdays, 15:00 - 16:30
    • Where: B01.015


  • Current research topics in evolutionary biology
    • Times: Tuesdays, 16:30 - 18:00
    • Where: B01.015


Here is a PDF that lists and describes all of these winter courses.

Back to Courses Overview

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