New & Noteworthy

Apply Now for the 2015 Yeast Genetics & Genomics Course

April 21, 2015


This will be the 45th year that the legendary summer Yeast Genetics & Genomics course has been taught at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. (OK, the name didn’t include “Genomics” in the beginning…) The list of people who have taken the course reads like a Who’s Who of yeast research, including Nobel laureates and many of today’s leading scientists. 

The application deadline is May 15th, so don’t miss your chance! Find all the details and application form here.

This course (July 21 – August 10) provides a comprehensive education in all things yeast, from classical genetics through up-to-the-minute genomics. Things you’ll learn include:

  • How to Find and Analyze Yeast Information Using SGD
  • Transformation of Plasmids & Integrating DNAs
  • Looking at Yeast Cells using Light Microscopy and Fluorescence Microscopy
  • Manipulating Mating-Type and Epigenetic Transcriptional Silencing
  • Meiosis & Tetrad Dissection
  • Isolation and Characterization of Mutants
  • Working with Essential Genes
  • Synthetic Genetic Array Analysis
  • Measuring Mutation Rates and Studying Human Genetic Variation in Yeast
  • Detecting Copy Number Variants using Comparative Genomic Hybridization
  • Mutation Detection using Whole Genome Sequencing and Linkage
  • Barcode Sequencing and Comparative Functional Genomics

All these techniques will be summarized in a completely updated course manual, which will be published by CSHL Press.

If you’re going to the Yeast Genetics & Genomics course, start training now for the Plate Race!

Scientists who aren’t part of large, well-known yeast labs are especially encouraged to apply – for example, professors and instructors who want to incorporate yeast into their undergraduate genetics classrooms; scientists who want to transition from mathematical, computational, or engineering disciplines into bench science; and researchers from small labs or institutions where it would otherwise be difficult to learn the fundamentals of yeast genetics and genomics. Significant stipends (in the 30-50% range of total fees) are available to individuals expressing a need for financial support and who are selected into the course.

Besides its scientific content, the fun and camaraderie at the course is also legendary. In between all the hard work there are late-night chats at the bar and swimming at the beach. There’s a fierce competition between students at the various CSHL courses in the Plate Race, which is a relay in which teams have to carry stacks of 40 Petri dishes (used, of course). There’s also a sailboat trip, a microscopy contest, and a mysterious “Dr. Evil” lab!

Categories: Conferences