FALL 2025 Schedule

Section	Instructor	Location	Schedule	Notes
A1	Kubica	LSE 404	W 2:30 pm-3:20 pm	Topics in Biology: Mammalogy. A variety of biology subfields through the lens of mammals, including behavior and anatomy. Mammalian systematics and evolution will be key components of the course. Undergraduate Prerequisites: BI107 and at least one is the following (BI206, BI309, BI407) or permission of the instructor.
A1	Kubica	LSE 404	TR 3:30 pm-4:45 pm	Topics in Biology: Mammalogy. A variety of biology subfields through the lens of mammals, including behavior and anatomy. Mammalian systematics and evolution will be key components of the course. Undergraduate Prerequisites: BI107 and at least one is the following (BI206, BI309, BI407) or permission of the instructor.

SPRG 2026 Schedule

Section	Instructor	Location	Schedule	Notes
B1	Ho	FLR 122	MW 10:10 am-11:55 am	Course Title - Neurobiology of Disease: From Molecules to Circuits Course Overview: This course reviews recent topics and readings in the field of neurodegeneration that span disorders affecting neurodevelopment, diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system to immune-related diseases affecting the nervous system and finally disorders of higher function such as addiction, sleep disorders and schizophrenia. Specifically, this advanced course will investigate the molecular and cellular basis of brain disorders and how these disruptions affect neuronal circuits. Lectures integrate foundational concepts with emphasis on experimental approaches used to study these disorders, including genetic models, imaging, transcriptomics and proteomics, and electrophysiology.

SPRG 2026 Schedule

Section	Instructor	Location	Schedule	Notes
C1	Chen	CAS 223	TR 9:00 am-10:45 am	Course Title: Big Data in Neuroscience Prereq: BI 325 Description: Understanding the brain involves deconstructing the nervous system into its basic building blocks, determining how they are assembled into circuits, and how information is processed and computed across the system. The field of neuroscience is undergoing a transformation fueled by the massive, complex datasets that offer an increasingly complete and detailed view of the brain’s molecular composition, wiring, and activity patterns. This course invites students to explore how researchers collect, organize, and interpret data to answer fundamental questions about the brain and behavior.

SPRG 2026 Schedule

Section	Instructor	Location	Schedule	Notes
D1	Traniello	LSE 304	T 12:30 pm-4:00 pm	One of the greatest challenges in biological science is to understand the evolution, organization, and functionality of the brain, an extraordinarily complex and energetically costly organ responsible for remarkable information processing, computation, and behavior. During the course of their evolution, the brains of animals living in groups have experienced ecological and sociobiological performance demands to adapt to social life. This course explores the nature of these adaptations. This course is focused on the evolutionary neurobiology of the brain using a broad analysis of patterns of brain evolution in diverse clades ranging from invertebrates to humans. The importance of this broad perspective was summarized by Christopher Walsh, Director of the Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution at Harvard Medical School: “To understand when and how our modern brains evolved, we need to take a multi-pronged approach that will reflect how evolution works in nature.” Similarly, the NSF BRAIN Initiative noted that understanding the human brain will benefit from comparative studies of animal models. We will study the natural history of the brain at different levels of analysis.

SPRG 2026 Schedule

Section	Instructor	Location	Schedule	Notes
E1	Berger	CGS 113	TR 9:00 am-10:45 am	Course Title - Science Communication in Biology The ability to communicate to multiple audiences is an essential skill to develop for a scientific career. From field specific grant writing to community-oriented podcast creation, we will workshop and gain tools of science communication. Content will be delivered through readings, critical analysis, guest lectures, presentations, and peer-review workshops. Paper discussion days will include writing prompts and in-depth analysis.