For many years, we taught a graduate level intensive subject, offered over two weeks in July.  This course was a collaborative activity between the University of Melbourne and Deakin University and part of the Science Masters graduate program at the University of Melbourne, through the School of BioSciences and  the Honours program at Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences.

The subject consisted of lectures along with computer-based worksheets for accompanying independent study. We assumed a basic familiarity with statistical methods used in biology (although we provide revisionary material), and we we introduce basic linear models, illustrated using Analysis of Variance, used for designed experiments, and extend that approach through General Linear Models, including regression approaches and analysis of data that are categorical, rather than continuous. We also cover multivariate statistical approaches, which are commonly used in systematics, ecology, and the various “-omics”.

We’ve also taught intensives at other institutions from time to time, and we’ve captured some of our self-perceived wisdom in a brief instructors manual, available on the Cambridge website.