2009 Ancient DNA Training Program

Dates To Be Announced

(Keep this page locked in your Favorites List and check back for the

announcement of the 2009 course dates.)

The Paleo-DNA Laboratory at Lakehead University is the only facility in the world that offers a training program in extraction, amplification, sequencing and analysis of ancient nucleic acids (aDNA). This annual program is made possible by a combination of highly trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment. The latter includes real-time PCR and ABI 3100 automated sequencers. Since 1999, 156 students from many scientific disciplines (e.g. anthropology, chemistry, biology and clinical laboratories) from around the world have completed this program.

Course Content:

During the program, students work in small, independently supervised groups (one instructor to four students) and proceed gradually through the various stages of aDNA analysis. Lectures by professors and senior analysts on a wide variety of aDNA topics are integrated with the laboratory sessions. The program concludes with a conference of student presentations and a guest lecture from a leading authority in molecular studies. Graduates from this program will have the background to begin conducting research projects on both archaeological and modern DNA and will have familiarity with the statistical methods used in the interpretation of DNA results. Many past participants have commented on the unique experience of the Paleo-DNA training program.

Course Outline:

The course runs Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a full three weeks. Mornings are reserved for lectures while the afternoons are spent in the laboratory for some hands-on lab work.

Course Fees:

This full-credit program qualifies as one undergraduate credit in 4th year Anthropology and the cost is $3,300.00 (Canadian Funds). The program is also offered as a non-credit course and costs $2,500.00 (Canadian Funds).   All costs for course manuals, handouts and lab supplies are included in the fee. Students will receive a Certificate of Achievement upon successful completion of the program for both the credit and non-credit programs. A $500.00 deposit is required at the time of application and must be included with your submitted registration form.

Additional Information:

For our out-of-town registrants, on-campus townhouse living is available at a nominal fee of approximately $650.00 per person (based on a 4 person occupancy) for the three week period.  The Townhouses are fully furnished units equipped with basic cooking utensils so you can prepare your own meals. There are 4 private bedrooms with a common living room, bathroom and kitchen. Lakehead University Fitness Centre passes are available for sale at a reduced rate for our participants and campus parking passes can be purchased for those commuting.  Internet access and on-campus computers are available for use free of charge.

For More Details Contact:

Cheryl Jaspers, Administrative Coordinator
1-807-343-8862 cjaspers@lakeheadu.ca

2008 Ancient DNA Training Program

The 2008 Ancient DNA Training Program saw 20 students from across the globe meet in Thunder Bay for the 10th annual Ancient DNA Training Program held May 5 - 23, 2008.

To view the 2008 class photograph, click here.

2007 Ancient DNA Training Program

The 2007 Ancient DNA Training Program was held on the campus of Lakehead University from May 22nd to June 9th, 2007 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  We had 20 students from all over the world enroll in the program including students from Portugal, Australia, United Arab Emirates, France, the U.K., the U.S.A. and from coast to coast across Canada.  It was truly an international event this year.

Guest lecturers for this year’s program include Lakehead University’s own Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Tamara Varney and from the University of Connecticut, renowned Neanderthal expert Dr. Igor Ovchinnikov.  Dr. Ovchinnikov stayed on in Thunder Bay a few extra days and assisted the students with their lab work by providing his expertise when needed. Of course the training program wouldn’t be the same without inviting Entomologist, Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan from Yale University back to lecture.  He continually provides exciting lectures that keep our students fully engrossed. 

To view the 2007 class photograph, click here.

The 2007 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:

 

2006 Ancient DNA Training Program

The 2006 Ancient DNA Training Program was a huge success and congratulations to all of our successful students.  Nineteen students enrolled in the program this year. Students from coast to coast across Canada, the southern United States and even as far away as Denmark traveled to Thunder Bay, Ontario to partake in this year's program.

We were extremely pleased with this years guest lecturers who included Dr. Eldon Molto, one of the original laboratory directors here at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory. Dr. Molto is currently in the Anthropology department at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Charles Greenblatt joined us coming all the way from the Hebrew University in Israel to deliver his lectures. Our grateful students were treated to not one, but two lectures by the renowned Dr. Greenblatt who enjoyed his stay in Thunder Bay immensely. Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan, an entomologist from the University of California at Davis, presented the students with his lectures on pathogen transmission and forensic entomology. Not for the faint of heart, Dr. Vaidyanathan's graphic photos and engaging talks kept the students' attention throughout his lectures.

Click here to view class photos.

The 2006 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:

 

2005 Ancient DNA Training Program

The 2005 Ancient DNA Research Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held from May 24 to June 11, 2005. The program was well received with 24 students in attendance.

The diversity of the students' originating countries (Australia, Canada and the United States) proved equal to their diverse background disciplines. The knowledge and skills the students gained, is now being applied to the fields of biochemistry, biological anthropology, biology, zoology, genetics, archaeology, zoo archaeology, and forensics.

Guest lecturers at this year's course included Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan, University of California at Davis; Dr. Michael Schillaci, University of Toronto; Dr. Scott Hamilton and Jill Taylor-Hollings, Lakehead University; Dr. Bruce Pynn, Thunder Bay, ON; and the staff of the Paleo-DNA Laboratory including Renee Praymak, Steve Fratpietro and Christine Beaulne.

Click here to view class photos.

The 2005 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:

 

 

2004 Ancient DNA Training Program

The 2004 Ancient DNA Research Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held twice in 2004 from April 26 to May 14, 2004 and from August 16 to September 3, 2004. The program was well received with 25 students in attendance.

The diversity of the students' originating countries (Australia, Mexico, Canada and the United States) proved equal to their diverse background disciplines. The knowledge and skills the students gained, is now being applied to the fields of biochemistry, biological anthropology, biology, zoology, genetics, archaeology, zoo archaeology, and forensics.

Guest lecturers at this year's course included Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan, University of California at Davis; Dr. Jack Ballantyne, University of Central Florida; Dr. Bruce Rothschild, N.E. Ohio University; Dr. Dongya Yang, Simon Fraser University; Dr. Dennis O'Rourke, University of Utah; Linda Larcombe, University of Manitoba; Dr. Scott Hamilton, Lakehead University; Dr. Bruce Pynn, Roy Wittock, Brian Reguly all of Thunder Bay, Ontario; Dr. Marcella Sorg, Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy, Orono, Maine; Dr. Theodore Schurr; Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia; Zack Gaskin, DNA Print, Sarasota, Florida; Dr. John Verano, Tulane University, New Orleans; Karen Mooder, University of Alberta; and Dr. Vera Tiesler, Yucatan University, Merida, Mexico.

Click here to view class photos.

The 2004 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:

2003 Ancient DNA Training Program

The 2003 Ancient DNA Research Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held from May 5-24, 2003. This 5th annual program was once again an outstanding success, with 25 students.

The diversity of the students' originating countries (Australia, Canada, Portugal and the United States) proved equal to their diverse background disciplines. The knowledge and skills the students gained, is now being applied to the fields of biochemistry, biological anthropology, biology, zoology, genetics, archaeology, zoo archaeology, and forensics.

Guest lecturers at this year's course included Dr. Scott Hamilton, Dept. of Anthropology, Lakehead University; Dr. El Molto, Dept. of Anthropology, Lakehead University; Tal Fisher, Dept. of Anthropology, Lakehead University; Dr. Kathy Gruispier, University of Toronto; Dr. Ryan Parr, Genesis Genomics; Dr. Robert Thayer, Genesis Genomics; Dr. Bruce Pynn; Prof. Wil Salo, University of Minnesota, Duluth; and Dr. Jack Ballantyne, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Central Florida. At the concluding conference for the course, our keynote speaker was Prof. Art Aufderheide, Dept. of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Duluth. Prof. Aufderheide spoke about the recovery of ancient human material and it's applications within the field of DNA studies.

Click here to view class photos.

The 2003 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:

2002 Ancient DNA Training Program

The 2002 Ancient DNA Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held from May 7-25, 2002. This 4th annual program was once again an outstanding success, with our largest class to date.

The diversity of the students' originating countries (Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Israel and the United States) proved equal to their diverse background disciplines. The knowledge and skills the students gained, is now being applied to the fields of biochemistry, biological anthropology, biology, zoology, genetics, archaeology, zoo archaeology, and forensics.

Guest lecturers at this year's course included Dr. Scott Hamilton, Dept. of Anthropology, Lakehead University; Tal Fisher, Dept. of Anthropology, Lakehead University; Dr. Janice Hughes, Dept. of Biology, Lakehead University; and Dr. Keith McKenney, Dept. of Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Forensic Biosciences, George Mason University. At the concluding conference for the course, our keynote speaker was Dr. Jack Ballantyne, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Central Florida. Dr. Ballantyne spoke about DNA analysis and it's applications within the field of forensics with his talk: New Ways of Looking at Old and Old Ways of Looking at New DNA.

Click here to view class photos.

The 2002 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:

Students

The Paleo-DNA Laboratory students have diverse interests and research projects indicated by their diverse background and training. The students come from many formal programs in Chemistry, Biology, Anthropology, Biochemistry, Forensics and others. For more information on our students follow the above link as well as contact information.