Quantitative Life Sciences (Ph.D.)
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (6 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| QLSC 600D1 | Foundations of Quantitative Life Sciences. | 3 |
Foundations of Quantitative Life Sciences. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Provides an overview of important problems in the life sciences and introduces students to the latest computational, mathematical, and statistical approaches involved in their solution. Includes a survey of modern technologies for biological data acquisition and promotes a common language to communicate across the biological, physical, mathematical, and computational sciences. Topics will include bioinformatics and computational genomics, nonlinear dynamics in biological systems, linear and nonlinear models of biological signals, biophysical imaging technology, emergent behaviour in biophysical networks, and ecosystem dynamics and modeling. | ||
| QLSC 600D2 | Foundations of Quantitative Life Sciences. | 3 |
Foundations of Quantitative Life Sciences. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Provides an overview of important problems in the life sciences and introduces students to the latest computational, mathematical, and statistical approaches involved in their solution. Includes a survey of modern technologies for biological data acquisition and promotes a common language to communicate across the biological, physical, mathematical, and computational sciences. Topics will include bioinformatics and computational genomics, nonlinear dynamics in biological systems, linear and nonlinear models of biological signals, biophysical imaging technology, emergent behaviour in biophysical networks, and ecosystem dynamics and modeling. | ||
| QLSC 601D1 | Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 1. | 0 |
Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. QLS Monthly Seminar Series and Journal Club. | ||
| QLSC 601D2 | Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 1. | 0 |
Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See QLSC 601D1 for description. | ||
| QLSC 602D1 | Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 2. | 0 |
Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. QLS Monthly Seminar Series and Journal Club. | ||
| QLSC 602D2 | Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 2. | 0 |
Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See QLSC 602D1 for description. | ||
| QLSC 603D1 | Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 3. | 0 |
Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. QLS Monthly Seminar Series and Journal Club. | ||
| QLSC 603D2 | Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 3. | 0 |
Quantitative Life Sciences Seminars 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See QLSC 603D1 for description. | ||
| QLSC 701 | Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam. | 0 |
Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Compulsory comprehensive examination to evaluate the students' ability to carry out, present, discuss and defend research in their field of interest. The examination must be completed within the first 18 months of enrollment in the program. | ||
Complementary Courses (9-11 credits)
Students will be required to take one or two courses from each of the Quantitative and Life Science Blocks for a total of three, stream-specific courses.
Biophysics Stream
Quantitative
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIEN 530 | Imaging and Bioanalytical Instrumentation. | 3 |
Imaging and Bioanalytical Instrumentation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Microscopy techniques with application to biology and medicine. Practical introduction to optics and microscopy from the standpoint of biomedical research. Discussion of recent literature; hands-on experience. Topics include: optics, contrast techniques, advanced microscopy, and image analysis. | ||
| BMDE 512 | Finite-Element Modelling in Biomedical Engineering. | 3 |
Finite-Element Modelling in Biomedical Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. General principles of quantitative modelling; types of models; principles of the finite-element method, primarily as applied to mechanical systems; introduction to the use of finite-element software; model generation from imaging data; modelling various material types, mainly biological; model validation. | ||
| BMDE 519 | Biomedical Signals and Systems. | 3 |
Biomedical Signals and Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the theoretical framework, experimental techniques and analysis procedures available for the quantitative analysis of physiological systems and signals. Lectures plus laboratory work using the Biomedical Engineering computer system. Topics include: amplitude and frequency structure of signals, filtering, sampling, correlation functions, time and frequency-domain descriptions of systems. | ||
| CHEM 514 | Biophysical Chemistry. | 3 |
Biophysical Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physical chemistry concepts needed to understand the function of biological systems at the molecular level, including the structure, stability, transport, and interactions of biological macromolecules. | ||
| CHEM 520 | Methods in Chemical Biology. | 3 |
Methods in Chemical Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An overview of advanced techniques at the leading edge of Chemical Biology, including some or all of: biological imaging, kinetics of enzyme inhibition, combinatorial synthesis, atomic force microscopy of biological molecules, self assembling biomimetic structures, oligonucleotide therapeutics, biomolecular X-ray crystallography, computational methods, and nuclear magnetic resonance applied to protein interactions. | ||
| COMP 551 | Applied Machine Learning. | 4 |
Applied Machine Learning. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Selected topics in machine learning and data mining, including clustering, neural networks, support vector machines, decision trees. Methods include feature selection and dimensionality reduction, error estimation and empirical validation, algorithm design and parallelization, and handling of large data sets. Emphasis on good methods and practices for deployment of real systems. | ||
| MATH 682 | Statistical Inference. | 4 |
Statistical Inference. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Conditional probability and Bayes’ Theorem, discrete and continuous univariate and multivariate distributions, conditional distributions, moments, independence of random variables. Modes of convergence, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem. Point and interval estimation. Likelihood inference. Bayesian estimation and inference. Hypothesis testing. | ||
| PHYS 519 | Advanced Biophysics. | 3 |
Advanced Biophysics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced biophysics course, with a special emphasis on stochastic and out of equilibrium physical processes in living matter. | ||
| PHYS 559 | Advanced Statistical Mechanics. | 3 |
Advanced Statistical Mechanics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Scattering and structure factors. Review of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; correlation functions (static); mean field theory; critical phenomena; broken symmetry; fluctuations, roughening. | ||
| QLSC 611 | Directed Readings. | 3 |
Directed Readings. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading and writing assignments under the guidance of a QLS supervisor. Topics will be chosen to suit individual needs. | ||
Life Sciences
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 605 | Protein Biology and Proteomics. | 3 |
Protein Biology and Proteomics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Examination of recent developments in protein biology and proteomics analysis. Proteomics, modeling and biophysical approaches to characterize the functional interactions of biological macromolecules; applications to biological problems. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by practical training in proteomics. | ||
| BIOL 551 | Principles of Cellular Control. | 3 |
Principles of Cellular Control. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Fundamental principles of cellular control, with cell cycle control as a major theme. Biological and physical concepts are brought to bear on control in healthy cells.. | ||
| PHGY 518 | Artificial Cells. | 3 |
Artificial Cells. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology, biotechnology, chemistry and biomedical application of artificial cells, blood substitutes, immobilized enzymes, microorganisms and cells, hemoperfusion, artificial kidneys, and drug delivery systems. PHGY 517 and PHGY 518 when taken together, will give a complete picture of this field. However, the student can select one of these. | ||
| QLSC 611 | Directed Readings. | 3 |
Directed Readings. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading and writing assignments under the guidance of a QLS supervisor. Topics will be chosen to suit individual needs. | ||
Computational and Statistical Molecular Biology Stream
Quantitative
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOS 601 | Epidemiology: Introduction and Statistical Models. | 4 |
Epidemiology: Introduction and Statistical Models. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Examples of applications of statistics and probability in epidemiologic research. Source of epidemiologic data (surveys, experimental and non-experimental studies). Elementary data analysis for single and comparative epidemiologic parameters. | ||
| BMDE 502 | BME Modelling and Identification. | 3 |
BME Modelling and Identification. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Methodologies in systems or distributed multidimensional processes. System themes include parametric vs. non-parametric system representations; linear/non-linear; noise, transients and time variation; mapping from continuous to discrete models; and relevant identification approaches in continuous and discrete time formulations. | ||
| COMP 551 | Applied Machine Learning. | 4 |
Applied Machine Learning. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Selected topics in machine learning and data mining, including clustering, neural networks, support vector machines, decision trees. Methods include feature selection and dimensionality reduction, error estimation and empirical validation, algorithm design and parallelization, and handling of large data sets. Emphasis on good methods and practices for deployment of real systems. | ||
| COMP 561 | Computational Biology Methods and Research. | 4 |
Computational Biology Methods and Research. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Application of computer science techniques to problems arising in biology and medicine, techniques for modeling evolution, aligning molecular sequences, predicting structure of a molecule and other problems from computational biology. An in-depth exploration of key research areas. | ||
| COMP 598 | Topics in CS: Applications 1 | 4 |
Topics in CS: Applications 1 Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in applied computer science. | ||
| HGEN 677 | Statistical Concepts in Genetic and Genomic Analysis. | 3 |
Statistical Concepts in Genetic and Genomic Analysis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will introduce key statistical concepts that motivate and underlie the many statistical analysis methods currently used in analysis of genetic and genomic data. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how these concepts can influence study designs and analysis choices, and when substantial unanticipated biases can occur. Concepts include an understanding of variability and error, bias and its sources, independence, how distributions of variables impact analysis, outliers, covariates, missing data, the goals of data cleaning, multiple testing, and some consideration of clustering and prediction models. | ||
| MATH 523 | Generalized Linear Models. | 4 |
Generalized Linear Models. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Exponential families, link functions. Inference and parameter estimation for generalized linear models; model selection using analysis of deviance. Residuals. Contingency table analysis, logistic regression, multinomial regression, Poisson regression, log-linear models. Multinomial models. Overdispersion and Quasilikelihood. Applications to experimental and observational data. | ||
| MATH 533 | Regression and Analysis of Variance. | 4 |
Regression and Analysis of Variance. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Multivariate normal and chi-squared distributions; quadratic forms. Multiple linear regression estimators and their properties. General linear hypothesis tests. Prediction and confidence intervals. Asymptotic properties of least squares estimators. Weighted least squares. Variable selection and regularization. Selected advanced topics in regression. Applications to experimental and observational data. | ||
| MATH 680 | Computation Intensive Statistics. | 4 |
Computation Intensive Statistics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. General introduction to computational methods in statistics; optimization methods; EM algorithm; random number generation and simulations; bootstrap, jackknife, cross-validation, resampling and permutation; Monte Carlo methods: Markov chain Monte Carlo and sequential Monte Carlo; computation in the R language. | ||
| MATH 682 | Statistical Inference. | 4 |
Statistical Inference. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Conditional probability and Bayes’ Theorem, discrete and continuous univariate and multivariate distributions, conditional distributions, moments, independence of random variables. Modes of convergence, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem. Point and interval estimation. Likelihood inference. Bayesian estimation and inference. Hypothesis testing. | ||
| QLSC 611 | Directed Readings. | 3 |
Directed Readings. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading and writing assignments under the guidance of a QLS supervisor. Topics will be chosen to suit individual needs. | ||
Life Sciences
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 603 | Genomics and Gene Expression. | 3 |
Genomics and Gene Expression. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Examination of recent developments in analysis of eukaryotic cell genomes and control of gene expression during differentiation and growth control. Molecular genetics; genomics and the bioinformatics of analysis of genomic and functional-genomic data; mechanisms and signal-transduction pathways for regulation of gene expression; applications to human disease with a strong emphasis on cancer. | ||
| BIOL 551 | Principles of Cellular Control. | 3 |
Principles of Cellular Control. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Fundamental principles of cellular control, with cell cycle control as a major theme. Biological and physical concepts are brought to bear on control in healthy cells.. | ||
| EXMD 602 | Techniques in Molecular Genetics. | 3 |
Techniques in Molecular Genetics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Precise description of available methods in molecular genetics, and rationales for choosing particular techniques to answer questions posed in research proposals for targeting genes in the mammalian genome. Emphasis placed on analysis of regulation of gene expression and mapping, strategies for gene cloning. Course divided between lectures and student seminars. | ||
| HGEN 661 | Population Genetics. | 3 |
Population Genetics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles and concepts of the genetics of human populations. | ||
| HGEN 692 | Human Genetics. | 3 |
Human Genetics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will emphasize the principles and practice of human genetics, including an overview of the fundamental aspects of human genetics pertaining to chromosomes and mutations, population, cancer and development genetics, the inheritance of complex traits. | ||
| PHAR 503 | Drug Discovery and Development 1. | 3 |
Drug Discovery and Development 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Chemistry, mechanisms of action, and steps in drug discovery and development. | ||
| PHAR 505 | Structural Pharmacology. | 3 |
Structural Pharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course will cover approaches widely used in the pharmaceuticals industry, such as drug target selection, structure determination and medicinal chemistry. The basics of structural biology will be taught in a very visual and interactive manner, with an emphasis on drug:target interactions and chemical principles relevant to drug design. By the end of the course, the students will become familiar with the structure-based drug discovery process and principles of molecular pharmacology. | ||
| QLSC 611 | Directed Readings. | 3 |
Directed Readings. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading and writing assignments under the guidance of a QLS supervisor. Topics will be chosen to suit individual needs. | ||
Ecosystems Stream
Quantitative
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENVB 506 | Quantitative Methods: Ecology. | 3 |
Quantitative Methods: Ecology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to a broad range of innovative data analysis strategies commonly applied to ecological data. How to apply these strategies. Common “best practices” for data management, study design, and graphing techniques. | ||
| MATH 523 | Generalized Linear Models. | 4 |
Generalized Linear Models. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Exponential families, link functions. Inference and parameter estimation for generalized linear models; model selection using analysis of deviance. Residuals. Contingency table analysis, logistic regression, multinomial regression, Poisson regression, log-linear models. Multinomial models. Overdispersion and Quasilikelihood. Applications to experimental and observational data. | ||
| MATH 525 | Sampling Theory and Applications. | 4 |
Sampling Theory and Applications. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Simple random sampling, domains, ratio and regression estimators, superpopulation models, stratified sampling, optimal stratification, cluster sampling, sampling with unequal probabilities, multistage sampling, complex surveys, nonresponse. | ||
| MATH 533 | Regression and Analysis of Variance. | 4 |
Regression and Analysis of Variance. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Multivariate normal and chi-squared distributions; quadratic forms. Multiple linear regression estimators and their properties. General linear hypothesis tests. Prediction and confidence intervals. Asymptotic properties of least squares estimators. Weighted least squares. Variable selection and regularization. Selected advanced topics in regression. Applications to experimental and observational data. | ||
| MATH 537 | Honours Mathematical Models in Biology. | 4 |
Honours Mathematical Models in Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The formulation and treatment of realistic mathematical models describing biological phenomena through such qualitative and quantitative mathematical techniques as local and global stability theory, bifurcation analysis, phase plane analysis, and numerical simulation. Concrete and detailed examples will be drawn from molecular, cellular and population biology and mammalian physiology. | ||
| MATH 547 | Stochastic Processes. | 4 |
Stochastic Processes. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Conditional probability and conditional expectation, generating functions. Branching processes and random walk. Markov chains:transition matrices, classification of states, ergodic theorem, examples. Birth and death processes, queueing theory. | ||
| MATH 556 | Mathematical Statistics 1. | 4 |
Mathematical Statistics 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Distribution theory, stochastic models and multivariate transformations. Families of distributions including location-scale families, exponential families, convolution families, exponential dispersion models and hierarchical models. Concentration inequalities. Characteristic functions. Convergence in probability, almost surely, in Lp and in distribution. Laws of large numbers and Central Limit Theorem. Stochastic simulation. | ||
| MATH 682 | Statistical Inference. | 4 |
Statistical Inference. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Conditional probability and Bayes’ Theorem, discrete and continuous univariate and multivariate distributions, conditional distributions, moments, independence of random variables. Modes of convergence, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem. Point and interval estimation. Likelihood inference. Bayesian estimation and inference. Hypothesis testing. | ||
| QLSC 611 | Directed Readings. | 3 |
Directed Readings. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading and writing assignments under the guidance of a QLS supervisor. Topics will be chosen to suit individual needs. | ||
Life Sciences
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 509 | Methods in Molecular Ecology. | 3 |
Methods in Molecular Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An overview of the molecular genetic tools used to investigate ecological and evolutionary processes in natural populations. The use of molecular tools in studies of population structure, parentage, kinship, species boundaries, phylogenetics. Special topics include conservation genetics, population genetics, and ecological genomics. | ||
| BIOL 510 | Advances in Community Ecology. | 3 |
Advances in Community Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The origin, maintenance and roles of biological diversity within ecological communities. | ||
| BIOL 540 | Ecology of Species Invasions. 1 | 3 |
Ecology of Species Invasions. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Causes and consequences of biological invasion, as well as risk assessment methods and management strategies for dealing with invasive species. | ||
| BIOL 594 | Advanced Evolutionary Ecology. | 3 |
Advanced Evolutionary Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Evolutionary ecology is the study of evolutionary change in natural populations. General predictive approaches in evolutionary ecology, including population genetics, quantitative genetics, optimality, and game theory will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on the mathematical underpinnings of each approach, particularly as they relate to classic and contemporary problems. | ||
| ENVR 540 | Ecology of Species Invasions. 1 | 3 |
Ecology of Species Invasions. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Causes and consequences of biological invasion, as well as risk assessment methods and management strategies for dealing with invasive species. | ||
| QLSC 611 | Directed Readings. | 3 |
Directed Readings. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading and writing assignments under the guidance of a QLS supervisor. Topics will be chosen to suit individual needs. | ||