GS-VMAS PhD Courses
Here you find information about all our upcoming PhD courses
Recurring PhD courses 2026 - 2029
During 2026 - 2029 we will have a number of PhD courses that will be run on a regular basis (yearly and every second year), as shown in the picture below (to download). However, in addition to these we will also arrange a number of additional subject specific courses ("ad hoc") every year. Further information about all planned PhD courses can be found under "Upcoming PhD courses".
Upcoming PhD courses
Course code: PVG0044
Credits: 4
Course dates: Join continuously
The course has a dual format. One part is to actively participate in two workshops (4 hours per workshop) dealing with both oral and poster presentation techniques and the practical construction of a poster. Another part is to actively participate in >20 seminars given in the course seminar series. The seminar series will have weekly seminars during the spring and autumn semesters.
Course syllabus
Course code: P000007
Credits: 3
Course dates: 23 Sept - 02 Dec 2025 (meetings approx. once a week)
The course focuses on primary production of animal source food and how the complete system up to farm-gate affects the environment. Different topics will be covered by experts in the fields in eight lectures followed by discussions. Relevant literature will be provided for the students to read before each lecture. The course meetings will be spread over one complete semester. The examination consists of a written summary submitted to the course leader team where the students relate their own research project to the different themes and an oral presentation given in a group session with other students. Other students will contribute with asking questions and give their perspectives on each presentation. Online participation will be facilitated.
Course syllabus
Course code: PVS0141
Credits: 10
Course dates: 3 Nov 2025 - 19 Jan 2026
The course aims to give the student a solid foundation in the basic methods of bioinformatics. It will cover the theories, algorithms and practical applications of computer-based methods for analysis of DNA sequences and protein structures. The topics to be covered include: - biological databases - homology analysis - sequence analysis (with emphasis on the package EMBOSS and UGENE) - statistics and R introduction - web-based tools for analysis - the Unix operating system - phylogeny - comparative genomics - functional genomics - Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
Course code: P000085
Credits: 3
Course dates: 19 - 30 Jan 2026
Through this course you will gain:
- A practical overview of handling data in R, including merging datasets directly from the original data files within R. During the course this knowledge will be used to automatically update illustrations and maps. Learning a proper Data handling strategy is important to minimize the usual multiple versions of the dataset(s) that are created by many students. At the same time, it is important to preserve the original data to prevent irreversible errors due to manual handling. This is of particular interest in many projects where data is added and updated continuously.
- A practical and theoretical background to choose suitable figures to convey graphically the nature of a specific dataset and what to avoid.
- An introduction for students to plot their data-points on maps in vector- and raster data formats using GIS software. Visualizing data on maps is an important part of many projects in the one health field.
- An introduction to open science, with an emphasis on reproducible data and scripts, and sharing these through DOIs.
The course will use free software within the R environment, including packages such as tidyverse, dplyR, tidyR, and ggplot2. For GIS, QGIS will be used. For DOI and data sharing, GitHub will be used. The #tidytuesday project on GitHub will be the primary source of example datasets.
Theoretical lectures will be mixed with presentations and hands-on workshops. Students will work in groups to solve given problems that tie back to the lectures using #tidytuesday data.
A final individual project will be given where the students will use their own data (when available) or use the #tidytuesday datasets to implement the learning objectives and present their project.
Teaching will be conducted as a one week on-campus class followed by an independent project that will be presented via zoom.
Course code: PVG0043
Credits: 1
Course dates: 10 - 13 Feb 2026
After completing the course, you will be able to:
- Describe the different grants that are available
- Explain how to find suitable calls
- Use the information provided in the call to prepare a template for the application
- Describe what the assessors look for in the application
- Explain how to prepare a budget for a grant application
- Describe how to fill in an electronic application form
The course will consist of a series of short lectures and demonstrations, plus some exercises that the students do themselves in groups, and individually. There is a voluntary written assignment to write a grant application.
Course code: P000152
Credits: 3
Course dates: 2 - 6 March 2026 in Skara
The course integrates various disciplines, such as animal nutrition, animal welfare, animal husbandry, animal health, meat quality, economics and environmental impact on sustainable meat production under Nordic conditions. The course will deliver a holistic understanding of meat production systems in the Nordic countries with an international perspective by using interdisciplinary research in teaching.
After completing the course you should:
- be able to account for the major factors imposing constraints on the sustainability of different production systems for meat production; including theories related to nutrient partitioning and growth capacity, predicting the impact on animal production and welfare as well as on sustainability.'
- be able to discuss the major areas of concern in issues related to feed production, animal nutrition and husbandry and their impact on the environment, animal health, and meat quality.
- be able to describe results of studies about animal productivity, health, environmental and economic sustainability in different Nordic production systems.
- have gained knowledge about difference
Course code: PVG0025
Credits: 2
Course dates: 16 - 27 March 2026
The course gives an introduction to R, that is a programming language for statistical computing and graphics. The course is given as an online course with recorded lectures and course meetings in zoom in addition town work with exercises.
After completing the course you should be able to:
- describe what R is and give examples on how R can be used in analysis of data
- read data into R from a file and write output to a file
- perform basic statistics and graphics in R
- use R scripts written by others and write their own shorter R scripts.
Course code: PVG0024
Credits: 2
Course dates: 7 - 21 April 2025 (three physical meetings 7 April, 14 April and 21 April (digital attendence possible))
In the course, we will go through all menus in Excel and explain how to manage data by a variety of techniques. The students will have the opportunity to increase or reduce focus on different areas. Exercises will be the main form of learning and will be conducted outside the lecture room.
On completion of the course you will be able to:
- Process research data by use of Excel "functions"
- Assure data quality
- Produce figures and tables relevant to scientific publications
- Record basic "macros"
Course code: PVG0045
Credits: 2
Course dates: 20 - 24 April 2026
After attending this course you will be able to:
- Explain basic Python syntax
- Write simple functions in Python
- Transform data in various formats using the Pandas library
- Combine data sources stored in different files using the Pandas library
- Produce insightful summaries of datasets using the Pandas library
- Produce publication quality plots using the Seaborn library
Course code: P000043
Credits: 7,5 credits
Course date: 1 sept - 2 nov 2026 (can be read parallel with Analysis of genomes (P000042))
The course intends to provide advanced knowledge of theory and methods for studies of eukaryotic genomes, including their organization and evolution. There is a focus on animal genomics, but theoretical and methodological aspects of the course are applicable on many different organisms.
The course is based on lectures, exercises, and group discussions. The contents build largely on animal genome research. Theoretical teaching is for the most part directly applicable also within for example human or plant genetics. Genome science is rapidly evolving, and the course is based on current state-of-the-art methodology and research.
Computer exercises and group discussions will cover:
- structural and comparative genomics,
- molecular evolution and phylogenetics/-genomics,
- genomic diversity and genetic variation,
- functional genomics,
- gene mapping, GWAS, and QTL analysis,
- epigenetics/-genomics,
- genome editing and transgenic animals.
The aim of the computer exercises is to give the students useful tools for basic genetic and genomic analyses. Therefore, the computer exercises use free and open-source software that the student can download and use on their own laptop. In addition to the written and the oral examination, compulsory components occur within computer exercises and group assignments.
Course application (will open soon)
Course code: P000042
Credits: 7,5 credits
Course date: 1 sept - 2 nov 2026 (can be read parallel with Biology of genomes (P000043))
The course intends to provide advanced knowledge of theory and methods for analysis of eukaryotic genomes, including their organization and evolution. There is a focus on animal genomics, but theoretical and methodological aspects of the course are applicable on many different organisms.
The course is based on lectures, group discussions, exercises, and wet laboratory. The contents build largely on animal genome research. Theoretical teaching is for the most part directly applicable also within for example human or plant genetics. Genome science is rapidly evolving, and the course is based on current state-of-the-art methodology and research.
A large part of the course involves wet laboratory training including exercises and a laboratory project.
Computer exercises and group discussions will cover:
- genome sequence variation,
- genome browsing,
- primer design,
- sequence analysis,
- high throughput sequencing methodology
The aim of the computer exercises is to give the students useful tools for basic genetic and genomic analyses. Therefore, the computer exercises use free and open-source software that the student can download and use on their own laptop. In addition to the written and the oral examination, compulsory components occur within eg. exercises, group assignments and laboratory sessions.
Course application (will open soon)
These are courses planned for 2026, but their start dates have not yet been determined. We will update the website with confirmed dates as soon as they are available. Additional courses for 2026 will also be added to this list by the end of the year.
- Sperm Quality Evaluation (PVS0151), 2 credits (either spring or autumn 2026)
- Simulation for Animal Breeding: Genetics, Biomarkers, and Disease transmission (either spring or autumn 2026)
- Introduction to Bioinformatics (PVS0141), 10 credits (most likely first half of Autumn term)
Previous PhD Courses (2022 - 2025)
Contact
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Graduate School for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (GS-VMAS)