Courses Currently Taught by Prof. Raizada
AGR1110 - Introduction to Agri-food Systems (co-taught with Prof. L. Lee and Prof. A.Robinson) (every Fall semester)
In this course, Prof. Raizada introduces BSc-AGR students to subsistence farming with a focus on SubSaharan Africa. In recent years, Prof. Raizada has also organized students into independent study groups to work with ~25 First Nations Communities across Canada to help them investigate new opportunities in agriculture. Average class size ~15-175 students. For more information, Click Here
In this course, Prof. Raizada introduces BSc-AGR students to subsistence farming with a focus on SubSaharan Africa. In recent years, Prof. Raizada has also organized students into independent study groups to work with ~25 First Nations Communities across Canada to help them investigate new opportunities in agriculture. Average class size ~15-175 students. For more information, Click Here
AGR2150 - Plant Agriculture for International Development (every Fall Semester)
This course was developed primarily for International Development Studies (IDS) students. This courses provides students interested in international development with an introductory mechanistic understanding of the biology underlying crop agricultural production in developing nations. This course is accessible to students without a science background. The course also features lectures on agroforestry, livestock and fish. Emphasis is placed on simple, low-cost solutions from biology that have the potential to aid efforts in international development, with a focus on Africa. Average class size ~30-50 students. For more information, Click Here.
This course was developed primarily for International Development Studies (IDS) students. This courses provides students interested in international development with an introductory mechanistic understanding of the biology underlying crop agricultural production in developing nations. This course is accessible to students without a science background. The course also features lectures on agroforestry, livestock and fish. Emphasis is placed on simple, low-cost solutions from biology that have the potential to aid efforts in international development, with a focus on Africa. Average class size ~30-50 students. For more information, Click Here.
AGR2400 - Fundamentals of Plant and Animal Genetics (Team Taught, every Fall Semester).
Average Class Size ~400-500 students.
Average Class Size ~400-500 students.
MBG4300 - Plant Molecular Genetics (odd years, Fall semester)
Plants are immobile, autotrophic and multicellular: How do genes and gene regulation make immobility possible? How are plants and plant molecular genetics unique compared to animals (mobile, heterotrophic), microbes (unicellular) or fungi (immobile, heterotrophic)? In this course, you will be given weekly background lectures (one per week) in plant molecular genetics including guided tutorials using online genetics, genomics, molecular biology, proteomics and metabolomics databases. Topics will include plant proteins and proteomics, evolution of plant proteins and plant genomes, coordination of nuclear and chloroplast genomes, plant gene regulation, and the molecular genetics of primary and secondary metabolism, biotic and abiotic stress resistance and plant development. In addition, the class will be divided into small tutorial group sections which will each meet once per week with the course instructor. The purpose of the tutorial section format is to solve problems in plant molecular genetics using independent problem-based learning. In the problem-based learning component, students will learn about the practice of being a critical scientist, which involves understanding what is truly known and unknown, designing logical experiments to test hypotheses, writing and defending grant proposals and anonymous peer reviewing of the proposals of others. The course will also include formal career mentoring with the instructor. Class size limited to 25 students. For more information, Click Here
Plants are immobile, autotrophic and multicellular: How do genes and gene regulation make immobility possible? How are plants and plant molecular genetics unique compared to animals (mobile, heterotrophic), microbes (unicellular) or fungi (immobile, heterotrophic)? In this course, you will be given weekly background lectures (one per week) in plant molecular genetics including guided tutorials using online genetics, genomics, molecular biology, proteomics and metabolomics databases. Topics will include plant proteins and proteomics, evolution of plant proteins and plant genomes, coordination of nuclear and chloroplast genomes, plant gene regulation, and the molecular genetics of primary and secondary metabolism, biotic and abiotic stress resistance and plant development. In addition, the class will be divided into small tutorial group sections which will each meet once per week with the course instructor. The purpose of the tutorial section format is to solve problems in plant molecular genetics using independent problem-based learning. In the problem-based learning component, students will learn about the practice of being a critical scientist, which involves understanding what is truly known and unknown, designing logical experiments to test hypotheses, writing and defending grant proposals and anonymous peer reviewing of the proposals of others. The course will also include formal career mentoring with the instructor. Class size limited to 25 students. For more information, Click Here
PLNT6290 - Physiological Plant Genetics (odd years, Fall semester) (co-offered with MBG4300)
A lecture and discussion course for graduate students that examines classical and molecular genetic investigations for understanding the genetic basis and regulation of physiological processes in plants. The first half of the course is a broad survey of fundamental processes in plants, intended to provide students with a broad foundation by reading both review papers and the primary literature. Survey topics include hormone perception and signaling, light perception signaling, carbon metabolism and signaling, nitrogen stress signaling and response, drought signaling, plant-pathogen perception and signaling, plant-symbiosis signaling (Rhizobium), plant secondary metabolism, and plant embryogenesis and meristem formation. The second half of the course is intended to provide students with a more in-depth exposure to research stories in plant biology to demonstrate how research progresses in a step-by-step logical manner using optimal methodologies. Both parts of the course emphasize evidence-based critical reading of the primary plant literature. Average class size <10 MSc/PhD students.
A lecture and discussion course for graduate students that examines classical and molecular genetic investigations for understanding the genetic basis and regulation of physiological processes in plants. The first half of the course is a broad survey of fundamental processes in plants, intended to provide students with a broad foundation by reading both review papers and the primary literature. Survey topics include hormone perception and signaling, light perception signaling, carbon metabolism and signaling, nitrogen stress signaling and response, drought signaling, plant-pathogen perception and signaling, plant-symbiosis signaling (Rhizobium), plant secondary metabolism, and plant embryogenesis and meristem formation. The second half of the course is intended to provide students with a more in-depth exposure to research stories in plant biology to demonstrate how research progresses in a step-by-step logical manner using optimal methodologies. Both parts of the course emphasize evidence-based critical reading of the primary plant literature. Average class size <10 MSc/PhD students.