12–14- 16 October 2026

This course on invasion genomics offers a comprehensive three-day program designed to introduce participants to key concepts and techniques in the field. Through a combination of recorded lectures and self-paced tutorials, attendees will explore three main topics: movement dynamics, adaptation dynamics, and genotype-by-environment interactions relevant to invasive species.

On Day1, participants will learn a variety of methods for understanding population diversity and differentiation. Day2 will include an introduction to selection outlier scanning methods. Day3 will focus on the role of environmental variables in shaping adaptive outcomes.

Participants will gain both fundamental knowledge and practical experience, providing a strong starting point for conducting their own research in this rapidly evolving field. They will also have the opportunity to interact with the instructor to discuss questions and address any challenges encountered during the course.

This course is aimed at graduate students, researchers, and professionals interested in an introduction to invasion genomics. Participants should have a basic understanding of genetics/genomics and evolutionary biology, as well as familiarity with R.

We recommend that participants without prior experience in R complete an introductory R tutorial before attending.

• McGaughran A, Rollins LA, Dhami MK (2026). Six recommendations when applying genomic tools to invasion biology. Biological Invasions, 28, 1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-025-03718-x

• McGaughran A, Dhami MK, Parvizi E, Vaughan AL, Gleeson DM, Hodgins KA, Rollins LA, Tepolt CK, Turner KG, Atsawawaranunt K, Battlay P, Congrains C, Crottini A, Dennis TPQ, Lange C, Liu XP, Matheson P, North HL, Popovic I, Rius M, Santure AW, Stuart KC, Tan HZ, Wang C, Wilson J (2024). Genomic tools in biological invasions: Current state and future frontiers. Genome Biology and Evolution, 16, evad230. https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evad230

• North HL, McGaughran A, Jiggins C (2021). Insights into invasive species from whole-genome resequencing. Molecular Ecology, 30, 6289–6308. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15999

During the course days, recorded lectures and self-guided practicals (accompanied by annotated scripts) will be released, allowing participants to progress at their own pace. Live remote support will be provided throughout to accommodate different time zones and assist with any questions.

Monday - 12 October
Movement dynamics: inferring invasion sources, dispersal pathways, and population structure
Recorded lecture: Introduction to invasion genomics, including key research questions, commonly used methods, and analytical challenges associated with invasive species studies.
Tutorial 1: Genetic diversity and differentiation

Wednesday - 14 October
Adaptation dynamics: inferring selection processes in the invaded range
Recorded lecture: Overview of selection analyses and how they can be used to infer adaptive processes in invasive species and populations.
Tutorial 2: Selection outlier detection methods

Thursday- 16 October
Role of the environment: inferring adaptation to local conditions using GEA
Recorded lecture: Introduction to environmental association analysis and its application to understanding adaptation in invasive species.
Tutorial 3: Genotype-by-environment association methods