R for Biologists
Learn R programming for data analysis, visualization, and statistical modeling in ecology and evolution. No prior R experience required.
An introductory course originally delivered to graduate students and continually updated with modern approaches.
Getting Started
Installation & Setup
Download and install R from the official R Project website.
Download RStudio, the recommended integrated development environment for R.
Overview of course structure, topics, and learning objectives.
Reference Materials
Quick reference guide for common R functions and syntax patterns in base R.
Best practices for writing clean, readable, and maintainable R code.
Seminar Sessions
R Basics: Navigation, Syntax & Data Structures
Data Files
Subsetting & Plotting
Data Files
Markov Models of Trait Evolution
Continuous Trait Evolution
Writing Custom Functions
Worksheet & Script
Birth-Death Processes
Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
Taught by Elijah Wostl
Worksheet
Data Files
Time Series Analysis
Taught by Ashley Asmus
Worksheet
Putting It All Together
Data Files
Additional Resources
Related Seminars
Advanced methods for studying evolutionary patterns across species and traits.
Computational approaches to modeling population structure and migration.
Intensive workshop on phylogenetic methods and tree manipulation in R.
Online Learning Platforms
Official R documentation and resources.
Interactive coding courses and tutorials.
University-level courses in data science and R programming.
Tips for Success
One of the best aspects of learning R is the abundance of online resources. Most challenges you encounter have been solved before by someone in the community.
- Start with base R fundamentals
- Practice with real ecological data
- Write clean, reproducible code
- Use the R help system frequently
- Join the R community online
R for Biologists Seminar by Heath Blackmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License