The Paleobiology Database has conducted a five-week intensive training workshop in analytical methods since 2005. The 2012 edition will be held at Macquarie University in Sydney, as in 2010 and 2011. Funding for the 2013 edition has also been secured.

The deadline for applications passed on 15 February. The next application deadline is likely to be in February 2013, and the official announcement is likely to be in the late fall. The following information may be useful to those planning to apply.

Topics include community paleoecology, diversity estimation, speciation and extinction, phylogenetics, phenotypic evolution, and morphometrics. Both simulation modelling and data analysis methods are employed. Training combines lectures and labs. Participants are given hands-on instruction in programming using R and taught to use other analytical software. In addition to the workshop coordinator, each week a new instructor is present. The 2012 instructors are John Alroy, Gene Hunt, Tom Olszewski, David Polly, and Pete Wagner.

There is no fee for registration and participants are housed for free in accommodations near the campus. Daily expenses such as meal costs are not subsidized but are only on the order of $10 to $15. Participants are encouraged to solicit travel funds from their home institutions or other organizations. A majority of airfare costs are reimbursed if such funds are not available. There are no other charges of any kind and no other major expenses are likely.

Participants are normally in the early stages of their own research in any area related to paleontology. They should have a background in basic statistics. We strongly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups.

Applications consist of a one page statement accompanied by a recommendation letter. The statement should include a brief description of current research plans, a list of degrees earned stating the year of graduation in each case, a brief list of relevant classes taken, and an account of the applicant's background in statistics and programming. Applicants are encouraged to explain why the topics addressed by the workshop are of special interest to them and to what extent these subjects are taught at their home institutions.

2011 participants

Gabrial Aguirre	University of Otago	Manja Hethke	University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
Meghan Balk	University of New Mexico	Sabine Nürnberg	Humboldt University Berlin
Caleb Brown	University of Toronto	Shubhabrata Paul	University of South Florida
Jonathan Calede	University of Washington	Peter Smits	Monash University
Lucy Chang	University of California, Berkeley	Allison Stegner	University of California, Berkeley
Andy Grass	University of Iowa	Valerie Syverson	University of Michigan

2010 participants

Jessie Atterholt	University of California, Berkeley	Alex Janevski	University of Michigan
Monica Carvalho	Pennsylvania State University	Julien Millet	Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin
Max Christie	University of Georgia	Jon Mitchell	Appalachian State University
Liz Ferrer	University of California, Berkeley	John Renaudie	Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin
Frank Forcino	University of Alberta	Kathleen Ritterbush	University of Southern California
Clotilde Hardy	Université de Bourgogne	Priya Tamma	National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore

2009 participants

Mark Bell	University of Bristol	Felix Marx	University of Bristol
Katie Collins	University of Wellington	Heike Mewis	Museum für Naturkunde
Federico Degrange	Museo de La Plata	Gary Motz	University of Akron
Aaron House	University of Cincinnati	Alejo Scarano	Museo de La Plata
Annie Lagomarcino	University of Cincinnati	Amelinda Webb	Yale University
Kaitlin Maguire	University of California, Berkeley	Shawn Whiteman	University of New Mexico

2008 participants

Tracy Aze	Cardiff University	Emily Lindsey	University of California, Berkeley
Karen Bacon	University College Dublin	Luis Felipe Opazo	University of Plymouth
Diego Balseiro	Universidad Nacional de Córdoba	Juan José Rustan	Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Javier Echevarria	Museo de La Plata	Daniel Thomas	University of Otago
Liz Freedman	Montana State University	Michael Tuite	University of Virginia
Michelle Lawing	Indiana University	Laura Wilson	Universität Zürich

2007 participants

Andrea Cobbett	University of Bath	Murat Maga	University of Texas, Austin
Felipe de la Parra	University of Florida	John Orcutt	University of Oregon
Kathy Hollis	University of Colorado, Boulder	Claire Samant	Université de Poitiers
Philip Jardine	University of Birmingham	Susan Standen	Case Western Reserve University
Soïzic Le Fur	Université de Poitiers	Susumu Tomiya	University of California, Berkeley
Graeme Lloyd	University of Bristol	Vera Weisbecker	University of New South Wales

2006 participants

Ayse Atakul	Middle East Technical University		Stephen Goodyear	University of Texas, Austin
Mara Brady	University of Chicago		Sarah Kolbe	University of Copenhagen
Andres Cardenas	University of South Florida		Sarda Sahney	University of Bristol
Brad Deline	University of Cincinnati		Krister Smith	Yale University
Jessica Gilner	Florida Institute of Technology		Bryan Valencia	Florida Institute of Technology
Ann Goewert	University of North Carolina		Richard Wilkinson	Cambridge University

2005 participants

Jessica Blois	Stanford University		Matt O'Donnell	Pennsylvania State University
Devin Buick	University of Cincinnati		Jocelyn Sessa	Pennsylvania State University
Sylvain Gerber	Université de Bourgogne		Adam Tomasovych	Universität Würzburg
Zack Krug	Pennsylvania State University		Patrick Wall	Syracuse University
Elise Nardin	Université de Bourgogne		Mike Weiser	University of Arizona
Mike Nowak	Duke University