Advanced Molecular Cell Biology

This is the third and final in a series of three integrated courses in molecular cell biology. In the first introductory course (UCSCIBIO11), you gained a lot of basic knowledge about the major characteristics of life on earth. In the intermediate UCSCIBIO21 course, you discovered the molecular world of the cell in more detail, focusing on the fundamental molecular processes that govern principle cellular behaviours such as cell division, differentiation and cell death, in health and disease. In addition, you made your first strides into aspects of a life scientists’ routine, such as experimental setup, understanding and presenting real primary data and analysing scientific literature. In this UCSCIBIO31 course, you will move on from textbook knowledge and learn to think like a true scientist.
The focus of this course lies on reading primary scientific research articles and writing a research project in a specific area of cell biology. The instructor decides on a theme that is selected for its relevance in biomedicine, society, or for fundamental insights into the main processes in cell biology. The entire group of students will work as a team to prepare a research proposal that meets the requirements for a grant application for the Dutch Research Council, and present and defend this research proposal before a jury consisting of UCU teachers and experts in the field.

 

Format
The course covers 200 hours and is sub-divided in three parts:

During the semester, meetings of two hours with the entire group are held twice a week. This time is either used for introductions, presentations, and discussions with the whole group or for consultations with the teacher on specific problems or issues.
In addition to the plenary classes, students work in small groups of 3-4 persons analysing a specific cell biological aspect for the formulation of a research project. The aim of each group of students is to generate a working hypothesis based on the primary literature available. The primary research paper(s) and main working hypotheses are then presented to the group. Next, each group of students formulates a research project (including materials and methods) to test their hypothesis. During this process, the students are expected to consult specialists in the field. In a final session, students present and defend their research project to the rest of the group.