Proteomics BB2510 is always the subject I am compelled to talk about. There is a reason: three months after the course ended, I started a master thesis project highly relevant to proteomics; another six months I got a PhD offer from a proteomics project! In another word, Proteomics BB2510 shapes my career path and I would love to share with you how enchanting it is!
“-omic” is not merely a suffix to protein such that it rhyme with “genomics” and “transcriptomics”. Indeed, it refers to the large-scale analysis of proteins in biological samples. We know that protein is the last chain of the so-called “Central dogma of molecular biology”, the end product of DNA, which is your exclusive genetic material.
What does that imply?
Just imagine that our body is a university that is called KTH. Then, DNA would be our vice chancellor, Sigbritt Karlsson, who has the highest command; “proteins” would be best to play the teaching professors, as each of them have different tasks and whether a course is good highly depends on them!
In school, we evaluate the teachers’ performance to decide the quality of the courses; similarly, scientists are especially interested in proteins as they have everything to do with disease and health!
The 31th of May, 2018 is the day that I will never forget. After all these things, which include one-and-half year attending the identical lectures together, six months delving in complicated codes, and above all, tons of laughter, the 2016 class of MTLS was graduating on a summerly May-day at Karolinska Institutet (KI).
Aula Medica is the hall mark of KI
Unlike other programmes at KTH, whose graduation ceremony is held yearly in the City Hall, where the Nobel Banquet takes place; at MTLS we attend the graduation ceremony together with other KI’s international master programmes at Aula Medica where the Nobel Lecture in Physiology or Medicine is held annually.
The ceremony lasted only two hours, including an one-hour rehearsal. It was a simple, yet ceremonious one. It started with the speech from our vice-president, Prof. Karin Dahlman-Wright, who confessed at once that she did not remember the graduation speech at her time ——- which effectively leavened the air with bright laughter.
There are all together eight global master programmes at KI. For each programme:
MTLS class 2016 on the stage
Speech from programme director
Students were invited on the red carpet on stage
They shaken hands with vice-president, from whom they receive a small certificate
Group photo
Students returned back to their seats
There were two short breaks between the programmes in which all students, teachers and guests were entertained by Swedish music performed by Riltons Vänner.
At last, light refreshment, desert, and champagne are essential!
Small souvenirs for the big day!
An authentic unofficial group that half of the class were not looking at the camera
I have imagined hundreds of times how the two-year master programme would end. In the end, it turned out to be a jubilant afternoon with family, friends and celebration. Then I understand: the 120 ECTS were completed, but the skills that we acquired in the study, our friendship built after all of these tests will keep going on and last long.
As the deadline of fee-paying (31th May) approaches, I received a lot of inquiries about student accommodation, public transportation…..and, finance! True, how to finance yourself is central to the decision-making, in particular for the majority who do not enter on an admission-scholarship basis. Today, I will discuss the alternatives that you can support yourself: non-admission scholarships and part-time jobs on campus!
NON-ADMISSION SCHOLARSHIPS
1. KTH one-year scholarship
Perhaps all of you have applied (or at least heard of) the KTH admission scholarship, but do you also know that there is an one-year scholarship that you apply when you are first-year master student?
Type: one-year school fee waiver
Selection: based on academia excellence = your grades on KTH transcript
So, check the above website in April and file your application in time! As far as I know, the scholarship is usually granted to those straight-A students. Therefore, my personal tips are:
1) Do your study (of course!) and plan it early
2) Re-exam is a good chance, don’t waste it!
For MTLS students, KTH one-year scholarship probably won’t apply to you, as most courses in the first year are conducted in SU and Karolinska. Instead, try KTH Joint Programme Scholarship!
2. KTH Opportunities
KTH Opportunities is a fund from KTH alumni and friends that support current students (bachelor, master, phD) to explore something meaningful for themselves, KTH and the society.
Type: highest amount = SEK 50,000
Selection: project-based
Time to apply: usually from March to April every year
The closest example around me is a friend from Medical Engineering who was funded by KTH Opportunities for a volunteering internship in a hospital in Nepal. You may want to have a look at the type of funded projects: youtube.com/watch?v=E6NSuuUiyDA
3. Karolinska Institute Foundation Scholarship
A good news to MTLS students is that you are eligible to apply for scholarship in Karolinska and SU!
The course, BB2491 High-throughput data analysis, is the core of MTLS education at KTH. How does BB2491 differ from traditional biology lectures that we have so far? In this blog I will talk a bit about why, and how we should learn and master high-throughput science!
First, why study high-throughput? It is involved in a myriad of industrial applications, as well as the frontiers of research, to name but a few:
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is the best illustration of generating and analysing high-throughput data
High-throuput compound screening dominates lead discovery for manufacturing of small molecule drug
Traditional gene-targeting methods are sufficient for analysis of mendelian diseases, but diseases that involves more complex interplay, requires collecting and analysing “bigger data”
In BB2491, the teaching follows a logical transition from theory, practice to a hand-on project.
THEORY
In biology, high throughput analysis can be split into three parts, namely Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Proteomics. Correspondingly, we have three professors responsible for each part:
In contrast to traditional biology lectures, we have no designated text book; alternatively, we have 33 research papers or scientific reviewsas mandatory reading materials! It sounds a bit daunting in the beginning, but under the careful guidance of teachers, as well as fundamental building blocks in previous course (Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics), we are able to dive into the ocean of knowledge!
For example, while Olof introduced the basic concept of RPKM in abundance estimation at the start of the transcriptomics part, it is concluded by four excellent students at the edge of RNA sequencing techniques.
Tomorrow, the 14th of January, is the official arrival day of incoming students for 2018 Spring semester. On this day, thousands of students from all corners of the world are going to arrive at Arlanda Airport, to start their study in one of the 18 higher education institutes in Stockholm. It is my honor to be a part of the student arrival team, organised by Stockholm Academic Forum, and be your guide on shuttle bus as well as at Terminal 5 🙂
AT THE AIRPORT
We pick up students arriving from Terminal 2/5 and guide their to the shuttle bus station. We have a information desk at Terminal 5 for inquiries:
Photo: Stockholm University on Twitter
SHUTTLE BUS
From 9 AM to 9 PM, shuttle buses depart from Arlanda to the city. In the morning hours, buses stop at the city centre (T-Centralen); while in the afternoon they stop at both Stockholm University and T-Centralen.
Frequency: one bus per hour
Seats on each bus: 50
Reminder: if you have a rental contract with KTH Accommodation, do pick up the key on another day: the office is NOT opened on 14th January!
GOODIE BAG
You must be curious about what are inside the goodie bags that will be distributed to every incoming students. There are:
A PREPAID SIM card
A comprehensive guide book and transportation map of Stockholm
A bottle of water: so, you don’t have to buy any water at the airport 🙂
A reflex
I would like to add a few sentences about the reflex: born and raised in a low-latitude region, I never wear a reflex before and therefore didn’t recognised and later discarded it T_T You will find it extremely useful to be carried with you, when you walk at winter night (the local definition of winter night is : after 3.30 PM)
TIPS
This year, we distribute a physical shuttle bus ticket at Terminal 5. Keep it with you as a certificate to get on the bus on time.
TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY
As you are not entitled to student discount in Stockholm’s public transport before you are officially registered as students, you need a regular SL card. One-time, day, week, or month access of metro, trains, buses and trams are available.
A SL Card
Visit https://sl.se/en/fares–tickets/ for the price list of tickets. For details, visit the SL centre at your any nearest metro station.
Reminder: tickets CANNOT be purchased on bus.
SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH STAF ARRIVAL DAY
I was among the 1200 incoming students in August 2016. Although I arrived at the peak hour of the day, the journey of Terminal-airport-my accommodation was generally smooth and relaxing. Now, it is the time to give it back 😉
The 2017 Arrival Team
I will be in charge in the afternoon, so don’t forget to say hi, if you see me at Arlanda 😀
