FCB3201 Methods in Current Research in Medical Biotechnology 3.0 credits

The course comprises approximately 80 full-time study hours in the form of seminars that are held once a month. The seminars focus on methods currently used within the research field of medical biotechnology.

The course assumes the form of seminars where the students summarize, present, prepare and work with assignments and actively discuss one method at each seminar. For most methods, a scientist with extensive experience of the method will be invited as lecturer, and the students will have the opportunity to ask questions.

An important aspect of the course is that the students should be introduced to, and acquire knowledge of, a selected set of different methods commonly used within biotechnology research, and what type of scientific questions that they can address. The set of selected methods can vary depending on the interest of the participating students.

One relevant method will be discussed per month. A schedule with topics and responsible presenters/invited experts will be made available at the start of the course.

Before each seminar: Two weeks before each seminar one participant (the presenter) will send out a short summary (1-2 A4) of the method together with relevant literature (e.g. descriptions found on internet, a review and/or an article where the method is used). All participants should read this material thoroughly before the seminar and prepare questions for the invited expert.

The seminar: Each individual seminar will be three hours long. At the seminar the presenter will lead a short discussion about the material sent out and each student should briefly complement with their experience of the method (if any) (~30 min).

The presenter shall also prepare an exercise (questions) and discussion points for the other students to work with in pairs during the seminar (~60 + 30 min).

For most methods, a scientist with extensive experience of the method (the expert) will be invited as lecturer, and the students will have the opportunity to ask questions (~60 min).

The course aims to provide a broad overview of contemporary methodology in the field of Medical Biotechnology, such as:

• A selection of methods in current research in medical biotechnology, such as recombinant protein production, chromatography, methods for protein structure determination, microscopy, bioinformatics, immunoanalytical tools, biosensors, protein arrays, lab-on-a-chip, mammalian cell culturing, tissue engineering, gene silencing.
• General theory behind the methods.
• Insights into the practical procedure of the methods.
• Knowledge of which scientific questions the methods can answer.
• Orientation in how the methods are used today as a tool in the field of biotechnology

After completion of the course the student should have the knowledge and ability to demonstrate:

• both broad and specialized knowledge in the overall subject area of methods used in biotechnology with special emphasis on the selected methods discussed within the course.
• the ability to present pedagogically, critically examine and discuss their own and others' scientific work in the subject of methods used in biotechnology with special emphasis on the selected methods discussed within the course.
• the ability to acquire knowledge of academic authorship and the international scientific publishing landscape with relevance to the scientific focus area of the course.
• the ability to identify, discuss and reflect on ethics and sustainability aspects in the research that is discussed within the framework of the scientific focus area of the course.

Eligible for studies at the third-cycle level.

Material handed out by the responsible student before each individual seminar.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• DEL1 - Participation, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Successful completion requires minimum 80 % attendance, active participation at presentation and discussions during seminars.

John Löfblom

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Approximately10 students per given course occasion. Priority will be given to PhD students studying biotechnology, biochemistry, medical bioscience, molecular biology or similar background. In the case of more applicants than the number of course places, students with at least one year of completed doctoral studies will primarily be selected. Secondly, an equal gender distribution will be taken into account and, thirdly, a student group with different departmental affiliations is desirable.