Admission requirements
Enrolment is by application only, requiring:
o CV
o Motivation letter
o Interview
Applications can be sent to the coordinator of the course, David Foschepoth, before Monday 12 January. February intake students can still apply upon starting the MSc Biology programme.
No automatic right of participation; places are limited.
Integration into the student’s study plan must be approved by the study advisor or examination committee (Please indicate during application procedure).
Admission will be based on motivation, knowledge, skills and ability to work in a team. For this purpose, we will conduct interviews with Supervisors and/or the coordinator and prospective candidates.
Open to Master’s students in Biology and related fields, subject to competitive selection. Bachelor students may participate but can only earn up to 18 ECTS (honours course).
Description
The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition is the premier global synthetic biology challenge, where interdisciplinary student teams design, build, and test innovative biological systems using standardized genetic parts. This course offers Master’s students at Leiden University the opportunity to participate in iGEM as a credit-bearing course within the MSc Biology curriculum.
Students will engage in a comprehensive synthetic biology research experience, including project design, experimental execution, scientific communication, teamwork, and public outreach. The course culminates in presenting the project at the international iGEM Giant Jamboree in Paris.
The students independent work is at the center of the iGEM project. It is chosen, planned and executed by the team guaranteeing their ownership of the project. Supervision will be focused to advice and general guidance, while the team is in charge of the project.
This course is designed as an in-depth academic project and is formally part of the theoretical component of the MSc Biology programme. The study load is 24 EC.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Independently conduct literature research and formulate research proposals.
Independently design and execute experiments in synthetic biology and neighboring fields.
Develop and test new methods and techniques relevant to their project.
Analyze and interpret experimental data critically.
Communicate scientific results effectively through written reports, a wiki website, presentations, and videos.
Collaborate professionally within interdisciplinary teams.
Engage in public outreach and scientific dissemination.
Strictly adhere to the competition rules and safety requirements.
Timetable
Duration: Approximately 22 weeks full-time, including experimental work, writing, and presentation phases.
Timing: Independent research of literature and open brainstorming (January and February). Writing a research proposal and presentation (March). Planning of the research and public outreach (April/May). Intensive lab work primarily during the summer months, followed by participation in the Giant Jamboree in early autumn and final report submission in the following academic year (November ). Each student will also have a final oral examination of 60 to 90 minutes (November).
Mode of instruction
Independent research of literature and open brainstorming (January and February). Writing a research proposal and presentation (March). Planning of the research and public outreach (April/May). Intensive lab work primarily during the summer months, followed by participation in the Giant Jamboree in early autumn and final report submission in the following academic year (November ). Each student will also have a final oral examination of 60 to 90 minutes (November).
Assessment method
The assessment combines individual and group components to reflect both personal contributions and team outcomes:
Assessment Component: Description - Grading – Weight
Project Proposal: Literature review and experimental plan, submitted early in the project. Written and/or in oral presentation - Group, graded – 10%
Practical Work: Assessment of individual practical research skills - Individual, graded – 10%
Professional Attitude: Evaluation of communication, responsibility, and teamwork. This includes (but is not limited to) creativity, knowledge of subject matter and project planning as well as doing research independently - Individual, graded – 30%
Team Deliverables: Wiki page and presentation video, reflecting group effort. Participation is self-reported - Group, graded – 10%
Individual Reflection Report: 1000-1500 word report reflecting on project experience, challenges, and future prospects - Individual, graded – 10%Oral Exam: Oral defense (60-90 minutes) assessing depth of knowledge on project and methods - Individual, graded – 30%
Deadlines for oral exam and final report will be communicated by the coordinator, but will be no later than 30 days after the last day of the Jamboree. Exceptions have to be approved by the board of examiners.
Final grading is completed in the academic year following the main research period (typically November/December).
Reading list
Scientific articles and reviews relevant to the project topic (self-study or provided by supervisors).
iGEM website and competition resources. (www.igem.org)
Standard synthetic biology textbooks and protocols.
Registration
Enrolment is by application only, see Admission Requirements.
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
For questions regarding the course, application procedures, or supervision, please contact:
- Dr. David Foschepoth, D.J.Foschepoth@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
Full-time commitment is required, especially during the summer months and Giant Jamboree (totalling minimum 16 weeks). Individual planning is possible but needs to be approved by the course coordinators.
Deadlines for oral exam and final report will be communicated by the coordinator, but will be no later than 30 days after the last day of the Jamboree. Exceptions have to be approved by the board of examiners.
Final grading is completed in the academic year following the main research period (typically November/December).
The project does not have to be within the student’s specialization, but must align with the MSc Biology program.
Supervision is provided throughout by experienced synthetic biology researchers to ensure progress and quality