Admission requirements
- Successful completion of How To Write A Research Proposal is strongly recommended.
The course will be given at level 500, expanding on knowledge acquired in the first- and second-year Bachelor-s courses Pathogen-Host Interactions 1 & 2 and Immunology.
Description
Period: May 11 – June 5, 2015
Content of the course:
The main theme of this advanced course is a detailed understanding of the complex interactions between pathogens and the human host (cells). Furthermore, it is expected that biomedical research into these interactions will lead to new therapies against infectious diseases. This course will provide detailed insights into the latest developments in fundamental biological research aiming at understanding the complex interactions between pathogens and host cells as well as into some aspects of todays clinical practice.
Programme
The first week will consist of an extensive literature study (complex reviews) on interactions between pathogens and host (cells), journal club, minisymposium Pathogen Host Interactions with Societal Impact.
Presentation by (inter)national experts in the field. In this week, students will get a detailed insight into three topics:
(Myco) Bacteriology
Virology
Parasitology
In addition, a one-day visit to the Biomedical Primate Research Center in Rijswijk is planned.
In the 2nd en 3rd week an intensive 8-day in-lab training is offered. This intensive in-lab training period consists of both theoretical and practical work, and the students will become familiar with the various aspects of the scientific research of the postdoc/PhD student.
During this period the student will have familiarised her/himself with the various topics allowing her/him to prepare an essay/research proposal in the field of the topic of choice in the last week. As this assignment is very intensive, students will start with their research proposal in week 2 of this course.
In week 4 students will present their proposals both orally and in writing.
This course will particularly work on:
Research competences:
In-lab training related to a research project, defining a research question, writing a research proposal, analyzing data, choosing appropriate techniques, integrate different biomedical disciplines, implement new research tools, multi tasking abilities.
Professional competences:
Collaborating with peers, digesting of other people-s opinions, reflecting on personal actions.
Course objectives
The student will obtain a broader and deeper insight into:
several topics of scientific research within the Center of Infectious Disease (CID) of the LUMC.
how current challenges in the field of the research project of choice can be identified.
De student is able to:
identify targets for therapy of infectious diseases
to formulate a hypothesis regarding these infectious disease problems and to prepare a research proposal including an experimental design
Mode of instruction
Plenary seminars provided by experts in the field, self study assignments and interactive discussion s between trainees and tutors as detailed in the course book, practical work in the form of mini-projects, and workgroup discussions by postdoc/PhD students and tutors.
Assessment method
Overall assessment is based on participation in the journalclub, the quality of the lab work, written report of in-lab trainings; the writing, presentation and defense of a research proposal, and the overall student behaviour during the course (motivation, independency, oral reporting, participation in lab-work and scientific discussions).