Prospectus

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Biotechnology: from Gene to Bio-based Product

Course
2014-2015

Admission requirements

This course is open for 3rd year BSc students in Biology or a related field with a background in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics. Students should be familiar with molecular techniques, such as PCR, cloning, protein biochemistry and “omics” techniques.

Description

Lectures by IBL staff and guest speakers introduce how fundamental scientific research can lead to new discoveries and inventions, and how further multidisciplinary research is needed to provide proof of concept for the invention, and to turn the discovery into a marketable product. By active participation in case studies and through visits to research institutes and companies students will get acquainted with innovation and valorization processes in the Industrial (White) and Plant (Green) Biotechnology.

Course objectives

The aim of the course if to provide insight into the innovation and valorization process in Industrial and Plant Biotechnology. The first step is the invention: to link a new scientific discovery to an application in biotechnology. The next important aspect is to protect the intellectual property of that invention in a patent. The third step is the applied research trajectory needed to obtain prove of concept for the invention, which is needed to turn the initial idea into a product that can be sold.

Timetable

White Biotechnology: week 1 and 2
Green Biotechnology: week 3
Patents: week 1 and 4
Final exam: end of week 4
A detailed schedule will be provided on Blackboard before the start of the course.

Mode of instruction

Lectures, case studies, writing reports, site visits

Assessment method Evaluation of reports and presentations, a final exam.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for communication and exchange of documents

Reading list

Course material will be provided by the teachers, at least in part via Blackboard
h3. Registration

Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.

Register for this course via Usis and enroll in Blackboard.

Contact information

Course coordinator: Dr Remko Offringa