Quantitative Biology

Minor

Biology is developing rapidly from a mere descriptive science to a predictive science, like physics and chemistry. In this transition a quantitative approach is adopted in which mathematical and computational methods and techniques are integrated with experimental research. Accordingly, the life sciences are currently among the prominent fields of interest in applied mathematics.

The enormous amount of genetic data that has become available in the last couple of years has focused mainly on entire organisms or stadia of development, resulting in biologists being mainly acquainted with statistical analysis methods from bioinformatics. Improvement of microscopy techniques has enabled the tracking in time of biological mechanisms at great detail, both in space and time. One may think of the translocation of signaling proteins or metabolites within the cell (PINs, auxin, NF-k-B, Delta-Notch), motility of cells and the measurement of forces that these exert on their environment. For understanding of these data sets knowledge of dynamical mathematical modeling is required. The growing field of quantitative biology is operating precisely where biology, mathematics and computational science meet.

This interdisciplinary minor, offered in the Faculty of Science as a collaborative effort between Biology and Mathematics, introduces participants to these recent developments and provides them with the basic skills, knowledge and experience required for working in this field or for benefiting best from its approach to experimental life science research. Students will gain the skills to work in and contribute to multidisciplinary team research, starting from their own scientific background and strengths, combining dynamical mathematical modeling, simulation, and experimental research effectively in future research.

General information

Size: 15 or 30 EC

It is possible to follow the complete minor for an accreditation of 30 EC or to follow halve the minor (‘Explorative Variant’) for an accreditation of 15 EC. In the latter case you do not follow the courses Multiscale Mathematical Biology (MMB) and Interdisciplinary Research Training (IRT).
Period: September – January; in the 15 EC variants the lectures are in September and October.
Language: English
Number of participants: minimum is 4 students, maximum 20 for the full time program
General information: dr. S.C. Hille (shille@math.leidenuniv.nl)
Coordinator: dr. S.C. Hille
The minor is provided by the Bachelor Mathematics

NB: Students follow only one of the two courses ‘Elementary and practical biology and methods for non-biologists’ and ‘Elementary and practical mathematics for non-mathematicians’, the one most fit in view of their educational background to give all participants a good starting position with respect to their knowledge of biology or mathematics.

Courses

Course	EC	Semester 1	Semester 2
Elementary practical biology and methods for non-biologists	3
Elementary practical mathematics for non-mathematicians	3
Physics and chemistry for biodynamic modeling	6
Multiscale Mathematical Biology (BM)	6
Cases from research practice	3
Innovative Research Ideas	3
Interdisciplinary Research Training	9

More info

Program and schedule

The minor consists of three sequential parts. Part 1 provides theoretical background. Part 2 focuses on application in experimental research, providing case-studies and multidisciplinary team work. The full-time modules are scheduled from September till December. In Part 3 personal and team projects are finalized, till the end of January.

A detailed schedule and description of the various courses within the minor will become available here later.

Accessibility

The minor is open to students with a keen interest in mathematical modeling and life science. Affinity with mathematics is desirable. Knowledge of mathematics at the level of VWO Eindexamen Wiskunde B is required. The course starts with lectures designed to clear deficiencies in mathematics and biology. In the admission procedure one aims at a good balance between students from life science and mathematically oriented studies. Students can be invited to an initial interview with the coordinator of the minor and may be asked to study selected parts of textbooks before the start of the minor.

Registration

Students from LDE

Students from Leiden University, Technical University Delft and Erasmus University (LDE) will all register through the new EduXchange platform. The registration opens on May 8 2023, at 13:00h. Students from TU Delft and Erasmus University can register untill May 31. For students from Leiden University the deadline for registartion is July 15.

More information on the use of EduXchange can be found on this page, including an instruction video:
https://www.student.universiteitleiden.nl/studie-en-studeren/studie/onderwijsinformatie/minoren/wiskunde-en-natuurwetenschappen/biologie-bsc?cf=wiskunde-en-natuurwetenschappen&cd=biologie-bsc#tab-1

Other students

Students from other universities can send an email to: dr. S.C. Hille (shille@math.leidenuniv.nl)

Shortly after closure of registration in EduXchnage on 15 July you will receive by email a confirmation from the coordinator of the minor of your registration and further information on the minor. With this confirmation you can participate in the minor."