NBIA09022U Principal Subject in Protein Chemistry: Module 3

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biochemistry
Content
Students complete three modules of one subject-line by following three blocks over 1.5 years.

The student will, with the completion of the modules, be capable of understanding the basis for specific conclusions in a field and will therefore understand the consequences of technical or experimental future developments when they occur.
Learning Outcome

Knowledge (all 3 modules):
The student will have obtained knowledge of specific research areas (differing from module to module and from block to block) including different experimental and theoretical approaches.

Skills (all 3 modules):
Based on original research literature, the student will be able to explain, evaluate and critically analyse the results, the methods used and the conclusions drawn and compare with other relevant literature. In addition, they will be able to present and explain the background literature for peers.

Competences:
At the end of module 1,
The student can demonstrate a capacity to critically understand original scientific research papers dealing with subjects in protein chemistry, including knowledge and understanding of the specific problem to be analysed, the experimental set-up, the methods employed, the experimental results and the conclusions drawn from these, and discuss this understanding with fellow students under the guidance of the teacher. In this phase the students shall primarily have learned to 1) appreciate the efforts of scientists without an a priory opinion of the scientific subject of the paper and 2) demonstrate the ability to ask questions of procedures and conclusions.

At the end of module 2
In addition to the goals specified for module 1, the student will be able to present the results of original research articles to fellow students so that they understand the problems analysed and the value and impact of the presented article and satisfactorily answer questions from fellow students. The student will also be able to deal with conflicting results and conclusions in scientific literature and to search and find literature necessary for understanding the background for problems and experiments in the presented paper and explain these background questions to fellow students.

At the end of module 3
The student must demonstrate an ability to critically understand, explain and discuss the relevance and potential impact of a certain given research area in a written form, understandable to fellow students. The paper, produced within a fixed time-period, must contain an introduction to the problem, a discussion of scientific context, an outline of (dogmatic) prevailing viewpoints, major conflicts, presentation of results, and a judgement of value (quality). The emphasis should be on demonstrating understanding of collection and interpretation of original experimental data in the designated research area and to critically evaluate their interpretation as presented in the papers selected.

The student will, with the completion of the modules, be capable of understanding the basis for specific conclusions in a field and will therefore understand the consequences of technical or experimental future developments when they occur.

Literature
See Absalon.
The teaching takes the form of student colloquia and discussions based on reading of original research articles and data.
The teaching is open to MSc-students of biochemistry. Other MSc-students may be admitted, but priority will be given to MSc-students in biochemistry. Only one of the principal subjects (Immunology, Molecular Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics, Molecular Microbiology or Protein Chemistry) can be chosen. All modules (1, 2 and 3) must be within the same principal subject. It is mandatory for MSc-students of biochemistry to follow one of the principal subjects.
Teaching may be in Danish if all participants are conversant in Danish and agree.

Workload hours are total numbers for all 3 modules.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 12
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Guidance
  • 1
  • Preparation
  • 72
  • Project work
  • 120
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 3 uger
Oral examination
The course modules 1 and 2 are approved/not approved by the teachers on the basis of active participation (continuous evaluation). Course module 3 has internal censorship. The criterion for active participation in module 1 & 2 is
1) that the student has satisfactorily presented at least one seminar to fellow students during the course and 2) has participated actively with relevant questions/comments in at least 7 of the 9 sessions. There is no other reexam than following the modules again.
The course module 3 is evaluated on basis of the 3-week take-home written assignment followed by an oral examination. This is graded according to the 7 point grading scale by the teacher and an internal censor. The criterion for active participation in module 3 is that the student has participated actively with relevant questions/comments in at least 3 sessions. The remaining time is reserved for a 3-week take-home written assignment and examination. Reexam for module 3 consists of a 3-week assignment followed by oral examination. If the active participation criterion for the module was not fulfilled, it can be by participating in 3 of 9 further sessions.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

In order to achieve the grade 12 the written paper, together with the oral presentation and defense, must, through its brief introduction, introduce the reader to the problem and the scientific context. The main content, through presentation of selected results, must be relevant for the subject posed, and clearly described. The description must show full understanding of the argumentation for the experiments undertaken, the methods used, their interpretation, as well as an (implicit or explicit) quality assessment; and demonstrate an understanding of the stage of knowledge, including its limits, of the selected subject matter.