NBIK14036U Advanced Course in Protein Structure and Dynamics

Volume 2013/2014
Content

The course brings together teachers in chemistry, physics, biology and pharmacology providing a multidisciplinary contemporary practical and theoretical outlook on proteins, covering computational methods, NMR, MS, scattering methods, single molecule spectroscopy and metal-ion protein interactions. Focus will be on state-of-the-art applications in basic research, drug design and biotechnology.

Learning Outcome
Knowledge

After the course the student will have knowledge about advanced protein biophysical techniques for studying protein dynamics and structure including computational methods, MS based hydrogen exchange, scattering methods, NMR relaxation methods, single molecule methods, and spectroscopic methods for studying metals in proteins.



Skills

After the course the student will have acquired skills in designing advanced experiments using the mentioned methods and in analysing confidently the experimental data from such experiments.


Competences
After the course the student will have competences in critically evaluating and discussing current literature on protein structure and dynamics. The student will have improved written as well as oral competences in presenting and discussing protein science in a precise and comprehensible protein scientific language.

Literature
Will be posted on Absalon
Applicants will be admitted on the basis of an evaluation of their individual qualifications. As minimum students are required to:
i) have a strong foundation in chemistry
ii) have passed at least one advanced masters course in biophysical chemistry, biophysics or structural biology
iii) specialize in biophysical chemistry, biophysics, structural biology or equivalent.

Priority will be given to students in the last years of their master’s studies. The course aims to have an equal amount of national and international participants.
Lectures, colloquia, student presentations and practical lab/computer exercises. Written essay for evaluation.
If less than 15 students register for the course, the course will be cancelled.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 40
  • Exam
  • 50
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Practical exercises
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 76
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
The students must submit a short essay describing a novel research project in one of the topics covered in the course. The essay must be written in English according to guidelines available on the course homepage and submitted no later than three weeks after the last day of teaching on the course. The course is evaluated by internal censorship with multiple evaluators.
The students will receive written feedback and receive a pass/not pass grading.
Exam registration requirements
All teaching is mandatory and must be attended in order to be qualified for essay writing.
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period
Several internal examiners
Re-exam
Re-examination is possible after a resubmission of a revised essay according to teachers’ feedback.
Criteria for exam assesment
To pass the exam it is required that the student in the essay demonstrates that he/she is able to suggest a research project based on one or more of the techniques covered in the course, evaluate the strenghts and weaknesses of the chosen techniques and present the project in a precise and comprehensible protein scientific language.