Course manual 2025/2026
Course content
- Lectures in mechanisms in cortical development and neural stem cell maintenance.
- Practical course: molecular mechanisms of FoxO transcription factors
- Expert guest speaker(s)
- Seminars on hypothesis generation, primer design and experimental strategy in line with practical
Subjects the student will master at the end of the course:
- Which are the molecular mechanisms underlying FoxO driven cortical development and neuronal stem cell maintenance?
- What are the molecular cascades underlying cortical development and neuronal stem cell maintenance in general?
- How to design and execute experimental strategies in order to study gene function using state of the art technology.
Study materials
Syllabus
Objectives
- distinguish and interpret processes underlying stem cell fate and cortical genesis.
- criticize and evaluate scientific literature.
- independently design and execute an experiment in a laboratory.
- evaluate experimental results (from a self designed experiment).
- design, analyse and criticize an experiment (using bio-informatic tools).
- interpret experimental results and present these in an oral presentation to a scientifically oriented public.
- formulate a relevant research question about a neurological disease, using current literature and technology.
- design an innovative and state-of-art research strategy.
- to present a self designed research strategy, both in a written report and in an oral presentation, to a scientifically oriented public.
Teaching methods
- Lecture
- Seminar
- Computer lab session/practical training
- Presentation/symposium
- Self-study
- Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
- Supervision/feedback meeting
The courses will be both of theoretical and practical in nature. Students will attend lectures, perform experiments, critically evaluate literature, and give presentations covering the practical work and literature discussed during the course. In addition, students willwork on an assignment covering all three courses.
Learning activities
Activity | Number of hours |
Hoorcollege | 24 |
Practicum | 60 |
Presentatie | 8 |
Tentamen | 4 |
Werkcollege | 8 |
Zelfstudie | 64 |
Attendance
Some course components require compulsory attendance. If compulsory attendance applies, this will be indicated in the Course Catalogue which can be consulted via the UvA-website. The rationale for and implementation of this compulsory attendance may vary per course and, if applicable, is included in the Course Manual.
Assessment
the assessment of this course will comprise exam (1/2), practical work (1/6) and course overlapping assignment (1/3) which will be completed during the last (third) course.
Assignments
General assignment (can be worked on in all three courses)
Fraud and plagiarism
The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl
Course structure
| Weeknummer | Onderwerpen | Studiestof |
| 1 | | |
| 2 | | |
| 3 | | |
| 4 | | |
| 5 | | |
| 6 | | |
| 7 | | |
| 8 | | |
A course in molecular biology and/or neurobiology is advised.
The maximum number of students is 25.
Coordinator
Staff
- dr. L.P. van der Heide
- dr. F.M.J. Jacobs
- prof. dr. M.P. Smidt
- Joost Vos