Neuronal Signaling Transduction Pathways

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

Lectures in advanced signal transduction 

• Practical course in FoxO transcription factors 
• Bioinformatics course 
• Expert guest speakers 
• Journal clubs 
• Meet the expert technology workshops

Subjects the student will master at the end of the course:

• What are the basic signal transduction pathways involved in neuronal maintenance and development? 
• How to incorporate current literature and technology about signal transduction into a relevant research question? 
• How to critically design a research strategy to investigate a signal transduction pathway in a neuronal system?

Study materials

Syllabus

• Study material and information will be provided at the course and will consist of a selection of excellent scientific papers published in international high-impact journals.

Objectives

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• distinguish and interpret signal transduction routes in the brain.
• criticize and evaluate scientific literature on signal transduction.
• 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.

At the end of the three Molecular Neuroscience courses, the students will be able to:

• 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. The student will attend lectures, perform experiments, critically evaluate literature, and give presentations covering the practical work and literature performed and discussed during the course. In addition an assignment covering all three courses will be completed.

Learning activities

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

Assessment

Assignments

Practical Training

Oral presentation

• You will present your experimental results in an oral presentation.

Assignment

• You will work on this assignment during the three courses. You should design a research strategy and write and orally present a proposal. You will work in pairs.

Journal Clubs

• These will not be graded.

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

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

A course in molecular biology and/or neurobiology is advised

The maximum number of students is 20.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. L.P. van der Heide