Abiotic Stress

Course manual 2021/2022

Course content

Environmental (abiotic) stress is the main limiting factor for agricultural productivity. This master course serves two purposes. First, we will broaden the student's background in abiotic-stress biology. This includes a general overview of the different abiotic stress fields, the latest insights into the molecular mechanisms by which plants perceive stress, and how  this signal is transduced and converted into responses that will allow the plant to survive and even grow (acclimation), and the molecular tools used to study abiotic stress.

A second aim of this course is to learn how to write a successful research proposal/ grant application. Students will be guided through the essential stages of proposal development, how to formulate project goals, how to  collect  and present  supportive background data (written and verbally), to determine the level of stakeholder engagement, to measure and evaluate the outcomes, to plan project activities, to budget the project costs, and how to pitch your idea in a short presentation.

The course will start with lectures about some major forms of abiotic stress that plants encounter. These include osmotic stress (salinity, drought),  temperature  stress  (heat, cold), and heavy metal stress. As plants are sessile organisms, they cannot run away, and have to deal with the stress on the spot. Emphasis will be on how plants sense these stresses and how  they convert subsequent signals into responses at the molecular and  physiological  levels  that  allow plants to cope with the stress. Potential applications for crop improvement  will  also be discussed. The second part of the course involves the construction of a research proposal, including writing, presenting, and data mining. At the end of the course, students are expected to successfully present and defend their research proposal.

Prior knowledge
Advanced (2nd and 3rd year BSc level) knowledge in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology is required.

Study materials

Literature

• Research articles and reviews will be made available via Blackboard
• Plant Physiology and Development, 6th ed, Taiz et al., ISBN: 978-1-60535-255-8

Syllabus

Objectives

• Describe how plants respond to abiotic stress at the physiological, genetic, biochemical, molecular and cellular level.
• Interpret, analyze and evaluate contemporary research articles in the field of experimental plant sciences.
• Write and defend your own research grant application.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Supervision/feedback meeting

Lecture material will come from recent reviews and research papers. During the first week, an Introduction- and four abiotic stress lectures will be presented as state of the art. These include: i) heavy metal stress, ii) cold stress , iii) salt- & drought stress, and iv) heat stress. After these lectures, you are expected to choose an abiotic stress topic and write a Research Proposal on this. In the next five weeks, you will will learn step-by-step how to write and present your own research project. Weekly, there will be tutorials on different aspects of how to write and present such a research proposal, and is there time to meet your supervisor(s) to discuss your progress.

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance of lectures is highly recommended. Attendance during tutorials and presentations is mandatory (from Teaching and Examination Regulations).

Assessment

Criteria to assess proposal and its presentation on:

Is the proposal innovative?

• Is the question addressed novel?
• Is it scientifically novel?
• What is the potential impact?

Quality of the proposal

• Is the proposal scientifically sound?
• Is the approach appropriate/effective?
• Challenging?

Community benefits/commercialization/knowledge protection

• Are the expected benefits for the society low/high if applicant reaches its goal(s)?
• What are the long-term benefits?
• Indirect benefits for research purposes and society? (e.g. new technique).
• Is the business model proposed well founded?
• Intellectual property (IP)?

Quality researcher

• Scientific competence of applicant, enthusiasm, persistence, persuasiveness. Does the applicant have a good story?

Feasibility of the proposal

• Is the proposal feasible?
• Is the time-schedule well thought-off?
• Did the applicants think well enough about the potential bottlenecks and alternative ways to reach their goals?
• If the ultimate goals are not reached, what will be the output of the project? Are these still useful for research purposes or society?

Inspection of assessed work

The date, time and location of the inspection moment are in the DataNose timetable.

For at least twenty working days after the announcement of the research proposal, students can, on request, inspect their assessed work.

Assignments

Abiotic Stress Topic

• Choose Abiotic Stress Topic

Abstract

• Write (and present) Abstract of Research Proposal

Figure/Model

• Prepare essential Model/Figure for the proposal

Budget, Time Table & Milestones

• How to prepare sufficient Budget, Time Table & Milestones

Research proposal

• Write Research proposal

Peer Review

• Formulate two questions of a fellow proposal

Present proposal

• Present proposal

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.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. T. Munnik

Science Park 904, room C2.212

Tel: 020-525 7763