Laboratory project in Molecular Biology

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The goal of this course is to train students in the use of molecular biology techniques within the context of a research project, in the laboratory of a supervisor. The student will receive an introduction to the main research project, the methods employed and the strategic choices used to address a defined set of research questions, supported by selected original research papers. The contents of the project will be defined by the supervisor, but will always include methods of great relevance for research in molecular biology. The extent of the course is defined by the credits, and should consist of about 250 hours. This includes laboratory work (about 200 h), as well as result analysis, lab journal inputs, lectures, literature reading, poster generation and presentation. Students should be able to start the project work during the second week of the semester, so that it will finish before other exams take place. Some projects may start at alternative points of time, depending on the schedule of the supervisor.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

  • can explain the principles behind the experiments required for the project work
  • is familiar with the appropriate laboratory safety regulations both with regard to personal and environmental aspects

Skills

The student

  • is able to carry out molecular biology experiments, analyze and interpret the results
  • can keep a detailed and accurate laboratory journal
  • can demonstrate communication skills by presenting own results
  • reads relevant scientific literature

General competence

  • The student has the ability to assess scientific literature needed for the task of planning and conducting a research project.

ECTS Credits

10 ECTS

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Autumn and spring, dependent on number of available supervisors and projects.

This course has a limited capacity, enrolment is based on application. The application deadline is Wednesday in week 2/33 for the spring/autumn semester. Please see this page for more information. You will receive confirmation of whether you received a seat in Studentweb no later than Monday the week after the deadline.

It is compulsory to attend the first lecture/orientation meeting, or you risk losing your seat. If you are unable to attend the first lecture, you must contact the Study Section (studie.bio@uib.no). The time of the first lecture/orientation meeting can be found in the schedule on the course website or on Mitt UiB.

To complete the course, the student must conduct a project with one of the scientific staff.

Spring semester: Available projects will be presented at the orientation meeting. Students then rank the preferred project. The course responsible then allocates projects as best as possible.

Autumn semester: It is the responsibility of the students to contact directly potential supervisors to find a project. It is not possible to attend this course unless you have found a supervisor and a project. The student must have found the project no later than the course registration deadline (Wednesday in week 33). Please be aware that if you sign up to the course and you have not found a supervisor, you will not receive a place in the course. A list of potential supervisors can be found on the bachelor and masterprogramme page on Mitt UiB. Contact studie.bio@uib.no if you need help finding the list. We recommend that you start searching for a supervisor towards the end of the Spring semester.

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
MOL100 and MOL102. Basic principles in molecular biology and chemistry and experience in laboratory work in molecular biology and chemistry is required. This course should be taken during the last semesters of the bachelor degree.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course

In order to be admitted to the course, you must be admitted to a study programme at the Department of Biological Sciences and fulfill required previous knowledge.

In case the course is full, students who have finished the mandatory courses in their degree are prioritized.

Please note that in the autumn semester, the students must find a supervisor and a project themselves in order to get a place in the course. You can read more about this in the paragraph Semester of Instruction.

Teaching and learning methods
  • 4x lectures (Info meetings on general aspects of the course, on lab journal upkeep and on poster guideline instructions. One session where students practice their oral presentation)
  • Project work under the supervision of scientific staff providing the project
  • Presentation of the work done
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

The student must carry out the following activities:

  • Attend all 4 info meetings.
  • Read, sign and submit a student/supervisor contract.
  • Carry out the project, log and submit the hours used to complete the course in accordance to the number of credits.
  • Record experimental details in a lab journal. The course requires an accurate and updated logging of the journal. The lab journal must be handed in to the supervisor for comments and final approval. The students can get access to copies of the journal.
  • Present the work orally.
  • Participation on the poster symposium.

Compulsory activities are only valid for the current semester.

All compulsory activities must be approved to obtain a grade in the course.

Forms of Assessment

A poster which is summarizing the results generated and which will be presented at the poster symposium.

Find more information about the Student Poster Symposium and check out posters from earlier courses here.

Grading Scale
Pass/fail
Reading List
The reading list will be available within July 1st for the autumn semester and December 1st for the spring semester.
Course Evaluation
Students will evaluate the teaching in line with UiB and the department's quality assurance system.
Programme Committee
The programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses.
Course Administrator
The Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biological Sciences, has the administrative responsibility for the course and program.