Seminar: Molecular Environmental Biology in Microbes and Plants

Fakultet for biovitenskap, fiskeri og økonomi

Theoretical

Subject of the seminar will be molecular biology approaches to analyse the interaction and communication of molecules, cell compartments, cells, microbial communities, microbes and photosynthetic organisms with their respective environments. Examples from ongoing research in the Molecular Environments Research Group will provide the platform for the contributions. Topics include the communication within plant and bacterial cells, communication of cells and organisms with their environment and communication in microbial soil communities as well as plant/microbial and plant/plant associations. Techniques in focus are genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses in plants, microbes and microbial communities.

The course has three main aims:

• to train PhD students in their skills of presenting their research results using state of the art media.
• to improve the students proficiency to transfer knowledge (e.g. from current relevant scientific literature) to fellow students and researchers.
• to train the students capability for critical and independent thinking

All three properties are a prerequisite for a successfull career as a scientist.

English

Seminar: 40 hours; 1 hour weekly spread over 4 semesters. The seminar will be held one hour twice a month throughout each semester and will be obligatory for all PhD students within the Molecular Environments Research Group. It is open for interested PhD students in Biology. A formal presentation of research results and a discussion group / journal club will be held at alternating dates.

Students must regularly attende the seminar and active participe in discussions. Obligatory work: 4 oral presentations of research results and current scientific literature. Grade: Pass / fail

Students will be required to give an active contribution either as presentation of their own research results or as presentation of current relevant scientific literature (e.g. new methods) once per semester, so a total of 4 presentations. Students will furthermore be required to engage in discussions after other presentations.