Entry requirements

120 credits in natural sciences, pharmacy or medicine, of which courses totalling at least 30 credits in microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology/biochemistry or genetics must be included.

Learning outcomes

Through practical and theoretical immersion in a biomedical subject, the project work should give the student knowledge about how scientific facts are sought and how a scientific study is planned, carried out and reported.

Knowledge and understanding

After completing the course, the student shall be able to

• formulate a question and working hypothesis
• search, summarize and critically review scientific literature
• demonstrate an in-depth understanding of scientific research related to the chosen project
• integrate and synthesize biological causal contexts in relation to the project's question

Competence and skills

After completing the course, the student shall be able to

• plan a scientific investigation and propose adequate methodology
• carry out, document, analyze and optimize ongoing scientific investigations
• present scientific results in written and oral form

Judgement and approach

After completing the course, the student shall be able to

• critically evaluate the own project's strengths and weaknesses and discuss its significance in a larger scientific context
• analyze and evaluate the reproducibility of conducted experiments
• outline ways to increase reproducibility
• provide scientifically based feedback on another biomedical study
• consider social and ethical aspects of both projects and obtained results as well as the possible consequences that these can lead to

Content

The individual project course covers the subject area of ​​the selected project where deepening takes place through the project and theoretical studies.

Instruction

The student participates under the guidance of a scientific supervisor for 20 weeks in a specified research project. The student carries out the project under supervision and performs self-studies about the theoretical background to the project by reading literature. Participation in research seminars related to the project's subject develops the student's scientific approach. The teaching can be given wholly or partly in English.

Assessment

The project course is examined through the following methods of assessment

• written presentation of project plan with timetable
• practical implementation of prepared project plan
• oral and written presentation and discussion of completed project
• a popular science summary of the study
• critical analysis of another student's scientific work

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University´s disability coordinator.