Master Courses

Courses – Internships

 

Courses

Faculty members from Cell Biology group take part in master classes and courses from the Master Programme Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences:

Master course LIGHT MICROSCOPY (B-MLMIC)

Coordinator:

dr. Lukas Kapitein
tel. 030-253 3458
e-mail: l.kapitein@uu.nl

For most recent information: see https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/B-MLMIC

Lecturers:

  • Lukas Kapitein, Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University (l.kapitein@uu.nl)
  • Saskia Ellenbroek, Van Rheenen Group, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht (s.ellenbroek@hubrecht.eu)
  • Anna Akhmanova, Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University (a.akhmanova@uu.nl)
  • Gerhard Blab, Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University (g.a.blab@uu.nl)
  • Ihor Smal, Biomedical Imaging Group, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam (i.smal@erasmusmc.nl)
  • Max Adrian, Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University (m.adrian@uu.nl)

 

mlmic fig 1

Microtubules near the centrosome imaged using dSTORM superresolution microscopy

 

Content
You will acquire basic and advanced knowledge on optical microscopy, with an emphasis on fluorescence microscopy. Four two-hour technology lectures will guide you through the field of optical microscopy, covering a large array of topics ranging from fundamental principles of image formation and fluorescence to modern techniques such as superresolution microscopy (see detailed program). Three one-hour applications lectures from different scientists will demonstrate how these techniques can be employed to solve important biological problems. In addition, four afternoons will be devoted to hands-on practical work, during which students can directly see modern microscopy at work at state-of-the-art facilities (featuring spinning-disk confocal microscopy, TIRFM, single-molecule fluorescence, photo-ablation, superresolution microscopy). This part will be complemented by training in reading and interpretation of scientific literature, illustrating employment of microscopic imaging techniques.

mlmic fig 2

Historical Microscopy at the University Museum

The goals of this Master course are:
At the end of the course, you will know:

  • the fundamentals of light microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy in particular
  • the basics of advanced, current techniques in fluorescence microscopy as well as their applications

At the end of the course, you are able to:

  • understand and evaluate current cell biological literature employing these techniques
  • perform live-cell imaging on advanced microscope setups
  • perform basic image analysis
  • design experimental approaches to biological questions using these techniques

Literature:
Will be sent before the course
Slide handouts will be available
Useful link: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/

 

Contribution to the Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences courses

Introductory course Quantitative Biology:  https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/B-MQBIO

Journal club QBio honours programme: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/B-MQBJCL

Molecules & Cells: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/SK-MCMC

Concepts in Science 4 Life: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/SK-MCSL                       

Concepts in Cellular Life Sciences: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/SK-MICLS

Biophysics & Molecular Imaging: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/SK-MCBMI

Biotechnology and the societal challenge: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/B-MSBBSC

Systems Biology: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/SK-MCSB

Fundamentals of Neuroscience and Cognition: https://cursusplanner.uu.nl/course/BMB500103

 

Contribution to the MSc Diergeneeskunde courses

Neurobiologie van Gedrag:  https://osiris.uu.nl/osiris_student_uuprd/OnderwijsCatalogusSelect.do?selectie=cursus&collegejaar=2017&cursus=DKM-NBG

 

Internships

Master students are welcome to perform internships in the Cell Biology group. We support master students from the Utrecht University Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS).  from Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences (MCLS) and Cancer Genomics & Developmental Biology (CG&DB) as well as from other research Master programmes are welcome to apply.

Also students from other Dutch Universities are welcome. We can offer possibilities for a minor or major research project (internship), for writing a thesis/research project and help with organizing an internship abroad.

How to organize an internship at the Cell Biology?
If you are interested in performing an internship in the Cell Biology group, please have a look at the research projects performed in the group. This information is presented at our website: cellbio.nl.

Next, contact the PI responsible for the research you are most interested in. Do this by writing an e-mail, in which you explain your background education, your preference for a minor or major research project, and the anticipated starting date. You will receive an invitation from this PI to meet and discuss the research possibilities.

What will you learn?
You will learn how to plan and carry out an experimental research project on molecular and cellular biology or cellular biophysics. All master students working in Cell Biology group will have their own personal supervisor. This can be a postdoc, a PhD student or a technician. Together with your supervisor you will formulate your own research project: you will be responsible for this part of the research, and you will be a member of the research team of your PI.  You will learn the required techniques and receive information about the theoretical background of your research. As a team member you will learn how to present your experimental results and you will take part in the work discussions of your team and of the Cell Biology group. At the end of your internship you will write a report (as a scientific paper) and give an oral presentation of your work.