The masters program Biomolecular Sciences (Biomoleculaire
Wetenschappen) is a masters program for students with a research-oriented
profile. It trains students with
bachelors ranging from biomedical sciences and biology to chemistry, physics,
mathematics and engineering, for a master’s degree at the interface between
these disciplines. The focus is on the issue how molecules lead to biological
function in health and disease. It therewith covers genetics, genomics,
structural biology, molecular biology, biophysics, biomathematics,
biochemistry, cell physiology, bioinformatics, immunology, parasitology, and
human physiology.
The program offers a choice between two variants:
1. Masters program Cellbiology.
2. Top Masters program Biomolecular
Integration / Systems Biology.
These two program variants are described in two different
chapters of the FALW study guide.
The topmasters variant BioMolecular Integration / Systems Biology focuses on the issue of how a functioning living cell arises from the collaboration of inanimate molecules and herewith depends more on fundamental biophysics, biochemistry and biomathematics. It is organized by the Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and the Centre for Research on BioComplex Systems of the VU and involves collaboration between groups at the Faculties of Earth and Life Sciences (FALW) and of Exact Sciences (FEW).
The science area of the Master’s program BioMolecular Integration / Systems Biology is explicitly trans- and interdisciplinary. Students will come from various bachelor curricula from inside and outside the European Union. Influx from mathematics, informatics, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, biology, medical biology, and biomedical sciences is aimed for. The diversity of the influx of students will be cultivated in order to come to a scientific melting pot from which the students learn to help each other by intensive collaboration.
The coordinator of the masters program variant Biomolecular Integration / Systems Biology is Dr. K. Krab (Klaas.krab@falw.vu.nl ). Its director is Prof. dr. H.V. Westerhoff (Hans.Westerhoff@falw.vu.nl ). Its addresses are: Websites: www.systembiology.net/topmaster (up-to-date) and www.falw.vu.nl (general, formal). E-mail: hw@bio.vu.nl , please mention ‘topmaster’ on the subject line. Tel: +31 20 4447228. Fax: +31 20 4447229
Snail-mail: Prof. dr. H.V. Westerhoff, Director Topmaster Biomolecular Integration / Systems Biology, CRBCS-VUA, De Boelelaan 1087, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands, EU. Visiting address: Sciences building Free University, room M236.
The end credentials of this topmaster curriculum are those of the basic variant (Cell Biology) of the master biomolecular sciences. The qualified master:
·
has knowledge about
terminology, state of the art of theory and research topics in the biomolecular
and cell biological discipline of specialisation
·
can apply this knowledge in
the design of research and in solving emerging problems
·
has the ability to use the
principles from the different disciplines (such as mathematics, physics,
chemistry and biochemistry) to tackle molecular- and cell biological problems
·
has insight in the place of
molecular cell biology and biomolecular sciences in biology, biomedical science
and science in general
·
has familiarity with general
scientific journal such as Nature, Science or PNAS, and international journals
in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology.
·
has insight in the scientific
and social relevance of current research in biomolecular sciences
·
can design and execute
experiments in the different fields and analyze the results
·
is able to note down and
report on the results of these experiments
·
can collaborate with other
researchers from the same and other disciplines
·
has sufficient knowledge of
mathematical and statistical methods applicable to the field
·
has command of the use of
computer software relevant for the field
·
has command of advanced
research techniques and laboratory procedures
·
is able to acquire
independently biological or medical biological information, (with emphasis on
biomolecular and cell biological aspects) and can analyze, summarize and
critically evaluate this information
·
can select and order
information, distinguish between major and minor points, and recognize
connections.
·
can think multidisciplinarily
·
can analyze and evaluate
independently and critically planning, execution and results of research
·
can design and write research
plans
·
can report orally and in
written form on research
·
can apply scientific
knowledge on issues in society
·
contributes to scientific
discussions about plans, results and consequences of research
·
can evaluate his or her own
functioning, both by reflection and in discussions with others
· can reflect on ethical aspects of research and applications of research and on implications in decision making.
In addition to these, the qualified topmaster:
· has proven excellence as researcher in the quantitative life sciences and systems biology
· has proven understanding of physical chemical and organizational principles of life
· has proven expertise with the modern experimental, conceptual and modeling methods for the Biomolecular Sciences and Systems Biology
· has insight in the most important biomathematical, biophysical, biochemical, biological, and biomedical topics of the moment, and in how these can be approached
· has an unique and excellent profile at the interface between the exact sciences and the life sciences
· will participate in a local and international network of young life scientists with an interest in BioMolecular Integration or Systems Biology
The entry criteria are tripartite; (i) proven excellence in the bachelor phase in one of the above disciplines, (ii) potential excellence at the level of the other disciplines, to be proven in the first two months of the master’s program (i.e. in its portal phase), and (iii) proven profound motivation for scientific top research.
(i) will be verified on the basis of a diploma of (a) the Free University Amsterdam bachelors of Biology, Medical Biology, Medical Natural Sciences, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics or Pharmaceutical sciences with an average grade exceeding 7, (b) a bachelor program of one of the five international sister schools with comparable grades, (c) a bachelor of the University of Amsterdam, or Hogeschool Windesheim in Biology, Biomedical sciences, Chemistry or Mathematics and Natural sciences with an average grade of 7 or higher, (d) a comparable bachelor from another European institution for higher education (University or Higher Technical School [HBO]), in any of the above disciplines with an average grade of 8 or higher or equivalent, (e) any education that is demonstrably equivalent to any of the above, (f) a successful entry exam (Please, contact the coordinator for details: klaas@bio.vu.nl ). The entry exam will be facilitated through an individual preparatory phase, in which the capabilities of the prospective student will be assessed and necessary study material will be suggested. Long distance exams will be offered, which will be finalized by local exams when the student arrives at the CRBCS. Verification of criterion (ii) will be accomplished by the exam at the end of the portal phase of the Master’s program, in which potential excellence in all mentioned basic disciplines should be demonstrated by the student. Failing this second criterion the student may switch to one of the basic master curricula of the Free University Amsterdam, in particular to that of the basic variant of the Master’s Biomolecular Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or Medical Natural Sciences. The third criterion will be assessed through an interview/exam after the portal phase in which two top scientist plus a psychological/didactic expert will be present.
The exam committee may allow the student access to the topmaster before having completed the bachelor exam, provided that at least 150 ECTS of the bachelor curriculum have been completed successfully, and that the bachelor is completed within a year.
A number of components are compulsory for all Master students of FALW-VU Master programs. The Master Biomolecular Integration / Systems Biology also adheres to this rule. These components are (for a complete description of the program, see www.systembiology.net/topmaster ):
·
History of Life
Sciences (3 ECTS, part of the ‘Reflection’ part of the program)
·
Scientific
writing in English (3 ECTS; part of the ‘Science Communication aspect of the
program)
·
Ethics (3 ECTS;
part of the ‘Reflection’ part of the program)
·
Research
traineeship (65 ECTS; corresponds to the International research project)
·
Literature study
(8 ECTS; part of ‘Orientation on future research project of the program)
The former three of these have been programmed for 2005-2005 as:
|
Time period |
Part |
ECTS |
|
parallel |
Scientific writing in English, 1 afternoon per week |
3 |
|
January 2005 |
Ethics History of life sciences |
3 3 |
The topmaster program aims for the integration of the training of students with diverse backgrounds to a well-defined set of abilities for the interdisciplinary area Biomolecular Integration / Systems Biology. Accordingly, the program is in principle homogeneous and all its elements are defined (i.e. compulsory). Because the backgrounds are diverse it is possible that some of the courses overlaps for some of the students with courses they followed in their earlier studies. In these cases, in consultation with the exam committee an alternative may be chosen from what is available and of sufficient quality in FALW and FEW.
Portal course 9
Central course: molecules
integrating into living systems 33
Scientific communication techniques
3 Reflection
(ethics, history of science) 6
International research project 65
Preparation for final comprehensive exam 4
Portal course: entry course of mathematics and physics for the biologist and medical student, and biology for the physics/chemistry/mathematics bachelor (9 ECTS)
Central course: from molecules through integration to life. This central course contains the following elements:
Proteins: structures, folding and dynamics (Van der Vies, Vermeulen et al. 5 ECTS)
Molecular Microbiology (Oudega et al. 6 ECTS)
Biological Fluorescence – Interactions of Biomolecules (Lill et al.; 6 ECTS)
Intracellular networks (Westerhoff et al.; 5 ECTS)
Sequence Analysis (Heringa et al.; 5 ECTS)
Self-organization and emergence (Westerhoff et al.; 3 ECTS)
Current topics in systems biology (international professors, e.g. Heinrich et al.; 3 ECTS)
One research exchange project in two laboratories (partly in Amsterdam and partly in one of the collaborating International Centers of Excellence), on Biomolecular Integration / Systems Biology:
Orientation future research project (incl literature thesis) 11 ECTS
Refereeing of similar research proposals 2 ECTS
8 months’ actual scientific research 45 ECTS
Scientific article about research project 5 ECTS
Scientific conference (co-organizing, reporting) 2 ECTS
Each part of the course will be subject to examination. The grade obtained at the end of the portal course should be sufficient in order to continue with the rest of the Master curriculum. At the end of the curriculum all grades should be sufficient. In addition there will be a comprehensive exam at the end of the curriculum in which the student will be challenged to be able to integrate all course material in the light of the research executed during her/his traineeship.
|
Code of course |
Name of course |
Responsible |
ECTS. |
Period |
|
|
Portal course part 1 |
Krab |
5 |
06-09-2004 /
01-10-2004 |
|
|
Molecular
microbiology |
Oudega |
6 |
04-10-2004 /
29-10-2004 |
|
|
Sequence Analysis |
Heringa |
5 |
01-11-2004 /
24-12-2004 |
|
|
Portal course part 2 |
Krab |
4 |
01-11-2004 / 24-12-2004 |
|
|
Ethics, history of
science |
General course |
5 |
03-01-2005 /
28-01-2005 |
|
|
Biological Fluorescence – Interactions of
Biomolecules |
Lill |
6 |
07-02-2005 /
04-03-2005 |
|
|
Proteins:
structures, folding and dynamics |
Vermeulen/Va der Vies |
5 |
07-03-2005 / 01-04-2005 |
|
|
Intracellular
networks |
Westerhoff |
5 |
04-04-2005 /
29-04-2005 |
|
|
Self-organization
and emergence of function |
Westerhoff Kooi |
3 |
02-05-2005 /
13-05-2005 |
|
|
Scientific writing in
English |
General course |
3 |
|
|
|
International
research project |
Westerhoff |
65 |
June 2005, September
2005-June 2006 |
|
|
Comprehensive exam |
Westerhoff |
4 |
June 2006 |