Courses for international exchange students

Advanced microbiology focuses on the inter and intraspecific relationships between microorganisms, with a special interest in the molecular mechanisms involved. Attention will be paid to the latest scientific discoveries. This knowledge is essential to prepare you for the next revolution in microbiology, that is, the control of microbial communities for biotechnological application,s such as energy production, waste transformation, nanotechnology and biomedicine.

Study of ecological characteristics, biodiversity and functioning of different types of inland and marine ecosystems.

The aim of the course is to understand the complexity and variability of specific tumors and characteristics of cancer, which encourages research to determine how best to treat cancer and pursue beneficial, enduring and effective solutions. The course also deals with the principle of personalized medical treatment for cancer.

Positions for the development of individual research projects are subject to availability and acceptance by the leading researchers of UVic-UCC research groups.

Nowadays biotechnology would be inconceivable without the use of genetic engineering techniques for manipulation of nucleic acids and the host cells where they are expressed and for analysis of the products of their activity. This course offers in-depth knowledge of such techniques, when they are used, the information they provide, limitations on use and biotechnology applications based on them.

Throughout the course students willl learn the basic principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to acquire skills to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data using different free and Open Source Softwares.

The course seeks to promote the understanding of all aspects of environmental change that affects a substantial part of the globe, mostly caused by human actions. We will scrutinize the urgent environmental policies needed to cope with the critical challenges of the sixth mass planetary extinction and the climate emergency.

Integrated laboratory practicals I is a cross-curricular project taught across three different courses within the degree in Biotechnology (Integrated Laboratory Practicals I, II and III). You will carry out a series of biotechnology techniques using problem-based learning methodology. You will practise cloning, isolation and amplification of cDNA by RT-PCR, transformation and cultivation of a microorganism with a recombinant vector, and identify correct clones. Key skills include lab safety, handling instruments, applying methodology, keeping lab notebook, nucleic acid analysis, protocols for constructing an expression vector, transformation and cultivation of a microorganism.

Integrated Laboratory Practicals III is a cross-curricular project taught across three different courses within the degree in Biotechnology (Integrated Laboratory Practicals I, II and III). You will carry out a series of biotechnology techniques using problem-based learning methodology. You will work on mammalian cells, cell differentiation markers using biochemical and immunological assays and transient and permanent transfections of murine and human cells. Key skills include lab safety, handling instruments, applying methodology, keeping lab notebook, understanding genetic engineering, biochemistry and tissue culture protocols, designing and applying an experimental protocol.

This course introduces students to various molecular biology techniques combined with practical application of experimental design, biostatistics and epidemiology. It includes techniques such as PCR, electrophoresis, DNA isolation, cDNA cloning, culture of bacteria and immunodetection, among others. The teaching methodology is problem- or project-based learning. This is an intensive course running for 4 weeks at the end of the semester. Previous basic knowledge on experimental design, biostatistics and epidemiology is recommended.

This course is a research workshop related to the subjects of Omics Data and Bioinformatics I applied to cell signalling and gene regulation. The teaching methodology is problem- or project-based learning. This is an intensive course running for 4 weeks at the end of the semester. Previous basic knowledge on cell signalling and gene regulation is not necessary but helpful.

The aim of this internship is for you to gain an insight into company or institutional organisation, to gain autonomy in carrying out the tasks of a biologist, to apply your theoretical knowledge to professional practice, to gain a deeper understanding of scientific techniques in diverse areas, and to contribute individually or as part of a team. You will work closely with a supervisor who will guide and advise you.

Molecular Biology Techniques is taught in a Project Based Learning (PBL) format. The experimental project consists of the identification of an organism through the DNA Barcoding technique, which is based on the amplification and sequencing of a mitochondrial gene: Cytochrome Oxidase I (CO1). Throughout the project, several Molecular Biology Techniques are introduced, discussed and applied, while reinforcing different technical and cross-curricular skills.

This course introduces students to the basic aspects of molecular genetics and genomics, paying special attention to applications in the human and biomedicine areas. In particular, students will learn: the basic structure of the genome, how it is organised and the detailed structure of DNA and RNA; the importance of molecular genetics in the field of biomedicine; the close connection between molecular genetics and human health; and the latest advances, discoveries and applications of molecular genetics concerning biomedicine.

This course introduces students to the following high-throughput techniques: Genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics technologies related to biomedicine field.

The Optional External Practicum can be chosen as an extension of Internship I.

This course is an introduction to the scientific and academic language and skills that students need to study specific courses in the area of biosciences.The aims of the course are to familiarize you with dealing with basic science matters at university level, improve reading, speaking, writing and listening in a scientific context, build up knowledge of scientific language and demonstrate learner autonomy by producing a porfolio.

The basic objective of this course is to provide an overview of current research in biotechnology and its relationship with a series of problems facing society. Students will take a leading role in designing their own professional way forward: observing the context, assessing innovation capacity and creating a project for which they could seek funding as a postgraduate student.