Prospectus

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Advanced Life Science and Technology

Description

The field ‘Life Science and Technology’ focusses on the living cell, the smallest unit of life, from a chemical perspective aiming at understanding and influencing the performance of living cells in different societally relevant contexts.

An interdisciplinary approach, with scientific, engineering and societal angles, is required in order to understand, to interpret and to make use of processes operating in living cells. The following subjects are therefore addressed: (bio)chemistry, cellular biology, molecular genetics, physics, mathematics, bioinformatics and biotechnology.

The minor programme Advanced LST teaches deepening of knowledge and understanding in the areas of molecular cellular biology, specialized chemistry and biotechnology. It broadens the knowledge of the field by an introduction into biophysics, addressing the important role of quantitative imaging in the life sciences and the relation between the use of biological material and the environment. In addition, development of academic skills with a major emphasis on critical reading, listening and scientific writing will be addressed and students are encouraged to pursue their own specific interest within the field by selecting an elective course.

The minor programme is characterized by a defiant range of teaching methods and testing. Specialists from the research field and industry contribute substantially.

Teaching is at two universities: Leiden University and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Subjects taught at Leiden University are: Quantitative imaging in life sciences, Molecular biophysics and Inorganic chemistry in life. Subjects taught at TU Delft are: Bio-based materials in a circular economy, and Biocatalysis. The class Literature, research and validation is taught at both universities. An elective course may be chosen from a list of courses that are approved by the Board of Examiners already, or students choose another course, either from University Leiden, TU Delft or another academic institution. In this latter case prior approval of the Board of Examiners is required.

Admission

Admission criteria apply to this selection minor. The programme is meant for Dutch and international senior bachelor students with a background in Life Science & Technology, Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Molecular Science & Technology, Biology (molecular and cellular biology specialisation) or comparable academic disciplines with a keen interest in and profound basic knowledge and understanding in the areas of molecular and cellular biology, (organic) chemistry and biotechnology.

The minor is only accessible to students who successfully completed their first-year academic programme and fulfil the prior-knowledge requirements of the courses of the minor.

Students with a different background are requested to contact the minor coordinator prior to the start.
In case of lack of background knowledge students can be asked to study selected parts of textbooks before the start.

Language of instruction

English and/or Dutch. All classes will be taught in English when international students attend.

Important notice

Students not enrolled in the bachelor programme LST or MST, should register as guest student Life Science and Technology at TU Delft (via Studielink) and/or as ‘gaststudent’ at Leiden University (form) before the start of the programme in September. This prerequisite is obligatory in order to get access to the electronic learning environments of both universities and for proper registration of obtained results.

Exchange students from abroad can also enrol in classes of both universities. Either the International Office of the Faculty of Sciences in Leiden or of the Faculty of Applied Sciences in Delft will be of assistance.

All courses of the minor, except for Literature, research and validation, are also open for enrolment separately by students with sufficient foreknowledge, e.g. as part of a free minor programme or as an elective course. Enrolment in the class Literature, research and validation as an elective course is only open to LST-registered students.

Registration

The minor Advanced LST is a selection minor of University Leiden with an early registration deadline. Registration is open from 1 April 2019 (13:00 hr) until 15 April 2019 (24:00 hr).

LST students: registration via Osiris (TU Delft).

MST students, students from Leiden University and students from other universities: registration via uSis (Leiden University). The class number required to enrol in uSis is 1062. > Sign up for classes

Students from TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam: application via their home institution.

All students will be informed by the minor-coordinator about placement before half of May.

Students with confirmed registration for the minor Advanced LST should enrol in the course ‘Minor Advanced LST’ of the Faculty of Science at the Blackboard site of Leiden University.

Information and Contact

Detailed information and a schedule can be found at the course ‘Minor Advanced LST’ at the Blackboard site of Leiden University.

Coordinator minor Advanced LST: Dr. W.R.M. Schlaman

Minor

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Bio-based Materials in a circular economy 4
Biocatalysis 5
Quantitative Imaging in Life Sciences 5
Literature, Research & Validation 3
Inorganic Chemistry in Life 5
Molecular Biophysics 4
Elective course 4

Students can choose one of the following options for an elective course:

  1. A course of the list of elective courses already approved by the Board of Examiners. For an overview, see the document provided at the right side this page.
  2. Open online courses of the Virtual Exchange Program of Leiden University or of TU Delft. Timely approval of the Board of Examiners is required.
  3. Free choice of a course of another University in the Netherlands or abroad. Timely approval of the Board of Examiners is required.
  4. A combination of the above mentioned three options. Timely approval of the Board of Examiners is required.