Biological timekeeping

The course is for PhD students specialising in chronobiology who have no formal training in chronobiology. 

The course is available as a singular course.

This course focuses on biological timekeeping (chronobiology) in animals, covering time-scales from hours to years. It covers the eco-evolutionary and biomedical importance of innate timing processes, the formalisms necessary for their study and the physiological mechanisms through which biological timekeeping is achieved.

Who can apply as a singular course student:

• PhD student enrolled at another institution than UiT. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.
• Holders of a master´s degree of five years or 3+2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. These applicants must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you, see the following list: Proficiency in English must be documented - list of countries. For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document:  Proficiency in english - PhD level studies 

Knowledge and skills:

• The course aims to establish understanding in the following areas:
• The key principles and intellectual formalisms of chronobiology
• The evolutionary origins and ecological importance of biological timekeeping, and its relevance in biomedical contexts
• The mechanistic basis to biological timekeeping at levels from the genetics to the whole organism

General skills:

• Understanding the process of generating scientific knowledge
• Science communication, orally and in writing
• Review and extraction of relevant information from scientific research papers
• Critical analysis of scientific literature
• Presentation of scientific content clearly and in logical order while using language appropriate for the audience and occasion
• Proposing, discussing and evaluating hypotheses

Language of instruction and examination

PhD students at UiT register for classes and exam in StudentWeb before 1 September. The registration starts in middle of May.

Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb before 1 June. Application code: 9301. For applicants who are granted a seat, a study right will be created, and these applicants apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1 September.

The study right gives the applicant admission to register to other open PhD courses or apply for a seat to PhD courses where entry is limited.

More info about the coursework requirements

Pass/fail: 

• Actogram analysis practical: Attendance, participation for the entire session, and satisfactory completion of the task 
• Adaptive value session: Preparation, attendance, participation for the entire session, and satisfactory completion of the task 

Re-sit examination