Application deadline

PhD students at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and students at the Medical Student Research Program at UiT apply for admission in Studentweb by 1 February.

Other applicants apply by 1 February. Application code 9306 in Søknadsweb.

Type of course

PhD course that is highly relevant for the National Graduate School in Infection Biology and Antimicrobials (IBA). This course is available as a singular course.

Department of Medical Biology (IMB), Department of Clinical Medicine (IKM) and Department of Pharmacy (IFA) contribute to the course supported by the National Graduate School IBA.

The course will be held every second year starting in spring semester 2018.

Admission requirements

Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme, Medical, Odontological or Veterinary Student Research Program, and have qualifications within the field of infection, inflammation and/or immunology. The course committee will evaluate students for admission based upon their project descriptions. Valid documentation is a statement from your institution that you are a registered PhD student, or master student at a Medical, Odontological or Veterinary Student Research Program. External PhD students, Medical, Odontological and Veterinary Research students are exempt from semester fee.

For more information regarding PhD courses at the Faculty of Health Sciences and how to apply follow the link: http://uit.no/helsefak/forskning/phd/emner 

Applicants affiliated to the National Graduate School IBA have priority for admission if the number of applicants exceeds the course capacity of 25 students.

If fewer than six participants have applied to the course, the course will be cancelled.

Course content

The course address topics of microbiology, inflammation and immunity by cutting-edge knowledge and state-of-the art research. The objectives includes understanding principles regarding genomics, microbial determinants for colonisation and infection, biofilm, host determinants for bacterial colonisation, and aspects of innate and adaptive host immune responses to microbial antigens.

Students shall individually prepare, by studying 15-20 selected peer reviewed scientific articles, which together account for about 100 000 words. These articles are regular experimental studies and review articles covering the different aspects described above.

All students meet in a joint three-day gathering at the Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, campus Tromsø, to attend lectures, discussions and research presentations. The students will also present and criticize one given article in a 20 minutes (skype) lecture.

Objectives of the course

After completion, the students will have:

Knowledge to:

• Critically apply theories to address fundamental questions of genomics to interpret the genetic content of bacteria.
• Justify the application of cell- and molecular biology methodologies to mine for relevant determinants for host-microbe interaction.
• Discuss microbial adaptation and evolution towards antimicrobial resistance.

Skills to:

• Interact productively with people from diverse backgrounds as both leaders/mentors and fellows with integrity and professionalism.
• Critically evaluate scientific papers and disseminate advanced knowledge of infection, inflammation and immunity.

Competence to:

• Evaluate key mechanisms and determinants that are involved in microbial colonization and infection, including biofilm.
• Assess the host responses and the drivers behind.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Final exam

Assessment

One oral presentation of a given scientific publication/subject appointed by the course committee. The oral presentation will be evaluated with passed/fail.

Coursework requirements: Lectures, group discussions and research presentations are obligatory.

Re-sit exam: There will not be a re-sit exam for this course.