Entry requirements

Participation in Trends in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 15 credits, and Structure and Function of Biomolecules, 15 credits. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

The overall goal of this course is for students to learn how technology-based projects are planned and initiated in the biotechnology industry.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• communicate effectively with biotech companies and researchers at universities
• describe the structure, operations, project management and marketing strategies for a local biotech company
• describe the scientific basis for biotechnology products
• identify relevant scientific literature in specific research areas
• critically analyse and summarise scientific articles
• design innovation projects by identifying potential market niches
• communicate biotechnological knowledge in a scientific way in written, oral and visual form.

Content

Project management and organisation in biotechnological firms. Organisation of a bioreactor facility. Group dynamics. Basic scientific literature searches. Communication techniques (posters, oral presentations, videos, interview techniques). Executive summaries (technical synopsis of a biotechnological problem, and potential solution(s)).

Instruction

Instruction is in the form of lectures, seminars (integrating communication training), mentorship, a company site visit, a study visit, and group assignments with written, oral, video and poster presentations.

Assessment

Active participation in group discussions/seminars (1 credit). A written review article, an interview report and an executive summary (6 credits). A study visit report and final report (3 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.