Application deadline

Registration deadline for PhD students at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway: September 1st

Application deadline for external applicants: June 1st

Type of course

“Theoretical and practical subject.

The course is available as a singular or elective course independent of study program, also to exchange students. The course is offered on condition that a minimum number of students register for the course.

If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of the course (16 students), 75% of the course admissions will be reserved students attending the PhD school, BioStruct.

Admission requirements

PhD students or holders of a Norwegian master´s degree of five years or 3+ 2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. Valid documentation is a statement from your institution that you are a registered PhD student, or a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. PhD students are exempt from semester fee.

Students should have basic knowledge in chemistry (atomic and molecular structure), biochemistry (protein structure), and mathematics (calculus). Basic knowledge in physics is recommended.

PhD students at UiT The Arctic University of Norway register for the course through StudentWeb .

External applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb. Application code 9303.

All external applicants have to attach a confirmation of their status as a PhD student from their home institution. Students who hold a Master of Science degree, but are not yet enrolled as a PhD-student have to attach a copy of their master's degree diploma. These students are also required to pay the semester fee.

More information regarding PhD courses at the Faculty of Science and Technology is found here

Course content

Crystallography is still the method of choice for obtaining structural information at atomic resolution of biological macromolecules. However obtaining crystals of the macromolecules is still one of the major bottlenecks in the structure determination process.

This course is aimed at students with little or no prior experience in crystallization of biological macromolecules. Lectures will include theoretical aspects of crystallization as well as practical methods, but the course is practical oriented with ¿hands on¿ work at the lab. The course will cover basic theory for crystal formation and growth, and methods for setting up crystallization trials. How to do preliminary studies in order to increase the probability of crystal growth, how to evaluate and optimize results, and how to handle crystals for further treatment (storing, mounting, cryo-protection, etc.) will also be part of the course. In addition, students will be introduced to how crystal structures are solved and to the state of the art ¿high through-put¿ crystallomics and the international status for this field of science.

Objectives of the course

The candidate will acquire a solid and broad theoretical and practical basis to understand, set up and evaluate crystallization experiments.

The successful student will:

Knowledge

• Have thorough insight into the prerequisites for increasing the likelihood of success when setting up crystallization trials, and will know potential bottlenecks and pitfalls.
• Have an overview over different crystallization methods, and knowledge to decide when to use the various methods.
• Possess knowledge of intrinsic and external factors influencing the crystallization process.
• Have insight how to plan, perform, evaluate and optimize crystallization trials.

Skills

• Be able to plan, set up and evaluate crystallization experiments.
• Be able to mount crystals for X-ray data collection.

General competence

• Understand the role biological macromolecule crystal structures have in the general understanding of biological processes.
• Understand the relevance and the usefulness of crystal structures, and how the structures can be further exploited.
• Be able to present research results.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Assessment

Active participation in lectures/seminars and practicals is mandatory.

Crystallization experiments must be checked at least twice after the practical lab is over, preferably after one and two weeks. A report will be written describing crystallization theory, experimental setup and results of the lab experiments. This workload is estimated to 40 h.

The final grades will be passed or failed, based on the quality of the written report.

Recommended reading/syllabus