BIO-3610 Industrial Biotechnology - 10 stp

The objective of this course is for students to develop advanced knowledge and skills related to industrial development of marine resources and bioproducts. The emphasis will be on product development including optimizing and expanding bioprocesses as well as raw biological material as value chains can provide sustainable and valuable products into Norwegian and international markets.

The course will cover the biotechnological applications of valuable biomolecules (proteins/peptides, enzymes, marine lipids and carbohydrates) that can be produced industrially from marine and other sources. Focus will be placed upon the technical challenges and opportunities related to industrial processes involved in the processing of raw biological materials. Students will be given an introduction to real-world industry and presented with the specific challenges of scale-up and commercialization. Other specific topics will include: how to maintain productivity, proper documentation of products and processes, quality control and assurance, standard practices, regulatory constraints, value propositions as well as customer demands. 

Case studies will be used by examining examples from members of the marine biotech cluster BioTech North and international industries to introduce the research and challenges that underpin different biotechnological sectors. Challenges posed by scaling-up production methods from lab to pilot and ultimately industrial scale, are omnipresent and require advanced knowledge. This includes a good familiarity of processes that can be exemplified by the marine biotechnological sector regional to northern Norway.

The laboratory portion of this course will include assignments relevant to specific industrial processes that the students will be acquainted to during the lectures. The laboratory teaching is carried out under tutorial supervision and suitable safety protocols.

Local admission, application code 9371 - master's level singular course. Admission requires a bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology, biotechnology or chemistry of minimum 80 ECTS.

Recommended prerequisites: One or several of following courses (or equivalent): BIO-2001 Fysiologi I, BIO-2513 Marin Biodiversitet, BIO-2601 Generell mikrobiologi, BIO-2606 Generell og marin bioteknologi, MAT-1001, MAT-1002, MAT-1003 Calculus 1,2 & 3, Linear Algebra MAT-1004

On successful completion of the course, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge. The candidate

• has advanced knowledge about specific bioprocesses involving the use of biomolecules with unique characteristics
• understands basic workflows for exploitation of raw materials derived from the marine sector
• has a thorough understanding of molecules such as proteins/peptides, lipids and carbohydrates
• knows how raw materials are generated in industry, the importance of them being handled correctly to ensure good quality and how this in turn affects down-stream value chains
• has a general knowledge over common challenges, both research-wise and financial, in creating and expanding the blue bioeconomy
• has advanced knowledge of how modern research relates to commercial potential, especially in marine biotechnology
• has a general understanding over industrial bioprocesses and the challenges involved in scaling up from laboratory to industrial scale

Skills. The candidate:

• has the ability to apply theoretical and practical problem-solving techniques to the different development stages of industrial biotechnology
• has the ability to independently develop and evaluate value propositions of various value chains related to marine biotechnology
• has communication skills on an academic level that allows for effective knowledge exchange between scientific and industrial partners. For this, students will develop themselves both individually and within collaborative teams
• has advanced abilities to perform laboratory assignments and compile results in a laboratory report

General competence. The candidate

• can describe specific and generalized processes for utilizing raw materials
• can demonstrate a general familiarity with the value propositions and processes used by real biotechnological industries

This course will consist of lectures, seminars, and a compulsory laboratory course. We will have guest lectures from domain experts and students will visit local industry.

The syllabus is made up of relevant scientific articles and fact sheets that will be given out after the lectures. There will be problem-based assignments for each section. There will be individual and group projects, students will write reports and make at least one oral presentation during the course.

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.