Advanced technologies in bioscience

This independent study course is composed of three Themes, each Theme being 2 credits (ca 1.3 weeks) or one "double theme" (4 hp) and one "single theme" (2 hp). The course aim is to allow the graduate student to gain deeper knowledge into specific technologies, methods or modeling approaches used in bioscience or biotechnology research, and which are relevant for their own research.

A theme can be either a formal course, summer school or workshop or a self-study (resulting in an essay). You should choose experimental or analytical methods that you will use in your thesis work, or that are relevant for your field of study.

Each doctoral student chooses the topics and content of their Themes together with their supervisors. For each theme, a short (maximum half page) study description must be sent to the examiner and Director of studies.

The study description must have a clear title and state the intended number of credits (2hp or 4 hp). It must also explain the selected technology/method/topic, the structure and content of the studies conducted within the Theme, and a time plan. The examiner must approve the theme and scope of the studies, before you start. A template for the study description can be found on the Intranet: https://intranet.chalmers.se/en/tools-support/doctoral-studies-support/courses/subject-courses-for-phd-students/.

Scope, content and examination of a "Theme"

2 hp corresponds to 1.3 weeks or 53 hours input.

Through each theme, you should learn the theory of the technique, the principles and mechanisms that it is based on, how it works, the assumptions involved in the method, application areas, and advantages and disadvantages. An important aspect of the theme is to address how the technique applies to YOUR research area/project and you should therefore demonstrate hands-on experience with the technique, producing a small set of data. This data should be analyzed, interpreted and reported.

Each Theme must be examined and finally approved by your examiner.


If the Theme is comprised of a course, summer school or workshop where there is a formal examination, presentation of work performed during the course/school/workshop or similar, then the course certificate, complemented with a copy of the course description (including tasks, contents and evaluation method) will be used. Hand this in to your thesis examiner.

If the Theme is based on self-study work you should write an essay (report). The essay must contain a description of the specific technology, methodology or modeling approach, the principles on which it is based, applications of the method in bioscience/biotechnology research in general and for your research in particular, data from a set of experiments performed using the method, analysis of the data, and discussion. For self-study work, you (and your supervisor) must find an 'external evaluator' who has the right expertise and that can review your essay and provide feedback. The 'external evaluator' shall provide a letter or email with his/her approval of your essay. Send this letter/email together with your final essay to your thesis examiner (with supervisors and director of studies cc).

It is possible to combine a course/workshop with self-studies into a Theme. If a course is for example only theoretical, then practical aspects and applications in your own research can be covered in a condensed report.

Course registration

After approval of you Theme, use the course crediting form to register credits for the different themes. The crediting form can be found on the Intranet: https://intranet.chalmers.se/en/tools-support/doctoral-studies-support/courses/subject-courses-for-phd-students/. Once you have collected the full 6 credits to complete the course and have gotten the corresponding signatures on the form from your thesis examiner, send the final form to the FKBT190 examiner for it to be signed and registered in LADOK.

Johan Larsbrink (johan.larsbrink@chalmers.se)