General (21)
In the context of their affiliation with the Research Host Lab, students are expected to acquire state-of-the-art knowledge in the research themes studied in their Research Host Laboratory and become familiarized with the evaluation and analysis of research literature in modern aspects of molecular and cellular biology.
Syllabus: Students actively participate in research team meetings and relevant bibliography seminars in their Research Host Lab, and also in Joint Seminars held by members of all collaborating departments/institutes of the University of Ioannina and BRI-FORTH involving lectures by researchers from the University of Ioannina, BRI-FORTH, or other Universities or Research Centres from Greece and abroad, in current themes of Biotechnology, Biosciences, and Biomedical Research.
Joint Seminars in Biotechnology, Biosciences, and Biomedical Research (calendar)
Following the preparation, writing, and presentation of the Master’s Thesis by the student, the student’s performance in the Master’s research thesis is evaluated by a five-member committee of examiners (members of the program) in an open-audience defense process. With respect to the evaluation criteria, the student is evaluated primarily for the degree of comprehension of the research project, the experimental competency in the lab, and the ability to deliver the relevant scientific knowledge and perspectives with clarity and conciseness, as based on the written text, the oral presentation by the student, and the reasoned opinion of the supervising educator/researcher.
Master's Theses of the I.I.P.P.S. program
- Anagnostopoulou-2020
- Tsoukala-2021
- Kilafas-2021
- Zolder-2021
- Efthymiadou-2021
- Martzios-2021
- Vlataki-2022
- Kordias-2022
- Koloi-2022
- Nadalis-2022
- Nakas-2022
- Pappa-2022
- Sarras-2022
- Sinanis-2022
- Zafeiri-2022
- Rakovoliou-2022
- Krimitza-2023
- Gkougkousis-2023
- Thomou-2023
- Zikopoulou-2023
- Iosifidou-2023
- Triantopoulou-2023
- Manolis-2023
- Besta-2023
- Pothos-2023
- Lentzaris-2024
Students are affiliated with a Research Host Lab for education and training relevant to the preparation of their MSc research project. They are expected to become qualified in the theoretical understanding and experimental practice of basic molecular and cellular biological techniques related to their research project, to become familiarized with the relevant research literature, and to be able to communicate related scientific knowledge to the research community with clarity, scientific coherence, and comprehensiveness.
Syllabus: Students are actively engaged in research study in a Research Host Lab for preparation of their MSc research work and acquire systematic laboratory education and training in basic molecular and cellular biological techniques relevant to their research project.
Meeting for presentation of the BIOMED-20 research program (Sept. 2023)
Each student needs to work for his Master’s research thesis for a minimum of 12 months, during the second and the third semesters of study. In the second semester, the student engages in preparatory experimental and literature research (attendance of seminars on a particular research field and familiarization with research techniques that are to be used in the Master’s thesis). In the third semester, the student engages intensely in the preparation, writing and presentation of the Master’s Thesis. In addition, the master’s student education involves participation in research group seminars and literature revision seminars, as well as in invited researcher lectures that are organized in the hosting laboratories or in the context of the MSc program in general.
Master’s Thesis projects are proposed by members (academics/researchers) of the Program immediately after the end of the first semester. The hosting laboratory is selected by each student in agreement with the research group leader who has proposed the corresponding project. In case of multiple candidates applying for the same hosting position, the group leader selects one of the candidates based on academic criteria such as the student’s performance, the student’s level of preparation with respect to understanding the rationale of the project, etc. Each research group leader is eligible to supervise one Master’s Thesis research project per enrollment cycle.
2019 - MSc Mol Cell Biol Biotechnol, Master Thesis Projects proposed (pdf)
2021 - MSc Mol Cell Biol Biotechnol, Master Thesis Projects proposed (pdf)
Biotechnological products and applications (BPA), 5 ECTS, total teaching hours 32 + 4 for literature theme presentations by MSc students
Aims: Familiarization with different directions and approaches in the field of Biotechnology, and understanding of the interconnections of applied biotechnology with basic research in molecular and cellular biology.
Sections:
[1] Microbial Biotechnology.
[2] Enzyme Biotechnology.
Themes taught and (approximate) duration:
a) Microbial Biotechnology
Horizontal gene transfer (2h), leakage of genetic material to the environment: risks, safeguards, legislature (1h), Genetically modified bacteria (2h), Microbial production of primary metabolites (3h), Microbial production of secondary metabolites (3h), Environmental Biotechnology: Biodegradation (3h), Green Biotechnology: Plant-microbe interactions (2h).
b) Enzyme Biotechnology
Enzyme kinetics – proteins as biotechnological products (3h), White Biotechnology: enzymes as tools for industrial production of high-value products (3h), Nanobiotechnology: enzymes and nanobiocatalytic systems for bioactive therapeutic products (3h), Design and development of bioprocesses: Bioreactors I (3h), Design and development of bioprocesses: Bioreactors II (3h).
Functional analysis of genes: from the design to the living system (FDBS), 5 ECTS, total teaching hours 30 + 4 for literature theme presentations by MSc students + >6 for familiarization with experimental manipulations and calculations in the laboratory
Aims: Understanding of modern research strategies through paradigms of development of molecular tools, model study systems and integrated analysis of important reference proteins, and familiarization with computational and wet-lab experimental methods.
Sections:
[1] Gene delineation, manipulation, and expression
[2] Protein function and interactions
[3] Model organisms
[4] Familiarization with computational methods
Themes taught and (approximate) duration:
a) Gene delineation, manipulation, and expression
Genetic and genomic engineering (2h), Mutagenesis designs (2h), Genome editing by CRISPR-Cas9 technology (2h). Experimental design of a mutagenesis project (2h).
b) Protein function and interactions
Functional analysis of proteins: Identification and qualitative characterization of protein interactions (2h), Quantitative analysis of protein interactions (2h), Experimental design of a protein interactions study (2h). Holistic approaches to protein analysis-Proteomics (3h), Principles of microscopy – applications to biological research (2h), Structure, dynamics and molecular basis of protein function: applications to rational drug design (2h).
c) Model organisms
Model organisms: Zebrafish in biological research (2h), The yeast genetic model (2h), The Drosophila genetic model (2h), The mouse as a model in biomedical research (2h).
d) Familiarization with computational methods
Bioinformatic analysis of biological data (2h), Statistical analysis of experimental data (2h)..
Cell growth, differentiation and cancer (CGDC), 5 ECTS, total teaching hours 36 + 4 for literature theme presentations by MSc students
Aims: Understanding of important aspects of carcinogenesis and cancer development (genetics/epigenetics, immunity and cancer, neoplasticangiogenesis) with emphasis on subjects that are within the research interests of members of the program’s teaching team.
Sections:
[1] Molecular basis and aberrations in cancer. 1A. Molecular basis. 1Β. Molecular aberrations.
[2] The tumor microenvironment. 2Α. Tumor metabolism and angiogenesis. 2Β. Immunity and cancer.
[3] Cancer markers, treatment, experimental models and techniques. 3Α. Cancer markers and treatment. 3Β. Analysis techniques and cancer experimental models.
Themes taught and (approximate) duration:
a) Molecular basis and aberrations in cancer
Molecular basis: Genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer (2h), the cancer stem cell model (2h), Basic principles of carcinogenesis - hallmarks of cancer (2h), DNA damage and repair mechanisms (2h).
Molecular aberrations: Principles of pathology approach to neoplasms (2h), Molecular aberrations of melanomas (2h), Molecular aberrations of lymphomas (2h), Acute leukemias (diagnosis, types, prognosis, treatment) and cell therapy (2h).
b) The tumor microenvironment
Angiogenesis, endocytosis, extracellular vesicles: General principles of metabolism in cancer (2h), The role of endocytosis in angiogenesis and in cancer (2h), Extracellular vesicles and tumor microenvironment (2h).
Immunity and cancer: Mechanisms of immune tolerance and their importance in homeostasis and cancer, Immunity and cancer I (2h), Immunity and cancer II (2h).
c) Cancer markers, treatment, experimental models and techniques
Cancer markers and treatment: Genetic and epigenetic markers (2h), Liquid biopsy markers: Techniques for identification and clinical applications (2h), Anticancer therapies (2h), Drug discovery in cancer (2h).
Analysis techniques and cancer experimental models: Flow cytometry in hematologic malignancies (2h), Next Generation Sequencing applications in cancer (2h), Transgenic mice as cancer models (2h).
The biology of stem cells and applications in regenerative medicine (BSCRM), 5 ECTS, total teaching hours 32 + 4 for literature theme presentations by MSc students
Aims: Deeper understanding of principles of current biology through the study of stem cells and understanding of one of the most modern therapeutic approaches in the field of health biotechnology.
Sections:
[1] Types and properties of stem cells.
[2] Laboratory use and applications of stem cells. 2Α: Directed stem cell differentiation in vitro 2Β: Applications in regenerative medicine.
Themes taught and (approximate) duration:
a) Types and properties of stem cells
Fertilization and pre-implantation embryo development / totipotency (4h), Post-implantation development-organogenesis (4h), Blastocyst cells/pluripotency (2h), Isolation and culture of embryonic stem cells, Assays for pluripotency (2h), Primordial stem cells, Self-renewal/cell cycle, Methods for maintaining self-renewal/pluripotency in vitro, The gene regulation network, the epigenetic landscape, and the signaling pathways of embryonic stem cells (3h), The shift from pluripotency to multipotency, Somatic cell reprogramming / induced pluripotent stem cells (3h), «Plasticity» / transdifferentiation (2h), Adult stem cells / Niche (2h).
b) Laboratory use and applications of stem cells
Directed stem cell differentiation in vitro: Differentiation of embryonic stem cells to various directions/transient states (2h), Differentiation of adult stem cells / precursors (2h), Signaling pathways and tissue-specific differentiation, In vitro differentiation and malignant transformation (2h).
Applications in regenerative medicine: Inherent self-renewal capacity of tissues, Production of tissues ex vivo, organoids (2h), Scaffolds / tissue mechanics (2h), Autologous transplants, Cell replacement therapy, Cell therapy of malignancies (2h).
Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology (ΜCB), 10 ECTS, total teaching hours 46 + 4 for literature theme presentations by MSc students
Aims: Interconnection of basic principles of biology with current research developments and approaches in molecular and cellular biology.
Sections:
[1] Cellular organization and function.
[2] Genomes and gene regulation.
Themes taught and (approximate) duration:
a) Cellular organization and function
Evolution, Molecular evolution (3h), Chromatin, nuclear envelope and nucleo-cytoplasmic traffic (3h), Biosynthetic secretory pathway (2h), Mechanisms of vesicle-mediated exocytosis, Extracellular vesicles (2h), Endocytosis: mechanisms and role in regulation of cellular function (3h), Transmembrane transport (2h), Mitochondrial transporters in human physiology and pathology (2h), Ion channels and neurological disorders (2h), The role of cytoskeleton in cellular functions (2h), Mitotic spindle organization (2h).
b) Genomes and gene regulation
Genome organization and evolution (2h), Bioinformatic genome analysis (2h), Transposable elements and diseases (2h), Mechanisms of gene expression regulation, RNA-dependent regulation of transcription and translation (2h), The role of translational control in nervous system function (2h), Cell cycle regulation, Cell cycle in oocytes and in egg cells (3h), Cell signaling: The PI3K/PTEN pathway (2h), The Wnt pathway (2h), The role of NO in regulation of metabolism (2h).
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Master’s Thesis: |
ECTS |
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30 |
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European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System |
30 |