20 ECTS credits
540 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4022187FNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Om te kunnen inschrijven in ‘Research internship / Journal and data’ clubs moet men in het bezit zijn van het bachelordiploma Biomedische Wetenschappen EN moet geslaagd zijn voor ‘Literature study preparing for the research trainings’, ‘Practical Laboratory Training / Jounal and data clubs’ EN moet men ingeschreven of geslaagd zijn voor ‘Master thesis Biomedical Research’
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculteit Geneeskunde en Farmacie
Department
Basis (bio-) medische wetensch
Educational team
Karin Vanderkerken (course titular)
Elke De Bruyne
Eva De Smedt
Activities and contact hours
540 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The Research Internship involves original experimental scientific work supported with bibliographic data. Experimental work means any action that produces data, which is subsequently reported in a written graduation work. The research subject is chosen from a list that is presented in the 1st Master. The preparatory literature study for this research internship has already been completed when the students start the internship (separate course in the 1st Master BMW).

In order to give biomedical sciences students the opportunity to gain relevant international experience in their field, two mobility windows were created during the course. In the second master this is a full academic year. Students can complete a research internship in an international lab of their choice.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Additional practical information about the Research Internship is given during a presentation during the first week of the 1st Master year. The presentation and relevant documents are made available, Canvas
Practical course material (Required) : International scientific literature in the field (both from the laboratory where the internship is carried out and externally), textbooks about relevant methodologies.
Handbook (Required) : Sigma-Aldrich® Laboratory Notebook Softcover Z702692-6EA, Sigma-Aldrich®, 9781090167958
Additional info

Students must submit an internship plan signed by the promoter for approval by the training council before 1 September for students who passed the first exam period and before 1 October for students who passed in the second exam period. This internship plan contains the scientific research question and research methods, and the subject of the Master's thesis is hereby determined. Changes to the subject of the Master's thesis and / or supervisor or renunciation by the supervisor must be reported to the chairman of the training council before 1 November at the latest. A derogation may be granted by the training council of the study program in question.

Students who will come into contact with human material during the internship must submit a certificate that shows they are sufficiently protected against hepatitis A and B. In case of insufficient protection, vaccination follows at least 10 days before the start of the internship. An appointment can be made both for blood sampling and for vaccination with the occupational health service Attentia (annick.thomas@attentia.be).

Additional practical information about the Research Internship is given during a presentation in the first week of the 1st Master year. The presentation and the necessary documents are made available via Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

The Research internship is an important part of the final assessment of the student in the Biomedical Sciences program. On an independent basis (under the supervision of the supervisor), the student will elaborate a scientific question (starting from literature data), prepare and carry out experiments, process results statistically and report orally and in writing.

This course contributes to the following training-specific learning outcomes:

The master BMW has in-depth knowledge and insight into

  • The clinical aspects of the main pathologies and the concomitant deviations in molecular, cellular and physiological processes in the human body
  • The working mechanisms of current treatments and principles of drug discovery and development, prevention and diagnosis

The master in Biomedical Research can

  • Formulate complex research questions, research the relevant literature as exhaustively as possible and design a research plan, including the selection of methods and techniques for the generation of data, followed by correct interpretation of the data.
  • Write a thesis in English to present the results of one’s own scientific research in the format of a peer-reviewed international journal
  • Present the obtained results in a scientifically sound manner to a national and international audience using modern means of communication
  • Function constructively in an international and intercultural setting
  • Collaborate in an interdisciplinary team and bridge the gap between basic biomedical research and clinical practice

The master in Biomedical Research has

  • The capacities to function in an actual research environment and appreciates the existence of various work settings
  • Insight into the international character of scientific research
  • Insight into the structure of the scientific profession and associated rules and regulations
  • A critical attitude towards his/her own research data and those of others and has the ability to distinguish correct scientific methods from pseudo-science.
  • High ethical and moral standards with respect to human subjects, human material, animal testing and the society as a whole.
  • Intercultural competences that are required to function as a word citizen in a globalizing world
  • An attitude of lifelong learning and is capable of self-assessment and application of self-learning strategies.
  • An eye for accurate reporting of research data in a laboratory notebook and the protection of raw data with respect to intellectual property and the reliability and traceability of the work
  • Sufficient knowledge and skills to carry out animal experiments according to the ethical guidelines of the Belgium authorities and as such has obtained the legal right to collaborate in animal testing (KB of 13-2004).
  • Insight into industrial valorization of research data, including protection of intellectual property, contracts with industry and the founding of spin-offs.
  • Obtained sufficient knowledge in statistical processing of data from complex study designs using general and generalized linear models

Specialization Biomedical Research:

  • The Master sufficient communication skills in English to be able to write manuscripts for international peer-reviewed journals, to present oral communications at international scientific meetings and to actively participate in discussions.

Specialization Management and Business:

  • Knows the relevant aspects within the micro and macro economy, also in an international context
  • Can identify and elaborate various aspects (e.g. marketing or strategy) of management in business
  • Knows the general processes within project management and can plan, lead and bring a project to a successful end
  • Has insight into biomedical research in the industrial context, in particular in the pharmaceutical sector
  • Has in-depth knowledge and insight into the ethical and legal aspects of clinical studies, knows the regulations of 'Good Clinical Practice' in detail and can apply this in practice (acquires a GCP-certificate)
  • Has in-depth knowledge and insight into the design and implementation of clinical studies for drug development

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
SELF Internship determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Internship category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Internship with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: The Research internship is assessed by the promoter (see additional info regarding evaluation)

Additional info regarding evaluation

The Research internship is assessed by the promoter. The following points will be taken into account:

the quality of the achieved work

the presence at work

commitment

practical skills, handling equipment, laboratory animals, chemicals

ingenuity

the interaction and communication with colleagues at work

the desire of the student to increase her / his knowledge

the scientific attitude

the organization and planning of the experiments

the ability to display and illustrate results in speech or writing

the pace

independence

the capacity to solve all kinds of problems.

correctly filling in the lab book

There is no retake possible for this assessment by the supervisor. Students can postpone their defense (and thus also the assessment by the supervisor) to the second exam period.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Biomedical Research: Standaard traject