KJM9330 – Soft Matter Nanobiotechnology

Course content

This course aims to teach the physicochemical properties of biological soft materials e.g. biomembranes, microtubules, DNA etc., combined with state-of-the art laboratory techniques such as micro fluidics, micro - and nano fabrication, confocal and TIRF microscopy for formation and characterization of these materials.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, you shall:

• have fundamental understanding of biological soft materials and soft matter in general : definition, characteristic features and applications.
• have hands on experience in state-of-the-art technologies for the formation and characterization of biological soft matter e.g. microfluidics, micro - and nanofabrication, confocal and TIRF microscopy.
• competence in academic writing: the ability to write a detailed report on the foundation and results of your laboratory experiments, in scientific manuscript structure and quality.
• competence in communication & dissemination of scientific results: the ability to present your findings to your class in a scientific conference presentation format.

Admission to the course

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.

The course has a total of 24 places, for both master's students and PhD candidates.

Recommended previous knowledge

• MENA3300 – Nanotechnology
• KJM-MENA3300 – Physical Chemistry III - Macromolecules, Condensed Phases and Dynamics (continued)

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with KJM5330 – Soft Matter Nanobiotechnology (discontinued).

Teaching

The course duration is one semester. The teaching includes:

• 42 hours of lectures and
• 20 hours of mandatory laboratory exercises.

The laboratory course is mandatory and must be approved prior to the final examination

A completed and approved laboratory course is valid for six semesters beyond the semester it was approved. After this period, you must complete the laboratory course again to be able to sit for the final examination

It is mandatory to attend the first lecture (including students on the waiting list). If you are unable to attend the first lecture, you must notify the Department of Chemistry before the start of the lecture, otherwise your course registration will be cancelled.

Attendance at the laboratory course is mandatory. If you are prevented from meeting, you have to show documentation that you were legally absent (medical note from a doctor or similar).

As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.

Examination

The examination includes:

• a written report by maximum 5 pages which counts 70 % towards the final grade and
• an oral presentation which counts 30 % towards the final grade.

The mandatory laboratory exercises must be completed and approved before you can sit the final exam.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: KJM5330 – Soft Matter Nanobiotechnology (discontinued)

Examination support material

Access to all material is allowed. The students are further allowed to discuss with their class mates, but need to write the report and present it, individually.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.