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
Due to specific risks and safety issues, students must have successfully passed for the complete bachelor program of Biomedical Sciences and ‘Practical Laboratory Training / Jounal and data clubs’ and Literature Study Preparing for Research Trainings. Enrolling for ‘Research Internship / Jounal and data clubs’ means also that you simultaneously take ‘Master Thesis Biomedical Research’ of have successfully passed ‘Master Thesis Biomedical Research’
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
Department
Basis (bio-) medische wetensch
Educational team
Karin Vanderkerken (course titular)
Kim De Veirman
Activities and contact hours
540 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The Research Internship involves original (experimental) scientific research supported with bibliographic data. With (experimental) scientific research is understood any research activity that generates research data, which is subsequently reported in a Master Thesis. The host lab where to complete the Research Internship and the related research topic is free of choice (with the possibility of a international traineeship as well – if possible in the framework of a LLP/Erasmus exchange). All practical information about the Research Internship & Master Thesis is given during an info session before the start of the Master Program. The slides used during this info session and all related documents are available on Canvas. The course Literature Study in preparation for this Research Internship should be completed before the student can start with the Research Internship.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : All practical information about the Research Internship & Master Thesis is given during an info session before the start of the Master Program. The presentation used during this info session and all related documents are available on Canvas., Canvas
Practical course material (Required) : International scientific literature in the field (both from the laboratory where the internship is carried out and from other research teams), 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 to the Educational Council Biomedical Sciences 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 original scientific research question and workplan, thereby formally establishing the subject/topic of the Master Thesis. A change in either the topic of the Master Thesis and/or the host lab or promotor must be reported to the chairperson of the Educational Council Biomedical Sciences before 1 November at the latest.

Students who will come into contact with human material during the internship must submit a certificate proving that they are sufficiently protected against hepatitis A and B. In case of insufficient protection, vaccination at least 10 days before the start of the internship is required. Both for the blood collection and vaccination an appointment can be made with the occupational health service Attentia.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

The Research Internship is an important part of the final assessment of the student in the Biomedical Sciences Program. During the Research Internship, the student will 1) independently elaborate an original scientific research question under the (daily) guidance of the promotor), 2) design and carry out the research activities, 3) process the obtained results (statistically) and 4) report about the research activities both in speech and in writing.

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

The Master in Biomedical Research 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 Master Thesis in English to present the results of one’s own scientific research in the format of a peer-reviewed international paper.  
  • Present the obtained results in a scientifically sound manner to an (inter)national audience using modern means of communication.
  • Function constructively in an (inter)national and (inter)cultural setting.
  • Collaborate in an (interdisciplinary) team.

The Master in Biomedical Research has

  • The capacities to function in an actual research environment and appreciate the existence of various work settings.
  • Insight into the (inter)national character of scientific research.
  • 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 world 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. 
  • Obtained sufficient knowledge in statistical processing of data from complex study designs using general and generalized linear models.
  • Sufficient communication skills in English to write papers for international peer-reviewed journals, to present oral communications at international scientific meetings and to participate actively in discussions.

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 performance during the Research Internship is fully and solely assessed by the promoter. For detailed information, see the section ‘Additional information regarding the evaluation’.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The performance during the Research Internship is fully and solely assessed by the promoter. The promotor will be asked to take into account the following criteria:

• Overall quality of the work

• Presence at work

• Commitment

• Practical skills, handling equipment, laboratory animals, chemicals

• Inventiveness

• Interaction/communication with colleagues at work

• Student’s desire to increase her/his knowledge

• Scientific attitude

• Organization and planning of the experiments

• Ability to display and illustrate results in speech and writing

• Pace

• Independence

• Capacity to solve all kinds of problems.

• Correctly filling in the lab notebook

There is no retake possible for the Research Internship. Nevertheless, in agreement with the promotor, students can postpone the defense of their Master Thesis (and thus also the assessment of their performance during the Research Internship by the promotor) 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