After completing the course you will be able to:
- phrase questions in the area of viral diseases in molecular terms. Based on the information supplied to you, you can formulate a problem at the molecular level.
- describe the molecular mechanisms with which a virus infects a cell and generates new progeny viruses. You are able to process the information supplied and identify relevant information in the scientific literature.
- in this process you are capable of defining the methods used to reach such insights.
- formulate a hypothesis that explains the behavior of the virus, and that can serve as a basis for a therapy for viral diseases. You are able to devise an approach to the problem.
- translate this hypothesis into feasible experiments.
- recognize, write and review the essential components of a research plan in the form of a summary
- convince people from different sectors of society (scientists, medical professionals, the interested layman) of the importance of your research. Convince the granting agency both orally and in writing of the relevance and feasibility of the proposed research project. 

The following aspects of academic education are represented in the course: 
- To study and analyze information 
- To synthesize and structure information (devise a model, a standpoint, an approach) - To make a (structured) judgment of activities and achievements (of others and of him/herself)
- To write (general): to plan different types of texts, write, rewrite and finalize 
- To present: prepare, execute and evaluate
- Discussion skills (eg. negotiation, interviewing, meeting)
- Social-contactual skills (communication and social intercourse)
- Command of the language orally and in writing (English)
- (The use of) modern information and communication technology
- To collaborate with others, to work in a team
- To work systematically: to plan your own work and that of your team, design and execute projects
- To handle deadlines: to plan/organize/monitor/adapt
- To prepare/design research: to develop a problem definition into a research plan
- In addition, discussions and presentation in English will be trained 

The topic will be taught in working groups and the special element of this setup is the integration of lectures by specialists, individual literature study, group discussions, the design of a grant proposal, writing and reviewing of its summary, and ending with a group presentation to defend the proposal. Each group consists of max. 4 students and has one supervisor.

Trying to understand molecular mechanisms of viral infection and disease is a fascinating endeavor and of significant societal relevance. In this course you will learn a lot, but will be taught little about this subject. Some general lectures on viruses and the methods available to study them will provide a basis to embark on the Viral Diseases project; the core of this course. 

Each project group will study one of the following three viruses: SARS-CoV-2 (the Covid-19 virus), Ebola virus, or influenza virus (flu virus). The three selected viruses constitute a serious health threat to mankind. Every viral disease starts with an infection and results in the production of new virus particles by infected cells. The molecular aspects of these processes will be mapped.

You then will formulate a research hypothesis that may further the research in this area.
Realistic experiments will be devised to test the hypothesis. Finally, the problem analysis, the hypothesis to be tested and the proposed experiments will be converted into a grant-proposal summary and presented to the other project groups at the concluding symposium. 

Viral infections are based on molecular interactions and physical-chemical processes in and on the surface of living cells. The project will reveal insights from biochemistry, molecular cell biology, structural chemistry and molecular immunology. Because the project deals with analyzing and solving realistic practical problems, methods of measurement and analysis will be a major topic of study. 

In the concluding presentation the "research teams" will present their research question that is to be investigated, justifying: 
-    Why is this a good question? Why exactly this supposition or hypothesis? 
-    What do you expect to learn from this?
-    How will this research further the field?
-    Why would I (or a granting agency) award the grant to you? 

You will see that this becomes an exciting experience, which is instructive at the same time, because you are forced to ask yourself what it is exactly that you want to find out and that you (upon closer inspection) do not know.

The most convincing presentations wins the prize: a one-year subscription to Scientific American for each group member. 
 
PLEASE NOTE: YOU HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE TIMESLOT BC. STUDENTS WHO ENLIST FOR A SECOND COURSE IN THE SAME TIMESLOT BC WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO FOLLOW THIS COURSE.