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Scientific Review in Experimental Biology
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:06
Abstract
During this Masters level course students synthesize and defend their critical scientific review of selected manuscipts in the broad field of basic experimental molecular biology, including but not limited to biochemistry, structural biology and biophysics.
Objective
The students will train an essential scientific skill of critical review of manuscripts that report experimental biology results. During the course, the students will develop domain knowledge in the area of the selected research articles, apply the peer review process used by scientific journals, develop critical comments as mock journal 'referees', and defend their comments and rebuttals.
Content
The students will analyse an early manuscript (bioRXiv / eLife), reviewer comments, authors responses and compare the initial to the final published version of the manuscript. Over the course of the semester the students will break into teams and alternate in the roles of "authors" and "referees" (2-3 students per team). The authors will select and "submit" a manuscript (an already published article of interest) for review. Subsequently the students will assume the roles of the referees, with a task of performing a introductory part of the course) and with suggested experiments. Finally, reverting bak to the role of the authors, the students will formulate a rebuttal letter with a point-by-point response to the reviewer comments. All students will participate in both roles. The students will meet during the semester to discusss the research papers, the review process and formulation of the reviews and rebuttal letters. The course will include a jounal club-style presentation of each manuscript, with a discussion of the critical comments and responses. A substantial part of the course will include self-study (reading the manuscripts, writing the review and response drafts, preparing the journal club presentations).
Resources
Lecture Notes
N/A
Literature
The literature will be provided during the course.
Learning Materials (Links)
- Moodle course
- Moodle-Kurs / Moodle course
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 8
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Scientific Review in Experimental Biology |
|
30 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Doctorate Biology (More Information at: )