1 st year, 3 ECTS
This course is designed to serve as revision for students, and to ensure that all students are ready to begin immediately in the laboratory. Students will therefore:
- Receive training covering occupational health and safety in the laboratory. This will include electrical and physical hazards, chemical hazards, biological aspects of safety, including dealing with living microorganisms and cells.
- Receive an introduction basic considerations of working in a laboratory, including lab etiquette, the process of keeping a laboratory journal and the importance of recording and storing data in a clear and accessible manner.
- Receive a basic revision course on some of the calculations that are required when working in a laboratory, and in particular those concerning determining concentrations of components in buffer solutions.
- Receive a basic course on the use of standard computer programs, such as spreadsheet and presentation software, which are required in the day-to-day life of researchers, for the analysis and presentation of data.
- Undertake a range of laboratory exercises, either alone or in pairs, designed to familiarise themselves with basic techniques, skills and equipment of a laboratory.
- Listen to short presentations from representatives of the different active research groups within the Department of Biotechnology, who will provide introductions to their current research projects and interests, to help with selection of laboratory apprenticeship course.