Methods and Techniques of Research

Recommended Prerequisites

Graduation in Health Sciences or related subject.

Teaching Methods

The vast majority of the course will provided in the form of Seminars presented by reputed specialists, during which the students are encouraged to actively participate. During the preparation and discussion of the proposal the students will directly interact with the coordinators of the Course, to improve formal aspects. The proposal will be further presented and discussed before a panel of external specialists who will give particular emphasis to scientific and technical aspects. Whenever possible, the students will have the opportunity to attend practical  classes in a lab environment.

Learning Outcomes

The overall aim of this course is to provide students with research competences and transferable skills necessary to identify a relevant scientifc question and design scientific research project of high quality, including generic laboratory techniques and methodolgies used in biomedical research. The course includes the presentation of cutting edge scientific techniques and methodological approaches, by experienced specialist, that  will constitute valuable tools for students to understand the most recent advances in biomedical research described in the literature. Morevor, the knowledge and skills gathered during this course will be particularly important for students to design a competitive and state of the art PhD Thesis proposal.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Presentation, by experienced specialists, of various biomedical research techniques and methodolgies. The fundamentals, advantages and disadvantages, and the more recent advances related to various techniques, considered useful tools for health sciences research will be discussed. This knowledge will be of utmost importance in the elaboration of the grant proposal, namely to what technical approaches and methodologies is concerned. 

Furthermore, the students will have to elaborate, with the help and under the supervision of the coordinators of the course, a grant proposal, that will be presented and discussed before a panel of external specialists in the field. The students are strongly encouraged to propose a scientific project that includes topics from basic to translational research.

Head Lecturer(s)

Henrique Manuel Paixão dos Santos Girão

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 20.0%
Project: 40.0%
Resolution Problems: 40.0%

Bibliography

Selected papers from international scientific journals in the areas of molecular biology and biochemistry