NOVA PhD course in plant pathology

Venue:
Circulates between the Nordic Counties with a new topic and expert teachers each year.

 

Goals:
The students will obtain an overview of the mechanisms by which plant pathogens interact with their hosts.

The students should be able to explain how selected methods could be utilised and results interpreted in their own research projects, including and understanding the assumptions made and the potential and limitation of the methods.

Pre-required knowledge:
The students should have a basic knowledge in plant pathology, genetics and molecular biology relevant to plant pathology. They should preferably work in projects dealing with plant-microbe interactions or have a strong background in plant biology or agronomy with physiology, molecular genetics, cell biology, microbiology, microbial ecology or population biology depending on the topic of the year.

 

Examination elements:
The students will be assessed based on their activity and presentations in their national study groups before the intensive course week.  In addition a small written report will be required after the course. In this report students should explain how their new knowledge could be utilised in their own research.
 
Deadline for after course examination or report:
Two weeks after the course.
 
Pedagogical approach:
Literature Studies:
To insure that all the students have a relevant background and will be able to follow the lectures and exercises, a list of literature (approximately 50 research and review papers) will be supplied; these papers should be read and discussed locally in journal clubs before the course.
 
Lectures:
The course will consist of lectures and discussions led by the invited international experts and the Nordic teachers.
 
Student presentations:
Students will be asked to give an oral or poster presentation based preferably on their own research projects. If possible, the presentations should describe the utilisation and the applications used in studying plant-pathogen interactions especially in the field of epidemiology, pathogen dispersal and related techniques.
 
Computer exercises:
The students will obtain some experience of computer simulations of genetic data, especially the determination of the genetic basis of host-pathogen interactions. These exercises will be an integrated part of the course, and will be conducted individually or in small groups.
 
Group Discussions:
Group discussions will be scheduled in the evenings to enable the students to review the lectures they have heard during the day.  Additional topics for these discussions include career opportunities in plant pathology, in a regional, Nordic, European, or global context.
 
Scientific content:
This will depend on the specific course offered.

During the lectures, a range of techniques and their application to study plant-pathogen interactions, virulence mechanisms of plants and plant defence mechanisms will be described. Results obtained by these methods and the way these results have affected our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions will be discussed.
 
Added value from non-NOVA teacher:
Two external teachers are invited to teach at the course. These teachers are renowned experts in their field , and have complementary backgrounds and interests.  In addition, several Nordic teachers with relevant research interests will also participate in the course.

Network members:
Professor David B. Collinge (KU-LIFE).
Prof. Jari Valkonen (HU)
Prof. Anne Marte Tronsmo (UMB).
Professor Jonathan Yuen (SLU).

Applications using this form should be sent to the local coordinator

 

Enquiries from Baltic students should be sent to David B. Collinge (KU-LIFE). Application deadline is usually 31/1 in the year of the course.