Alicia Elizabeth Smith: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2023 |
| Name | Dr. Alicia Elizabeth Smith |
| Address | Institut für Biochemie ETH Zürich, HPM G 6.2 Otto-Stern-Weg 3 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | +41 44 632 31 37 |
| alicia.smith@bc.biol.ethz.ch | |
| Department | Biology |
| Relationship | Lecturer |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 551-0357-00L | Cellular Matters: Properties, Functions and Applications of Biomolecular Condensates The number of participants is limited to 30 and will only take place with a minimum of 6 participants. The first lecture will serve to form groups of students and assign papers. | 4 credits | 2S | T. Michaels, F. Allain, P. Arosio, Y. Barral, D. Hilvert, M. Jagannathan, R. Mezzenga, G. Neurohr, R. Riek, A. E. Smith, K. Weis, H. Wennemers, further lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This Master level course delves into the emerging field of biomolecular condensates - membrane-less organelles in cells. Using interdisciplinary concepts from biology, chemistry, biophysics, and soft matter, we will explore the biological properties of these condensates, their functions in health and disease, and their potentiol as new biomimetic materials for various applications. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | In the last decade, a novel type of cell compartments called biomolecular condensates have been discovered. This discovery is radically changing our understanding of the cell, its organization, and dynamics. The emerging picture is that the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm are highly complex fluids that can (meta)stably segregate into membrane-less compartments, similary to emulsions. This interdisciplinary course encompasses milestone works and cutting-edge research questions in the young field of biomolecular condensates, including their properties, functions, and applications. The course begins with a lecture series that introduces the topic of condensates to an interdisciplinary audience and provides a theoretical foundation for understanding current research questions in the field. the lecturesprovide a base for student presentations of recent publications in the field, and for research seminars given by course lecturers, who are all active researchers with diverse expertise. Through this exciting interdisciplinary understanding of biomolecular condensates, bridging biology, chemistry, biophysics, and soft matter. Students will not only learn how to critically read and evaluate scientific literature but will also gain valuable experience in giving scientific presentations to an interdisciplinary audience. Each presentation will require an introduction, critical analysis of the results, and a discussion of their significance, allowing student to substantiate their statements with a critical mindset that considers the pros and cons of chosen approaches and methods, as well as any limitations or possible follow-up experiments. This process will enable student to ask relevant querions and actively participate in class discussions, further enhancing their scientific skills. In preparing the presentations, the students will have the unique opportunity to interact closely with each other and with the lecturers, who are all internationally well-established experts, and receive guidance in selectin a topic for the final presentaton and supporting literature. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The topic of biomolecular condensates goes beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines and requires a multi-disciplinary approach that leverages and cross-fertilizes biology, physical chemistry, biophysics, and soft matter. This course will explore the properties, functions and potentioal applicatons of biomolecular condensates, including their role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as their use as smart biomimetic materials. This course is divided into two parts. The fist part will introduce the basic concepts essentialto the study of biomolecular condensates and phase separation. Topics include: fundamental units and scales in soft matter, phase transitions in biology, biopolymers and molecular self-assembly, introduction to active matter. This will establish a foundation for the second part, which will explore milestone works and current research in the field of biomolecular condensates. Each lecture of this second part will consist of: 1) a short literature seminar, where student groups will present and discuss a milestone paper assigned in advance and 2) a research seminar, where one of the course lecturers will present their own state-of-the art research in the field, building upon the milestone literature. At the beginning of the course, student groups will be formed and assigned the milestone papers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Lecture slides and some scripts will be provided. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | No compulsory textbooks. Literature will be provided during the course | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Competencies |
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| 551-1303-00L | Cellular Biochemistry of Health and Disease  | 4 credits | 2S | T. Kleele, V. Korkhov, G. Neurohr, V. Panse, M. Peter, A. E. Smith, F. van Drogen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | During this Masters level seminar style course, students will explore current research topics in cellular biochemistry focused on the structure, function and regulation of selected cell components, and the consequences of dysregulation for pathologies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will work with experts toward a critical analysis of cutting-edge research in the domain of cellular biochemistry, with emphasis on normal cellular processes and the consequences of their dysregulation. At the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate, critically discuss and write about scientific articles in the research area of cellular biochemistry, and they will identify open testable research questions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Guided by an expert in the field, students will engage in classical round-table style discussions of current literature with occasional frontal presentations. Students will alternate as discussion leaders throughout the semester, with the student leader responsible to briefly summarize key general knowledge and context of the assigned primary research paper. Together with the faculty expert, all students will participate in discussion of the primary paper, including the foundation of the biological question, specific questions addressed, key methods, key results, remaining gaps and research implications. By the end of the semester, students will formulate their ideas about open testable research questions that extend from the published work. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | The literature will be provided during the course | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course will be taught in English. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
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