Course Coordinator

Lisbeth Dahl

Dr.scient

lisbeth.dahl@nifes.no

Aim and Content

Overview of laboratory methods in nutrition research at NIFES, quality assurance, standards of accreditation, uncertainty of measurements, guidelines for different types of studies and theoretical and practical introduction to laboratory methods.

General introduction:
- Quality assurance/quality systems
- Overview of laboratory methods in different laboratories: Laboratory of nutrients, Laboratory of contaminants and Laboratory of molecular biology.
- Introduction in laboratory routines
- Uncertainty of measurements
- Specific/deepened theory of methods (will vary from semester to semester depending on the subjects in the master thesis/PhD thesis of each student and which methods that are relevant to learn for the students)

- Human studies - guidelines
- Human samples - guidelines
- Fish studies -guidelines
- Cell studies - guidelines
- Animal studies -guidelines

- Practical introduction/training in laboratory techniques (one or two methods)

Learning Outcomes

Give an introduction in nutritional laboratory analyses, standards of quality assurance, accreditation versus none-accreditation, aspects in uncertainty of measurements, guidelines for different studies (human, animal, fish, cell), guidelines for treatment of human samples, theoretical deepening and practical introduction in relevant laboratory methods for students who are doing laboratory analysis during an M.Sc./PhD program.

Course offered (semester)

Spring and autumn.

(It is recommended to follow the course in close time before laboratory work during master study/PhD, the semester before or preferably the semester parallel to the planned laboratory work). For students who will be working in other locations than the laboratories at National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) during the M.Sc/PhD, practical laboratory training will be given on the location were the student is going to work during master/PhD. This is to be agreed between the course responsible in agreement with supervisor and the external laboratory/institution. For the students to gain the most from the course, one should have chosen a subject for ones master thesis and have knowledge of which methods that are relevant for the thesis before starting the course. Before the course starts (early in January/August) there will be a meeting were the student, supervisor and course responsible will clarify relevant laboratory technique (normally one method, eventually two methods). The lectures are spread through the semester. Time and date for practical training in laboratory techniques (to be approved by the course responsible) must be agreed between the student and the laboratory leader in the laboratory at NIFES (there is some flexibility depending on what time both the student and the laboratory is available), or with the external supervisor/laboratory and the training must be completed during the semester. The student have to use a bit of time to be able to learn the methods, but technical laboratory approval is not necessary (as for accredited methods).. When the lectures and the practical laboratory training are finished the student has to hand in a semester assignment (May/June and November/December).

Pre-requirements

Acceptance for the M.Sc. study program in nutrition/human biology.

Recommended previous knowledge

The course is a laboratory course (chemical, microbiological or molecular biological methods). Due to this practical experience in laboratory work is recommended.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, practical introduction in laboratory routines and laboratory work.

Compulsory Requirements

Specific method theory and practical laboratory training, in addition to written semester assignment.

Assessment methods

Accepted semester assignment, containing aim, theoretical background, important aspects of the lectures, description of practical laboratory work, results and discussion (accepted/not accepted).