Interdisciplinary project

Hands-on experience in bioinformatics and processing of genomics data using real world data and addressing real world scientific questions is essential for any future computational biologist. Likewise, a computational biologist needs to be able to effectively communicate the intentions and scope of the scientific work undertaken, as well as the results obtained, interfacing between two rather different disciplines: computer science and (molecular) biology. Apart from being able to present the own work in a clear manner, it is also important to correctly describe it (e.g., in form of research articles, technical reports, dissertations, oral presentations at conferences, etc.).

Hence, the objective of the course is to practice and improve the scientific communication skills necessary for scientific work in an interdisciplinary environment, including both the verbal and the written communication of methodological details as well as the findings of research projects in a clear and concise manner to audiences of diverse backgrounds.

This course is intended to accompany the students' scientific projects (in most cases their thesis projects) such that they have the opportunity to improve their communication skills using their own scientific work rather then presenting or discussing the works of others (like, for example, it would be done in a journal club).

The participants will have the opportunity to not only develop but also give both oral and written presentations (a scientific talk and a short report/paper) about the preliminary results, open questions and future plans/tasks of their project work. Feedback regarding their presentations will be provided such that it, ideally, may help to improve the final quality of the Master's thesis and its oral defense (which in turn may potentially improve the final grade).

Ideally, this course is thought to accompany the scientific project that the participants are executing (or will be executing) for their Master's theses, so that (apart from the preparation of a few oral presentations and short written summaries, thought and organized to be reusable for the Master's thesis and its defense) no additional practical work is required.

For participants who instead wish to work on a project other than their thesis work, alternative research projects can either originate from some external internship or be developed during the course.