| Responsible Department | Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences |
| Research School | Animal Nutrition and Physiology (RAN) |
| Course Dates | Block 2 Start coincides with semester start |
| Course Abstract | The course will focus on the experimental methods evaluating the metabolism of nutrients at both the whole animal and organ level (in vivo). Collated information from experimental research will be used in conjunction with biological models describing metabolic responses to a variety of nutritional and environmental conditions. Students will be provided with the principles necessary to plan and implement in vivo scientific investigations and to assimilate and write a scientific manuscript. |
| Course Registration | André Chwalibog, Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Grønnegårdsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Phone: +45 353 33044, Fax: +45 353 33020 |
| Deadline for Registration | Deadline 1. May |
| Credits | 10 (ECTS) |
| Level of Course | PhD course |
| Organisation of Teaching | 4 + 1 weeks at LIFE, 3 weeks at DIAS |
| Language of Instruction | English |
| Course Content | |
| Different animal experiments will be set up in different weeks at LIFE and DIAS. A week comprise introductory lectures in the beginning of the week, 3 days of practical experimental work, 1 day of lab work and evaluation of demonstration. The students must follow a total of 3 demonstrations, of which min. 1 has to be at either LIFE or DIAS. Individual activities will involve reviewing of scientific papers, seminar discussion and presentations, preparation of (for each of the practical demonstrations) a written report, which in the form will follow the guidelines of a scientific paper. Knowledge of quantitative nutrient and energy metabolism is fundamental for the evaluation of nutrient utilization and requirement in different life processes and for the development of nutritional strategies and methods of feed evaluation in relation to the optimisation of production, product composition/quality as well as various environmental factors. The experimental methods introduced will focus on the evaluation of whole animal function and the metabolism of nutrients at both the whole animal and organ level (in vivo). Collated information from experimental research will be used in conjunction with biological models describing metabolic responses to a variety of nutritional and environmental conditions. Students will be provided with the principles necessary to; (1) plan and implement in vivo scientific investigations where attention is given to the identification of specific scientific questions of relevance to the selected field of research and the selection of appropriate methodological approaches, including such aspects as protocol planning, experimental design, sampling, data collection and evaluation, (2) assimilate and write a scientific manuscript - literature overview, aims, methodology, results + graphic presentation, interpretation, discussion including a retrospective assessment of the suitability of the methodological approach adopted, conclusions and applications/perspectives. Students will spend a considerable part of their time at experimental animal facilities where they will be offered opportunity to obtain extensive hands-on experience with pre-selected animal experimental techniques. Experimental animal facilities are located at LIFE (Rørrendegård, Høje Tåstrup, and Frederiksberg) and 1-2 full weeks will be spent at the Danish Insitute of Agricultural Sciences, Foulum. Occasional evening and week-end work must be anticipated. Experimental Techniques in Animal Nutrition and Physiology - Part 1 (theoretical). Diploma course fulfilling EU educational requirements for persons working with experimental animals (included in the above-mentioned course). | |
| Teaching and learning Methods | |
| Different animal experiments will be set up in different weeks at LIFE and DIAS. A week comprise introductory lectures in the beginning of the week, 3 days of practical experimental work, 1 day of lab work and evaluation of demonstration. The students must follow a total of 3 demonstrations, of which min. 1 has to be at either LIFE or DIAS. Individual activities will involve reviewing of scientific papers, seminar discussion and presentations, preparation of (for each of the practical demonstrations) a written report, which in the form will follow the guidelines of a scientific paper. | |
| Learning Outcome | |
| The objective of the course is to: 1) Introduce experimental principles and provide students with extensive hands-on experience with key methods applied in animal physiology and nutrition (whole body and selected organ level) and hence the tools necessary to carry out and evaluate results obtained from animal research under different physiological and nutritional conditions. 2) Introduce students to scientific facilities and scientists within animal nutrition and physiology at LIFE and DIAS. | |
| Course Material | |
| The course is based on original scientific papers and advanced textbooks in animal physiology and nutrition. Suggestions for reading will be handed out during the course. | |
| Course Coordinator | |
| André Chwalibog, ac@life.ku.dk, Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences/Animal Nutrition, Phone: 353-33044 | |
| Other Lecturers | |
| Adrian Paul Harrison, Peder Nørgaard, Anne-Helene Tauson, Mette Olaf Nielsen, Christopher Harold Knight, Niels Bastian Kristensen | |
| Course Fee | |
| The course is free of charge for students under the Open Market for Ph.D. courses in Denmark and for students from NOVA-partners. | |
| Course Costs | |
| Other students will be charged 8000,00 DKK per student to cover course expenses associated with practical demonstrations | |
| Type of Evaluation | |
| Oral examination: 50% Written report: 50% | |
| Other Remarks | |
| The PhD course is offered by RAN. It is almost identical to a regular master course at LIFE. Official abbreviation: LIFE, Jordbrug - FIXME | |