Utrecht University

During this course, students get acquainted with the latest developments in diagnostic molecular pathology, both in theory and practice, and gain insight in the molecular biological concepts of diseases. Specific themes are used to describe the entire process, from obtaining tissues until diagnosis. Histological and immunohistochemical techniques are discussed, but the focus is on next generation molecular pathological approaches and techniques, sequence analysis, proteomics, laser microdissection, and  tissue-arrays. Student execution of these techniques and written scientific reports  are important aspects of this course. The course begins with a general introduction in the molecular pathology and accompanying genetic aspects, followed by specific themes on: cardiovascular and transplantation pathology; laboratory animal models in molecular pathology; genetic; and epigenetic aspects of tumor genesis.

Natural disasters are a part of everyday life and may cause significant economic, social, and emotional damage. Natural disasters include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, meteorite impacts, floods, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, landslides, and land subsidence. Many natural disasters act at scales so large that humans have no choice but to adapt or suffer the consequences. But in many others, it is mostly human (in)action and behavior before and after the event itself that determines the scale and scope of a disaster. This course connects several recent developments; the ongoing climate change, the increasing connections between economies which cause, for example, the next earthquake in Tokyo or California to have global repercussions, modern media showing the tsunami in Thailand real-time into our homes, refugee flows, and climate conflicts. The course is designed for bachelor students in economics, social sciences, physical geography, earth sciences, history, social geography, environmental sciences, and liberal arts and sciences.

This course follows the discussions, the topics, and the paradigm changes concerning film music from a historical point of view. The course studies context and content of the most prominent functions of music within (most importantly) narrative feature film. At the same time, the course provides a historical tour d’horizon on technology, aesthetics, and implications of film sound and film music, using several theoretical approaches. A HISTORY OF FILM MUSIC by Mervyn Cooke provides the historical framework. Students of this class practice various theoretical approaches and coinciding audio-visual analyses in a series of weekly assignments. A weekly film viewing is part and parcel of the course. This course requires students to have intermediate to advanced knowledge of Western music history, and elementary to intermediate knowledge of music theory, as a prerequisite.

This class addresses topics from network structure and growth to the spread of epidemics. The course studies diverse algorithmic techniques and mathematical models that are used to analyze such large networks, and give an in-depth description of the theoretical results that underlie them. Some topics are random graphs, giant components, power laws, percolation, spreading phenomena, community detection, basic algorithms for network science, lower bounds and advanced algorithms for polynomial-time problems, sampling algorithms, streaming algorithms, sublinear algorithms, and graph partitioning algorithms.

The course assumes basic skills in algorithms and mathematics: familiarity with basic graph algorithms (shortest paths, flows), and basic understanding of NP-completeness. Work with basic probabilities and some integrals in included.

This course covers some of the most pressing social inequality issues as they relate to welfare and health. By focusing on European societies, the course compares and contrasts social inequality patterns, as well as societal and policy responses to social inequality. Questions posed in this course include: How do various societies respond to enduring, growing, or changing inequalities? Do these challenges lead to an erosion of solidarity, in an 'us versus them' rhetoric? When and why do people stand up for social justice (or not)? And to what extent are we accepting of social inequality? Taking a sociological, psychological, and political philosophical approach to these topics, this course offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding social inequality and the societal as well as social policy responses in contemporary Europe.

Medicine is trending towards advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP), which include biomolecules and cells, focusing on disease modification and on personal differences: personalized medicine. But a better understanding of a person’s characteristics or disease characteristics can also be exploited by repurposing of old medicines. This course studies personalized medicine at several levels: Molecular, cellular, organ, organism, and population. The course starts with an individual assignment of a recent first in class medicine and ends with group assignments on future medicines. Course topics include the latest medicines and how they were developed; Drug repurposing; Cell and gene therapy and regenerative medicine; the self; our compatibility gene; and Glycomics and related diseases. Class attendance is monitored during the six weeks of teamwork. Students who do not participate in the presentation and Q&A of their team (which is essentially an exam) or do not meet the attendance requirement do not get a grade. Previous knowledge in (bio)chemistry, cell biology, pharmacology, and immunology are required.

This course critically examines the various key approaches which have dominated international development debate and underlie the multifarious development practices and policies of the last few decades. Using a perspective on the different channels, the main actors, and institutions involved, including new donors, private sector, international organizations, and international agreements that impact development processes in the global south. Focus is on the interfaces between academic paradigms, practitioners’ approaches, and the debate on questions of international cooperation and development in society at large. The course deals explicitly with the ethical and moral aspects related to development cooperation. The multidisciplinary character of this course makes it well suited for students of other programs, who may approach development issues from their own respective disciplinary backgrounds.