Maastricht University - Center for European Studies

This course introduces the general technical/methodological requirements, problems/challenges, and application possibilities of brain-computer interfacing. Besides attending lectures, in which course participants are provided with basic relevant knowledge by local BCI researchers, students study seminal papers of recent BCI work. Further, discuss the pros and cons of different functional brain imaging methods employed for BCIs as well as ethical implications and future directions. The practical part of this course includes a demonstration of an fNIRS-BCI experiment. At a later stage of the course, students perform an fNIRS-BCI experiment themselves.

The course's main topics are demography and epidemiology, with a special focus on population ageing and migration as important demographical developments in the European Union (EU). Learn to apply epidemiological methods to examine the impact of important demographical developments on public health in the EU. The course consists of three parts. In Part I, demography is introduced and students learn to describe and analyze the extent and causes of population ageing and migration in the EU. In Part II, several core epidemiological concepts and methods are dealt with, including research designs, association measures, bias, effect-modification, validity & reliability, and causal interpretation of research findings. Students familiarize themselves with these concepts by applying them to examine how population ageing and migration impact health in the EU. The role of socio‐economic differences is considered. Next to the exploration of ageing-related diseases (e.g. dementia), the course also introduces reproductive/child health. In Part III, to apply the knowledge from the first two parts to compare and critically appraise preventive measures (e.g. population screening) and public health policies for controlling negative health consequences of population ageing and migration in the EU.

This course teaches the psychiatric and neurological disorders that predispose to criminal offences. Most of this course pertains to neurocognitive processes of criminal offenders. Contextual factors, such as the history and current state of neuropsychology and psychiatry are discussed to provide the desired background knowledge of this topic. A considerable part of the course is devoted to neuropsychological abnormalities in offenders who are affected by a psychiatric disorder. Another substantial part of the course pertains to offenders with acquired brain injury. The connection between neural abnormalities and criminal offences are critically evaluated for each psychiatric or neurological disorder. A completely different side of neuropsychology and law, the effect of neurocognitive disorders in victims/witnesses of crimes on their eyewitness testimony, are also dealt with.

The purpose of this course is to introduce recent breakthroughs in the physical and biological sciences that are now being explored for biomedical applications. The topics come directly from the research expertise of the lecturers, all of whom are young principal investigators in the new research institutes at the UM: MERLN and M4I. The course covers a broad range of topics, including nanomaterials for regenerative medicine, supramolecular biomaterials, big data and computer learning, electron microscopy, imaging and diagnostic mass spectrometry, and structural biology of tuberculosis. Gain firsthand experience of scientific research taking place at the UM and have the opportunity to visit research laboratories as part of a demonstration of some of the topics discussed in the lectures. In addition to a final content-based oral exam, there are two papers for evaluation. For their midterm, students choose a recent discovery reported in the press and investigate the scientific claims and integrity of the reporting. In the final paper, the student acts as the reporter, and write an opinion piece on a topic of research in either MERLN or M4I; this report is informed by an interview with one of the lecturers. Prerequisites include at least one of: SCI2017 Organic Chemistry, SCI2037 Cell Biology, or SCI2038 Physics. Highly motivated students with a different background should speak to the course coordinators. 

This course is the second part of B1. An intake is necessary when you do not have a B1 minus certificate. The topics during the course are in line with the learning objectives for this advanced level. Topics include prepare and participate in discussions; give presentations about a current topic; express your feelings and your wishes; share your opinion; talk about films, books and concerts; discuss familiar topics, such as health. The topics during the course are in line with the learning objectives for this advanced level.

This course introduces the basic principles and techniques in genetics (in the context of oncology), to develop basic competences in the planning and performance of experiments and the evaluation of results, as well as writing reports. The course consists of 6 sessions of approx. 4 hours and covers topics such as DNA isolation/purification, gel electrophoresis, staining procedures, protein detection, and basic bioinformatics (commonly used databases, finding the genetic location of a specific gene and its gene sequences, design amplification primers for a specific genetic region, etc) using online available tools. Furthermore, this course provides basic knowledge on Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Laboratory Safety Regulations. Besides the hands-on time in the lab, each session requires preparation beforehand and reporting afterwards. Students work in pairs. Lab experience is not required, although biological and chemical background knowledge at secondary school level is recommendable for full understanding of the provided techniques. If necessary, in the first lab session, pipetting skills will be trained or refreshed. This course is designed to be taken in combination with SCI2022 Genetics and Evolution. Students who wish to take this course should concurrently enroll in SCI2022 Genetics and Evolution or have taken SCI2022 Genetics and Evolution before.