BSc Biology (3 year, Dutch language program (link to program)

Plant biology track coordinator: Marcel Proveniers

Level 1 courses

Plants and Micro-organisms (Compulsory first-year BSc Biology course (first 6 weeks))

• Coordinator: Diederik Keuskamp
• Content: plant development, form and function, photosynthesis, transport of water/nutrients, plant plasticity (responses to abiotic change), and plant–microbe interactions (beneficial and pathogenic).
• Format: lectures (concepts), tutorials (active learning), practicals (hands-on observation/experiments).
• Outcome: foundational plant biology for further BSc Biology study.

Biotechnology and Society (Elective for first-year BSc Biology)

• Content: Knowledge on techniques such as molecular cloning, recombinant DNA, gene expression analysis, genetic transformation, CRISPR-Cas, protein production/purification, sequencing, mass spectrometry.
• Format: lectures, online modules, practicals, workshops, group project; emphasizes applying techniques, interpreting results, communicating findings.
• Outcome: apply techniques, interpret results, and communicate your findings while evaluating the impact of biotechnological innovations

Other Teaching Courses with Plant Science Concepts

• Genomica
• Experimentation Weeks

Level 2 courses

Plant Physiology and Development (Core course in Plant Biology track)

• Coordinators: Marcel Proveniers and Silvia Coolen.
• Content: molecular/physiological control of growth and development; responses to light, temperature, water, and stress; linking whole-plant traits to underlying mechanisms, Societal context: sustainable agriculture, climate change, bioenergy, GM crops.
• Format:  lectures, literature analysis, oral presentations, peer review.
• Outcome: Students gain insight into the molecular and physiological processes that operate at the level of cells, tissues, and the entire plant.

Host–Microbe Interactions (HOMI)

• Coordinator: Pim Goossens
• Content: mechanisms and ecology of plant–microbe interactions; immunity, symbiosis, microbiomes; experimental and conceptual approaches.

Molecular Genetics Research Techniques (MGOT) (Core practical course of BSc Biology)

• Focus: techniques such as cloning/recombinant DNA, bacterial gene transfer, plant genetic mapping, yeast two-hybrid/complementation, protein isolation, Western blot, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy.
• Format: preparatory lectures, self-study; data analysis in R and Fiji; robust lab records and reporting.
• Opportunity to obtain Safe Microbiological Techniques (VMT) certificate.

Metabolism and Biochemistry

• Coordinators: Boris Tefsen and Nora Gigli-Bisceglia.
• Content: thermodynamics, protein structure/enzymes, carbohydrates; energy metabolism (digestion, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, TCA, oxidative phosphorylation, glycogen, PPP); integration and regulation.
• Format: blended—textbook/e-modules, quizzes, interactive workgroups, lectures.

Plants in Context

• Coordinators: Diederik Keuskamp and Ava Verhoeven;
• Content: Plant exudates (how plants influence their environment), plant complexity with attention to single and multiple abiotic stresses and root–shoot communication, and finally competition and biodiversity
• Format: Theme-based weeks, interdisciplinary lectures, tutorials on primary literature, weekly themed assignments, digital practicals

Level 3 courses

Advanced Biotechnology

• Coordinators: Dmitry Lapin and Silvia Coolen
• Focus: plant/animal/microbial/medical biotech; methods plus ethics and legislation.
• Format: Towards the end of the course, the students develop a business idea or work on the R&D project with a practical component, which allows them to apply knowledge obtained in the course to solve societally and economically relevant issues. Highlights of the course: guest lectures and company visits; career orientation in biotech.

Genoombiologie

• Coordinator: Ronnie de Jonge
• Focus: genomic principles and applications in biology, with plant-focused components.

Research Design & Analysis: Molecular & Cell

• Focus: experimental design, statistical analysis, and reporting in molecular/cell biology contexts.

Molecular Plant–Microbe Interactions (MPMI)

• Coordinators: Pim Goossens and Arsheed Sheikh
• Content: plant immunity, pathogen strategies, signaling networks, experimental approaches; research-focused writing and critique.

Food Forward

• Coordinator: Rashmi Sasidharan.
• Content: plant resilience/productivity, microbiome applications, digital phenotyping, alternative foods (fungal, cultured meat).
• Skills: science communication, debating skills via group projects and podcast conception
• Course Highlights: Taught by academic and industry experts; links plant science to food security and policy.

Plant Development and Environment (PDE)

• Coordinator: Kaisa Kajala
• Research-centered: molecular regulation of development, developmental plasticity under environmental change.
• Practical components: wet and data labs—hypotheses, experimental design, data collection/analysis, interpretation.
• Emphasis on current literature and research careers; prep for research MSc.

Modeling Life

• Coordinator: Monica Garcia Gomez
• Content: Introduction to computational modeling of living systems.
• Outcomes: translate biology to Python models; algorithmic thinking; choose modeling formalisms; understand assumptions/limits.
• Format: lectures plus computer practicals across plants, animals, microbes.

Evolutie 3: Co-evolutie in theorie en praktijk

• Content: principles of (co)evolution; plant–pathogen coevolution and plant immunity.
• Includes lab projects applying evolutionary principles to plant immune systems.

Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences (MBLS, 3 year; English language program (link to program page)

Mentors: Arsheed Sheikh and Jason Gardiner.

Level 1 Course

Functional Biology (Compulsory Course)

• Coordinator: Jason Gardiner
• Content: Connects molecular/cellular concepts to organismal biology across evolution, microbiology, plant and animal biology.
• Format: lectures, Q&A, tutorials, practicals; group project on a model organism with poster session.
• Outcome: foundations in biology and scientific literature skills for subsequent courses.

Level 2 Courses

Statistics & Academic Writing

• UU Plants role: content reviewers for Academic Writing—provide topics, biological background, and writing guidance.
• Outcome: transferable academic writing skills for courses and internships.

Genomes, Cells & Tissues

• Focus: organization and function from genomes to cells and tissues; integrates molecular to tissue-level perspectives.

Level 3 Courses

MPMI

• See above section on BSc Biology

Omics in the Life Sciences

• Coordinator/Teacher: Dmitry Lapin.
• Content: principles and data analysis in genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics.
• Format: lectures, extended tutorials, in-class assignments, Q&A for synthesis.
• Skills: R programming, GitHub, FAIR data management.
• Guest lectures from academia, industry, and research institutes; career insights.

Other Programmes with Plant Science Concepts

•  Biomedische wetenschappen (Research Design & Analysis)
• The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• University College Utrecht

Level 3 course

Advanced Biotechnology

• Coordinator/Teacher: Dmitry Lapin.
• Scope: biotech methods across plants, animals, microbes, and medicine.
• Learning activities: tutorials and in-class assignments (cloning, gene mapping, legislation, AI in biotech); reading and presenting primary literature; debate on biotech and society; develop business ideas addressing societal issues.
• Highlights: guest lectures; guidance toward future studies and career paths.

BSc internships: UU Plants can advise on opportunities; contact relevant research groups.