Evaluation number 6. Application no: 50. Applicant: Ewa Mellerowicz, SLU. Application title: Wood Biology and Biotechnology

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1 Evaluation number 6 Application no: 50 Applicant: Ewa Mellerowicz, SLU Application title: Wood Biology and Biotechnology Notes from the secretariat Requirements not fulfilled: Other notes: There are 19 teachers on the course. This is a lot. The applicant is arguing that Since the UPSC [Umeå Plant Science Center] environment is rather unique in that we have world-class experts in many areas of wood biology, we used all this available expertise. This is a real opportunity, as most of the teachers are in Umea and most of them do not require remuneration for their teaching, of 7 November Joint Nordic course planning is required on NOVA courses. All NOVA teachers on the course are from SLU. The non-nova main teachers on the course are from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) and Sweden (Umeaa University). One other teacher is from a non-nova part of the University of Helsinki. However, Prof. Teemu Teeri from HU-AF is participating in the course planning, according to the applicant. Thus, two NOVA institutions and two Nordic non-nova institutions are planning the course: SLU and UPSC (Sweden), as well as Luke and the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki (Finland). According to the applicant, the cost of materials will include the recommended book and printed matter, of 7 November Proposed resolution: The application is granted funding of maximum EUR plus an incentive grant to be used on administration of EUR

2 NOVA Open Call 2016, 3 rd Round, Application for a Single Course, Mellerowicz, # 50 Name of head applicant ( = course leader) Academic title Institution Address Has the course been offered before? Are you applying for funding of a PhD course or a Master's course > euro? Course title Estimated workload Ewa Mellerowicz Prof. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) ewa.mellerowicz@slu.se Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet) KBC building, Linneaus väg 6 Dept of Foest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umea Sweden No PhD course Wood Biology and Biotechnology 2 hours seminar 23 hours lecture 5 hours practicum 60 hours independent work 2.5 hours demonstrations 9 hours social activities and poster sessions ECTS 3 Motivation for not using the norm of 30 hours of workload per ECTS Preliminary location (place and country) The slightly higher total time load is due to, firstly, approximating the time (60 h) for the individual work, which will include reading of a book, and approx. 20 research papers, and secondly, the fact that the course program includes 9 h of social activities and poster sessions, which perhaps should not be counted as 100% workload. Umeå, Sweden Number of course days 5 Preliminary course dates Oct. 30-Nov 3, 2017 Will the course include a distance learning part? Main teachers Motivation for having 8 or more teachers on the course Course description No Prof. Ewa Mellerowicz, PhD Dr. Anna Kärkönen, PhD Prof. Geoff Daniel, PhD Dr. Hannele Tuominen, PhD Dr. Totte Niittylä, PhD Dr. Urs Fisher, PhD The course teachers represent specialized fields of wood biology, and are experts in specialized methodologies. However, majority of teachers are located at the site of the course, and their teaching will not be charged. Course description Development of novel wood-based products requires an

3 NOVA Open Call 2016, 3 rd Round, Application for a Single Course, Mellerowicz, # 50 understanding of the biological processes that lead to wood cell differentiation including cell division, expansion, secondary cell wall formation and programmed cell death. One-week intensive PhD course provides an overview of these processes, as well as wood organization, chemistry and structure in conifers and hardwoods, from the molecular level to the tissue organization level, followed by an update on molecular, genetic and physiological aspects of wood cell differentiation and cell wall formation. Lectures and seminars are given by experts in the field. Current tools for studying wood biology, structure and chemical composition are introduced with practical demonstrations. Content The course is focused on biological processes leading to wood formation. It will include lectures and seminars covering the wood cellular organization and chemical composition, molecular and hormonal control of wood development, biosynthesis of wood cell walls, the overview of different methods of wood cell and cell wall analysis, model systems and bioinformatics resources to study wood biology. Practical demonstrations of current state-of-the art methods for analysis of wood, and hands-on experience with bioinformatics tools available and with wood microscopy will be included. Programme outline Monday: Introduction to wood structure and ultrastructure, microscopy techniques to study wood, practicum in wood anatomy, poster and social activities Tuesday: Molecular and hormonal control of wood development, model systems to study wood, demonstration of xylogenic cell suspensions; Wednesday: Wood cell wall biosynthesis, social activities and poster presentations related to wood cell walls Thursday: Techniques to study wood and wood formation. Friday: Biotechnology of wood from a leading biotech company. Final social activities. Pre/post-course assignments The students will receive literature to read before or after the course, and should bring a poster related to their PhD project. Prerequisite knowledge The knowledge of biology and biochemistry or microbiology at the bachelor level is required, for example, 60 ECTS in Biology including 7.5 ECTS in Cell biology and 15 ECTS Chemistry, or the equivalent. Evaluation elements Open book written exam. Pedagogical approach The course includes mostly lectures, practical activities, and science discussion at the poster session. There will be also demonstrations of techniques, and seminars. Learning outcomes Knowledge: Understanding how the wood tissue is formed Understanding the cell wall chemical composition and organization in xylem cells Understanding the molecular and hormonal regulation of xylogenesis

4 NOVA Open Call 2016, 3 rd Round, Application for a Single Course, Mellerowicz, # 50 Understanding the principles of biosynthesis of main cell wall components Knowledge about the wood and cell wall analysis technologies Skills: Be able to design a program for functional studies of genes involved in wood formation Be able to identify different anatomical features of wood Be able to use bioinformatics resources for wood biology studies. Competence: Be able to evaluate feasibility of different biotechnological manipulations of wood for different end-uses Be able to suggest approaches to reach biotechnological goals. Finland, Sweden, and Norway are three Nordic countries which economies are largely based on exploitation of forest resources. Utilization of wood lignocellulose requires thorough understanding of wood nature and biological process leading to wood formation. This course is providing such bases. The topic of this course also contributes to the area mentioned as one of NOVA priority areas. Wood Biology and Biotechnology is only briefly covered at the bachelor level within the forestry degree curriculum, whereas bachelors with general biology degree are usually not very familiar with the tree biology and wood formation topics. Thus, this course fills an important gap in the PhD student education. Nordic dimension - reasons why the course should be facilitated through NOVA The number of PhD students in wood biology sciences at SLU is too small to organize this course for the local students.this course is complementary to the PhD course on Plant Cell Walls offered every third year at the University of Helsinki. The course is jointly planned between SLU, Umeå Plant Science Center, Sweden, the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke, Finland, and the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Finland. In addition to the main teachers, Prof. Teemu Teeri, from UH-AF, Dept of Agricultural Sciences, is responsible for course planning. Added value of the course: Lecturers cover wide areas of wood biology and biotechnology. They contribute with expertise from several institutes from two countries (Sweden, Finland), even institutes not affiliated to NOVA is represented. Students have a good opportunity to communicate with the teachers during social activities and the poster sessions. The students have an excellent chance to make contacts with fellow students of other countries. Will your application be sent to another contributor? No

5 BUDGET PHD COURSE Head applicant Ewa Mellerowicz Course title Wood Biology and Biotechnology Application for PhD course Course year 2017 Number of teachers, researchers, speakers NOVA teachers Specification Number Prof. Ewa Mellerowicz, UPSC, SLU; Dr. Urs Fischer, UPSC, SLU; Dr. Totte Niittyla, UPSC, SLU; Dr. Junko Takahashi-Schmidt, UPSC, SLU; Prof. Thomas Moritz, UPSC, SLU; Prof. Rishikesh Bhalerao, UPSC, SLU; Dr. Judith Felten, UPSC, SLU; Prof. Geoffrey Daniels, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden 8 Non-NOVA teachers and researchers Dr. Hannele Tuominen, UPSC, UU; Dr. Andras Gorzas, UPSC, UU; Dr. Nathaniel Street, UPSC, UU; Dr. Mattias Hedenström, UPSC, UU; Dr. Anna Kärkönen, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke ( Dr. Kaisa Nieminen, Univ Helsinki, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke; Dr. Marcus Rüggeberg, ETHZ, Switzerland; Prof. Björn Sundberg, Stora Enso, Sweden; Dr. Edouard Pesquet, SU, Sweden; Sven-Olof Lundqvist, INNVENTIA, Sweden; Dr. Nicolas Delhomme, UPSC, UmU 11 Non-NOVA speakers Total number of teachers, researchers, speakers 19 Estimation of number of participants Number NOVA students 12 BOVA students 3 Other Nordic non-nova students 3 Other Estimated total number of participants 18 Fees from participants, non-nova and non-bova students EUR Fee set by course organizer 400 Number of course days 5 Costs of meals per day per person (EUR) 20 Material costs per student (EUR) 190 Maximum number of students covered by NOVA (NOVA students) 25 Percentage of course fee to be deducted from final disbusement from NOVA 50 % Costs Accommodation EUR EUR NOVA teachers Prof. Geoffrey Daniels, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden 450 Non-NOVA teachers and reasearchers Dr. Anna Kärkönen, Natural Resources Institute Finland ; Dr. Kaisa Nieminen, Univ Helsinki, Natural Resources Institute Finland; Dr. Marcus Rüggeberg, ETHZ, Switzerland; Prof. Björn Sundberg, Stora Enso, Sweden; Dr. Edouard Pesquet, SU, Sweden; Sven-Olof Lundqvist, INNVENTIA, Sweden 3150 Non-NOVA speakers Total accommodation 3600 Travel expenses NOVA teachers Prof. Geoffrey Daniels, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden 400 Non-NOVA teachers and reasearchers Dr. Anna Kärkönen, Natural Resources Institute Finland ; Dr. Kaisa Nieminen, Univ Helsinki, Natural Resources Institute Finland; Dr. Marcus Rüggeberg, ETHZ, Switzerland; Prof. Björn Sundberg, Stora Enso, Sweden; Dr. Edouard Pesquet, SU, Sweden; Sven-Olof Lundqvist, INNVENTIA, Sweden 3000 Non-NOVA speakers Total travel expenses 3400 Remuneration Person 1 (non-nova teacher/reasearcher/speaker) Dr. Marcus Rüggeberg, ETHZ, Switzerland 300 Person 2 (non-nova teacher/reasearcher/speaker) Sven-Olof Lundqvist, INNVENTIA, Sweden 300 Total remuneration 600 Meals NOVA students 1200 Teachers, researchers, speakers 1900 Total meals 3100 Miscellaneous - costs related to course content (laboratory, field excursions etc.) Material 2280 Transport Rent 5 days at 500 eu per day for the lecture hall, laboratory and microsco 2500 Other Total miscellanous 4780 Other costs 0 Total costs not including adminstration Administration (10 %) 1720 Total costs with administration Incentive grant from NOVA to be used on administration 2500 Calculation of fees from participants, non-nova and non-bova students Other Nordic non-nova students 1200 Other 0 Total amount of fees 1200 Part of fee to be deducted from the final disbursement from NOVA 600

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