MSc Biocontrol Solutions for Plant Health - BOOST
BOOST program
Presentation of the BOOST MSc by the president of Université Côte d'Azur, Jeanick Brisswalter, during the International Congress of Nematology (ICN 2022) in Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, May 2022 (youtube video from 32min33 to 38min16).
BOOST M1 - First year
All Teaching Units (TU) are mandatory.
- TU1 - Upgrading classes
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AIUBOO10 - TU1- Upgrading classes (1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
The upgrading classes would bring students to a basic understanding of the various foundational courses that make up the BOOST teaching units. This is done in order to introduce (for students who have no experience) and to refresh (for students who already have experience) students to the variety of modules and concepts in the study of biocontrol.
- TU2 - BOOST School
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AIUBOO11 - TU2 - Introduction to Biocontrol (1st year; 3 ECTS)
December month starts with a BOOST School of one week, where seminars offer an unique opportunity for students to connect with major actors of the Biocontrol and Biostimulant communities.
Students have the opportunity to interact one on one and share ideas and opinions with the various professionals present would be given the opportunity for a brief poster presentation. - TU3 - Data analysis 1
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AIUBOO12 - TU3 - Data analysis 1 (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
The objectives of this course are (i) to familiarize students with the use of R for statistical analyses and (ii) to learn the basics of the most common statistical models applicable to biocontrol experiments. Students will be introduced to the use of R to clean, manipulate, analyze, and present scientific data. The course includes a mixture of theoretical elements on statistical models and exercises to allow students to learn statistical analyses through practice.
- TU4 - Law & IP 1
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AIUBOO13 - TU4 - Law & IP 1 (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
During the Law and IP 1 teaching unit, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of Environmental and Intellectual property laws. The objective is to understand how environmental and IP laws are regulated, which are the major international treaties and how those would concern the everyday work of a future professional in the field of biocontrol, and more generally in the scientific field. Lectures are provided by law professionals and include active interactions with students.
- TU5 - Management 1
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AIUBOO21 - TU5 - Management 1 (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
The Management 1 course aims to provide students with the tools to understand the basics of project management: from the definition and planning of a project to its execution and termination. The course consists of lectures given by management professionals during which students actively participate in discussions. - TU6 - Natural products for biocontrol
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AIUBOO14 - TU6 - Natural products for biocontrol (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
The “Natural products for biocontrol” course introduces students to the large diversity of biopesticides that are based on living organisms and bioactive compounds which are recognized as a promising pest management tool in plant protection. This transdisciplinary course is underpinned by several scientific fields such as biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, plant & insect physiology, interaction biology, chemical ecology, neurobiology.
The main objective of TU06 is to provide a basic knowledge on biopesticides. The students will be led to a better understanding of their diversity in terms of nature (botanical, microbial, chemical mediators) and uses (e.g. attract & kill strategy) as well as their modes of action. They will also be introduced to secondary plant metabolites and their biocidal role to deeper understand the origin and the role of such molecules inside the plants.
In practice, TU6 will include lectures on botanical pesticides and plant secondary metabolites, microbial pesticides and chemical mediators as well as their mode of actions. Students will have to identify relevant scientific documents and analyse them in order to provide reports as graphical abstract and oral presentation. - TU7 - Analytical chemistry and formulation
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AIUBOO15 - TU7 - Analytical chemistry and formulation (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
This course gives an introduction to analytical chemistry and an overview of important analytical methods and their range of application within detection of inorganic and organic compounds. Important analytical quantitative techniques from classical methods, electrochemical methods, spectrochemical/spectrophotometric methods, mass spectrometry and separation techniques are reviewed. The course also includes a range of descriptions of both primary and secondary metabolites as well as different extraction techniques involved. The course gives information on encapsulation of various products and the various techniques that can be applied depending on the state and property of the product.
- TU8 - Plant responses to biotic stresses and sustainable management of plant tolerance
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AIUBOO16 - TU8 - Plant responses to biotic stresses and sustainable management of plant tolerance (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
This course explores how plants interact with the biotic components of their environment with key interests on crop improvement, plant breeding and managing disease resistance. The place and application of biotechnology in the process of crop improvement and protection would be generally and extensively discussed here as concepts like mapping, classical breeding, molecular markers and marker assisted selection would be studied.
- TU9 - Interactions : evolution and adaptation 1
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AIUBOO22 - TU9 - Interactions : evolution and adaptation 1 (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
In this course, the obligatory and facultative multitrophic interactions between insects and microbes would be extensively studied such as insect-virus and insect bacteria interactions. The effect/impact of these symbionts on the insects would also be discussed as well as how they alter the life of the insects and influence its behavior and adaptation to factors in its environment. Here, concepts such as sex determination and its consequences, cytoplasmic incompatibility, silencing of genes, etc would be detailed.
- TU10 - Biodiversity for Biocontrol in Agrosystems
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AIUBOO17 - TU10 - Biodiversity for Biocontrol in Agrosystems (24 hours; 1st year; Theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
This course introduces students to the large biodiversity that exists in agrosystems and how the different actors and players are linked. Here, various theories and their methodologies would be explored as well as important features to be considered for the improvement of biocontrol. Concepts such as genetic, taxonomic and functional biodiversity would be discussed.
BOOST M2 - Second year
All Teaching Units (TU) are mandatory.
- TU13 - Data analysis 2
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AIUBOO31 - TU13 - Data analysis 2 (24 hours; 2nd year; theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
The objective of Data analysis 2 course is to enable students to effectively implement computerized information systems for management and analysis of geographical data. The teacher in charge will introduce the students to the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to create, manage, analyze, and map geographical data. The course includes both theoretical lectures and practical demonstrations of the functioning of a particular GIS system. Students will be taught to actively manipulate the software.
- TU14 - Law & IP 2
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AIUBOO32 - TU14 - Law & IP 2 (24 hours; 2nd year; theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
This course is a further in-depth teaching on the various aspects as would have been seen in Law & IP 1 with more focus placed on access to traditional knowledge as well as access and benefit sharing for research and exploitable traditional resources from different geographic territories. It also gives insights on the standard ethical procedures in accessing, working and dealing with these resources in the course of research.
- TU15 - Management 2
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AIUBOO33 - TU15 - Management 2 (24 hours; 2nd year; theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
The Management 2 course focuses on the fundamentals of R&D organization and management within working organizations. A comprehensive overview on general management and leadership, business organization and R&D department functioning will be provided by management professionals during the lectures. Students will actively participate into discussions.
- TU16 - Plant responses to abiotic stresses and biostimulants
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AIUBOO34 - TU16 - Plant responses to abiotic stresses and biostimulants (24 hours; 2nd year; theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
This course looks into the global ecology challenges in a changing climate: rising carbon levels and the global warming impacts on sustainability of crop production and food security. It then further presents specific abiotic plant stress and its causes. Then goes on to discuss how plants respond to abiotic stress and how to adapt to these challenges.
- TU17 - Interactions : evolution and adaptation 2
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AIUBOO35 - TU17 - Interactions : evolution and adaptation 2 (24 hours; 2nd year; theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
Evolutionary trends for insect survival and adaptation would be further studied in this teaching unit. Here, the basis of molecular evolution would be explored and concepts regarding host selection, parental imprinting, balanced sex ratio, sex and genomic conflicts, sexual reproduction and evolution as well as sexed and non-sexed evolution would be discussed together with the various mechanisms of adaptation to the environment.
- TU18 - Biocontrol sustainability and risk assessment
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AIUBOO36 - TU18 - Biocontrol sustainability and risk assessment (24 hours; 2nd year; theoretical course; 3 ECTS)
The Biocontrol sustainability and risk assessment course aims to provide students with an overview of the possible environmental and ecological risks derived from the use of biocontrol products and strategies. The “bio” prefix implies indeed the organic origin of such compounds/organisms but does it necessarily guarantee their environmentally safe profile? The main objective of TU18 is to enable students to develop a critical view of the potential impact of biocontrol strategies on ecosystem components, non-target organisms and human health.
- TU19 - Mentored Projects
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AIUBOO37 - TU19 - Mentored Projects - Mentoring (from few days up to some weeks; 2nd year; practical activity; 12 ECTS)
Mentored projects are small-scale projects that can last from a few days to a few weeks. Mentored projects are carried out during semesters 1 and 3 of the two-year Master's programme in parallel with the theoretical lectures. During these projects, students have the opportunity to carry out practical activities in the context of a topic of interest. Mentored projects are usually proposed by Master BOOST and include short periods in host labs or companies, or collateral activities aimed at the academic and professional development of the student. - TU20 - Internship 2
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AIUBOO41 - TU20 - Internship 2 (6 months; 2nd year; practical activity; 30 ECTS)
The BOOST internships are designed so that students can have an elongated period of practical experience of one or a combination of the different BOOST focus aspects. This ultimately exposes BOOST students to focused working and professional experience with regards to research or industry. This eventually culminates in the presentation of a detailed report of the activities carried out by the student during the period and serves as a thesis for grading.
- TU11 - Mentored Projects
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AIUBOO18 - TU11 - Mentored Projects
(from few days up to some weeks; 1st year; practical activity; 6 ECTS)
Mentored projects are small-scale projects that can last from a few days to a few weeks. Mentored projects are carried out during semesters 1 and 3 of the two-year Master's programme in parallel with the theoretical lectures. During these projects, students have the opportunity to carry out practical activities in the context of a topic of interest. Mentored projects are usually proposed by Master BOOST and include short periods in host labs or companies, or collateral activities aimed at the academic and professional development of the student.
- TU12 - Internship 1
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AIUBOO23 - TU12 - Internship 1 (minimum 4 months; 1st year; practical activity; 24 ECTS)
The BOOST internships are designed so that students can have an elongated period of practical experience of one or a combination of the different BOOST focus aspects. This ultimately exposes BOOST students to focused working and professional experience with regards to research or industry. This eventually culminates in the presentation of a detailed report of the activities carried out by the student during the period and serves as a thesis for grading.
Learn more about the internships