year: 2026

• Plant Ecology of Arctic and Alpine Environments

  Starting date: August 2026

  Location: Online

  ECTS: 5

  Course leader

  

  Elisabeth Cooper

  Professor UiT

  Practical info

  This course will be online. The responsible institution is UiT.

  Important! Registration is binding! Do not register for a course unless you are sure that you can attend.

  1. Course applicants must register at UiT. UiT course page.
     • Application through nettskjema in June (information to be updated soon)

  Course content

  This course focuses on arctic and alpine plant ecology and is part of a project enhancing international communication and joint learning between Norway and Japan. It is run alongside Masters level course Bio-3530 and students from both levels will work together, with the PhD students having a greater role in stimulating and leading discussions.

  Students will learn in an international classroom of students from Norway and Japan and lectures will be given by teachers from both countries with examples from many different arctic and alpine locations. Students will gather in a classroom at each of the participating universities and have joint lectures, give presentations and have discussions with students at the other locations in real-time through TEAMS or ZOOM. Norwegian-based students can join in-person in Tromsø or NMBU or completely online from other locations.

  This course gives students the opportunity to learn in an international arena and to improve their scientific reading, writing and oral communication skills.

  Learning outcome

  Knowledge

  Upon successful completion of this course, the student:

  • Understands the similarities and differences between arctic and alpine environments.
  • Understands the seasonality of arctic and alpine environments.
  • Knows about vegetation zones, vegetation types and key plant species in arctic and alpine environments.
  • Knows how to detect patterns of vegetation change.
  • Knows about the contribution of indigenous peoples’ knowledge and information gained from agricultural experts.
  • Is aware of the relevance of long-term data for ecological research.
  • Is aware of the work of international scientific bodies such as the Arctic Council.

  Skills

  After completing the course, the student is able to:

  • Outline the main challenges to plant life in arctic and alpine environments.
  • Give examples of the effect of climate change on plants in the arctic and alpine.
  • Give examples of plant-herbivore interactions in the arctic and alpine.
  • Give examples of the importance of international scientific cooperation at several levels.

  General competence

  The student:

  • Has increased ecological knowledge.
  • Can interact with others from a different background, culture and language.
  • Has improved confidence for making oral presentations and contributing to discussions.
  • Can lead discussions and encourage others to contribute.
  • Can communicate information in written and oral form.
  • Incorporates current knowledge and new scientific information into critical thinking.

  Teaching methods

  Lectures, seminars and student presentations.

  Some lectures will be presented as videos in Canvas and some will be real-time online lectures. Seminars will be held online in real-time and discussions will be carried out with students at several universities in Norway and Japan.

  Course dates

  Fall 2026

  Admission deadline

  PhD students at UiT apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1. September.

  Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb. Local admission, application code 9301 – Singular courses at PhD level (apply between 20th of July and 9th August). For applicants who are granted a seat, a study right will be created, and these applicants apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1. September.

  Admission requirements

  The course has a maximum of 4 student places in autumn 2026. The number of student places may vary from year to year depending on funding.

  The course is reserved for the following categories of students:

  • PhD students enrolled at UiT.
  • PhD students at other Norwegian Universities who are members of the research school Photosyntech.

  Students who take Bio-8540 Field Course in Arctic and Alpine Plant Ecology in Autumn 2026 will be prioritized for BIO-8530 Plant Ecology of Arctic and Alpine Environments.

  To apply for this course: for Tromsø-based students: contact course leader. For those elsewhere apply to a singular PhD-level course at UiT.

  Language

  English.

  Coursework requirements

  To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:

  Attendance to real-time online sessions		Approved – not approved
  Lead at least one seminar		Approved – not approved
  Make at least one presentation and contribute actively to the seminar discussions		Approved – not approved

  Examination

  Examination:	Duration:	Grade scale:
  Oral exam	20 Minutes	Passed / Not Passed

  11. March 2026

  •

  •

• Northern Biodiversity Hotspots: taxonomy field course

  Running dates: August 10. – August 14., 2026

  Application deadline: UiT students: June 15th. others: June 1st.

  Location: Skibotn (meet up in Tromsø the first day)

  ECTS: 5

  Course leader

  

  Galina Gusarova

  Researcher UiT

  Practical info

  This course will be on site at the Skibotn fieldstation (see more below).The responsible institution is UiT. UiTs local course code is BIO-8024.

  Important! Registration is binding! Do not apply for a course unless you are sure that you can attend.

  Registration: PhD students in Norway must apply for this course in BOTH ways (others apply with step 1);

  1. Please fill in the online application here
  2. Apply to UiT (course code Bio-8024 or Bio-3024) UiT students must register through studentweb, the registration opens 15 May.

  The course schedule and description of field excursions will be provided at a late stage to the accepted participants. Participants meet up at the Botany Building, The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT 10 August at 12:00 for practical information and transport to Skibotn.

  The course is run with financial support from the national graduate school Photosyntech.

  Contact Galina Gusarova (galina.gusarova@uit.no) for more information.

  Course content

  Practical experience with morphology-based species identification is in high demand in both basic and applied biological research. You will study applied taxonomy, acquire identification and field collection skills, as well as learn how to prepare and mount the specimens for preservation in museum collections.

  This course will provide training in the identification of Boreal and Arctic groups of flowering plants. The teaching will take place in Skibotn area with a remarkably high species number for such northern latitudes (68-69 degrees N) challenging the general concept that species richness decreases as latitude increases. Daily excursions to both lowland and mountain habitats will be combined with practical work in the class to identify the collected materials using the identification keys and learn diagnostic characters of plant taxa.The field course is preceded by a self-study period where students read about main groups of vascular plants and prepare a lecture to be given during the course.

  This course is accredited by the University of Tromsø as amounting 5 ECTS. Course code Bio-3024 (MSc level) and Bio-8024 (PhD level). See the course description on the UiT pages here. 

  Instructors: Andy Sortland andy.sortland@uit.no and Galina Gussarova galina.gusarova@uit.no.

  Required previous knowledge/course-specific requirements

  The field course is preceded by a self-study period where students read about main groups of vascular plants and prepare a lecture to be given during the course in Skibotn.

  The course is primarily intended for PhD students of the research schools and post-docs. However, it is also open for MSc and BSs students, as well as non-students if there is space available.

  Assessment

  Performance during the practical parts of the course and a practical exam (pass/or fail), which will be arranged on the last day of the course. The exam will consist of the identification of specimens using keys and documenting the distinct morphological characters of the specimens that are used to classify it to taxa at different taxonomic levels. 

  Financial aid

  We provide transport from Tromsø (The Arctic University Museum) to Skibotn station. Accommodation and subsistence at the Skibotn field station for the course duration will also be covered for all the participants. There are no course fees. Support to cover travel to Tromsø will be available to (i) Members of Photosyntech who are awarded activity grants and can use these grants to cover their travel expenses. Activity grants are paid out after each semester to members who have been attending courses that year; (ii) ForBio members affiliated with Norwegian universities or research institutes. All other applicants will need to secure their own funding to cover travel to Tromsø.

  It is expected that all participants in the course are affiliated or become affiliated with the research schools:

  Apply for membership to Photosyntech graduate school (PhD students in Norway only)

  Find out about how to become a ForBio member or associate (PhD students and all other applicants).

  Admission

  The maximum number of participants is 15. 

  PhD candidates apply for a seat by contacting course responsible, Galina Gusarove, before June 8th. PhD candidates that are granted seats on the course can continue to apply formally:

  PhD candidates at UiT register in Studentweb before course starts

  PhD candidates outside of UiT apply for a singular course between July 20th and August 9th and register in Studentweb after acceptance.

  Language

  English.

  For questions regarding the research schools

  For Photosyntech: contact Sunniva Katharina Thode at photosyntech@uit.no 

  For ForBio: contact Micah Dunthorn at micah.dunthorn@nhm.uio.no 

  9. February 2024

  •

  •

• Plant stress biology surveillance and experimental design

  Starting date: November 2nd-6th, 2026

  Location: Tromsø

  ECTS: 3

  Course leader

  

  Laura Jaakola

  Professor UiT

  

  Katja Karppinen

  Associate Professor UiT

  Practical info

  This course will be on site in Tromsø. The responsible institution is UiT.

  Important! Registration is binding! Do not register for a course unless you are sure that you can attend.

  1. Course applicants must register at UiT. UiT course page.
     • UiT students must register through studentweb before September 1st.
     • Non-UiT students must request guest status from UiT. Apply between July 20th and August 9th. Instructions can be found here.

  Course content

  The course covers introduction to various imaging methods in greenhouse and field conditions. It includes both theory and hands-on training in addition to seminars and home essays. The lectures will provide background information on biological imaging, examples of practical research cases, and the basics of the handling of the image data. The practical course will contain setting up the experiment, imaging of stress treated and the control plants and exercising on the handling of the research data.

  Lectures:  10 h

  Practical labs of imaging and computing: 24 h

  Seminars: 6 h

  In addition, work on own time:

  1. Writing report of the practical work including data analysis.
  2. Plan your own plant phenotyping trial: seminar presentation and home essay

  Planning considerations must include

  * Plant species and growth stages of interest.

  * Morphologies of interest

  * Vegetative indices of interest

  * Weather/climate, time of the day for flights  (if outside/ field experiment)

  * Light conditions

  * Backup plans

  * Any proximal imaging for quality control

  * Plan for data analysis

  * How to present data for chosen audience (peer reviewed paper; plant breeder;

     fellow students)

  Learning outcome

  Knowledge

  • has overview of currently available plant phenotyping methods
  • understands the theoretical principles of the biological imaging and plant phenotyping
  • recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of different plant phenotyping methods to be able to select suitable methods for own research and practical approaches

  Skills

  • can design experimental set-up for plant phenotyping and hyperspectral imaging
  • can operate advanced imaging instruments, such as Planteye 3D scanner and hyperspectral cameras, for investigations of plant stress responses
  • can utilize data handling software for the biological images and report imaging results
  • have skills and experience to work collaboratively, and to apply their knowledge and skills in own research questions

  General competence

  • generate and analyze plant phenotyping data for answering versatile research questions related to plant stress biology
  • evaluate the possibilities of different biological imaging methods in own research

  Teaching methods

  The course consists of 10 hours of lectures, 24 hours of practical course, 6 hours seminars, in addition to writing report, preparing a seminar presentation, and planning of an experiment related with the topic of the course.

  Course dates

  November 2nd-6th, 2026

  Admission deadline

  PhD students at UiT apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1. September.

  Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb. Local admission, application code 9301 – Singular courses at PhD level (apply between 20th of July and 9th August). For applicants who are granted a seat, a study right will be created, and these applicants apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1. September.

  Admission requirements

  Who can apply as a singular course student:

  • PhD student enrolled at another institution than UiT. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.
  • Holders of a master´s degree of five years or 3+2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. These applicants must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you, see the following list: Proficiency in English must be documented – list of countries. For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document: Proficiency in english – PhD level studies

  The course will be arranged with a maximum of 20, and minimum of 6 students (including masters students). If more than 20 applicants, priority will be given to PhD students at UiT and PHOTOSYNTECH partner universities.

  Language

  English.

  Coursework requirements

  To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:
  Participate in all lectures	Approved – not approved
  Participate in hands-on training	Approved – not approved
  Seminar presentation	Approved – not approved
  Attend all seminar presentations	Approved – not approved

  Examination

  Assignment. Grade scale: passed/ not passed.

  24. October 2022

  •

  •

• Secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds

  Starting date: November 9.- December 4., 2026

  Registration deadline: see below

  Location: Online + one week with laboratory exercises at UiT, campus Tromsø

  ECTS: 5

  Course leader

  

  Espen Holst Hansen

  Professor UiT

  

  Anton Liaimer

  Associate professor UiT

  Practical info

  This course will be a combination of digital and on site in Tromsø. First One-week online lectures, one week of laboratory exercises at UiT Campus Tromsø, one week home assignment followed by on-line presentation. The responsible institution is UiT.

  Important! Registration is binding! Do not register for a course unless you are sure that you can attend.

  Course applicants must register at UiT. UiT course page.

  UiT students must register through studentweb before September 1st.

  Non-UiT students must request guest status from UiT. (Apply between July 20th and August 9th). Instructions can be found here.

  Program

  Week 46 (Nov 9.-13.) Online lectures

  Week 47 (Nov 16.-20.) laboratory exercises at UiT, campus Tromsø

  Week 48 (Nov 23.-27.) Self study with lab report and exam

  Week 49 ( Nov 30.-Dec 4.) Exam

  Course content

  The course shall give general understanding of the concepts in secondary metabolites research in plants and other phototrophic organisms. It will give most essential theory behind the major methods in bioprospecting workflow and secondary metabolites application. The laboratory exercises will give the necessary tool-box for those who want to pursue investigations in the field of Secondary Metabolites and Bioactive Compounds.

  The course is built of three blocks: Lectures, laboratory exercises and home assignment with presentation.

  Lectures will cover the following topics:

  • Secondary metabolites. Characteristics, chemical and functional diversity, biosynthesis and regulation of gene expression. The theory will cover secondary metabolites produced by both plants and algae, as well as prokaryotic phototrophs.
  • Principles and most commonly used methods for extraction. Chromatography: separation and isolation of secondary metabolites.
  • Analytical chemistry. A theoretical introduction to the methods and principles in identification and chemical structure elucidation of secondary metabolites. The techniques covered in this block are mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
  • Post MS analyses: dereplication of secondary metabolites, use of databases and the molecular networking.
  • Functional analyses of the secondary metabolites: various types of bioactivity testing, bioactivity screening strategies and workflows, application of the test results.

  Laboratory exercises will be run on defined case studies and will include the following:

  • Culturing cyanobacteria
  • Extraction of secondary metabolites from the biomass and fractionation of obtained extracts.
  • Bioactivity tests: antimicrobial, enzyme inhibition assays.
  • Practical exercise on Identification of bioactive compounds using MS spectrometry and the SM databases.

  Home assignment and presentation. The students will have to make a study and give a presentation on a topic of choice related to the course content.

  Learning outcome

  The candidates will gain broad knowledge on;

  • Diversity and classes of secondary metabolites from plant and other phototrophic organisms
  • Biological targets and modes of actions of Secondary metabolites
  • Methods in chromatography and mass spectrometry
  • Bioassays mathods targeting bacteria, fungi, viruses, cancer cells, viruses and enzymes

  The candidates will get experience in:

  • Processing of material for extraction, make relevant choice for extraction methods
  • HPLC amd Mass Spectrometry analyses
  • Post MS processing and analyses of the samples.
  • Conduct biossays for bioactive componds discovery

  Course dates

  TBD

  Admission deadline

  UiT students must register through studentweb before September 1st.

  Non-UiT students must request guest status from UiT. Apply betwee July 20th and August 9th). Instructions can be found here.

  Admission requirements

  Who can apply as a singular course student:

  • PhD student enrolled at another institution than UiT. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.
  • Holders of a master´s degree of five years or 3+2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. These applicants must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you, see the following list: Proficiency in English must be documented – list of countries. For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document: Proficiency in english – PhD level studies

  Local admission, application code 9301 – Singular courses at PhD level.

  Maximum 12 students. If more than 12 applicants, priority will be given as follows:

  • Participants who are members of the research school Photosyntech
  • Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT
  • Participants in the Associate Professor programme (Førstelektorprogrammet)
  • PhD candidates from other universities
  • People with a minimum of a Masters degree (or equivalent), who have not been admitted to a PhD programme

  Language

  English.

  Coursework requirements

  To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:

  Participation in lab exercises			Approved – not approved
  Lab report			Approved – not approved

  Examination

  Examination:	Weighting:	Duration:	Grade scale:
  Off campus exam	5/10	1 Weeks	Passed / Not Passed
  Oral exam	5/10	15 Minutes	Passed / Not Passed

  12. October 2022

  •

  •