Lectures on Ancient Proteins
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1.Identify the research challenges in palaeontology, paleoanthropology, archaeology and cultural heritage studies that palaeoproteomics can successfully address.
2.Understand major decay mechanisms, and therefore better appreciate how extraction protocols are optimised for ancient proteins.
3.Critically assess the content of scientific literature describing palaeoproteomics-based research
Content
This extensive three-day course will provide the attendees with a detailed introduction to the field of ancient protein analysis. The course will mainly focus on the applications of ancient protein analysis to palaeontology, palaeoanthropology, archaeology, art and forensics. In addition, sample extraction and methods used to analyse and validate ancient, or degraded, proteins will also be described. The lectures, attended remotely or in-person (3 days, ~7 hours each day), will present:
(i) the history of this research field,
(ii) the most advanced technologies and methodologies it relies on, and
(iii) the most relevant scientific achievements it accomplished.
Indicative programme:
1. 13th August: History and Technology of Palaeoproteomics - Virtual teaching, in person room available
2. 14th August: Applications I (Cultural Heritage, High-Throughput Methods & Forensics) - Virtual teaching, in person room available
3. 15th August: Applications II (Evolution & Methods) - Virtual teaching, in person room available
Participants
The target group for this course are PhD students that wish to augment their research through the incorporation of proteomic analysis. The course will be of special interest to those investigating paleontology, paleoanthropology, forensics sciences and cultural heritage conservation.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
• Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Oral Sciences, Forensic Medicine and Bioanthropology
NOTE: the course can be of high interest also for PhD fellows from the Humanities and Natural Sciences Graduate Schools at UCPH, nationally and internationally.
Language
English
Form
Lectures
Course directors
Enrico Cappellini: Associate Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, ecappellini@sund.ku.dk
Alberto Taurozzi: Assistant Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, alberto.taurozzi@sund.ku.dk
Teachers
Enrico Cappellini: Associate Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Alberto Taurozzi: Assistant Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Jesper V. Olsen: Professor, NNF Center for Protein research, University of Copenhagen
Matthew Collins: Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Frido Welker: Associate Professor, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen
Dates
13th-15th of August 2025
Course location
Kommunehospitalet: Øster Farimagsgade 5,1353 København
Note: the entire course can also be attended remotely
Registration
Please register before 15th of July 2025
Expected frequency
Once a year in August
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules. Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.