The College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently hosted a Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory Skills workshop for university students in Qatar. The workshop is the latest in a series of initiatives undertaken by the college to advance students’ knowledge in the biomedical field.

CHLS scientists Dr. Mustapha Aouida and Dr. Mohamed Aittaleb led the Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology sections, respectively. During the four-day workshop, which was held from January 7 to 10, students gained hands-on experience on a broad range of technical skills, and learned about advanced molecular and cell biology approaches by conducting experiments using state of the art equipment at HBKU’s laboratories.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Aouida said: “The workshop introduced graduate students to practical applications which will form the baseline for any work they conduct in their capacity as researchers, scientists, or technicians. Students were able to benefit from a wealth of expertise at CHLS and conduct their own experiments, which helped them gain greater confidence and insights into the world of science.”

The workshop offered students a unique opportunity to conduct scientific experiments touching on a range of topics that included confocal microscopy imaging and other cell-based assays. Other aspects including Primer Design, Polymerase Chain Reaction; Gene Cloning in Bacterial Expression Systems; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Transfection; Western Blotting and Confocal Microscopy.

Dr. Aittaleb said: “I found the students’ capabilities very impressive. I truly appreciated the interaction with the students, their exceptional ability to carefully perform the experiments, and to remain aligned with the pace and topics of the workshop.”

At the end of this workshop, participating students were awarded certificates of participation and thanked for their performance by Dr. Edward Stuenkel, dean of CHLS.

CHLS is dedicated to offering its students and the wider community an integrated learning experience by regularly hosting workshops that complement course material, and offer prospective students an overview of its programs. Currently, the college offers four graduate programs: Master of Science in Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Master of Science in Genomics and Precision Medicine; PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and PhD in Genomics and Precision Medicine.

To learn more about the programs offered at HBKU, please visit www.hbku.edu.qa