Translational Life Sciences

Are you passionate about tackling unmet needs in life sciences? The Translational Life Sciences profile equips you to build bridges between research and stakeholders in order to address societal challenges. You will learn how to identify pressing challenges from society and translate them into well-defined research questions. From there, you will develop tangible solutions that directly benefit stakeholders.

The profile tackles unmet societal needs within Life Sciences through challenge-based education and design thinking. You’ll develop key skills like communication, collaboration and problem-solving while engaging stakeholders and fostering personal growth.

Q&A session Translational Life Sciences Profile

When November 4th, from 16.15-17.00
Where Online via MS Teams

More information can be found in this agenda item.

After fulfilling this profile, the student is able to address an unmet societal need and to provide a feasible and sustainable solution by including relevant disciplines and stakeholders.

The learning outcomes of the profile are listed below. Both the capstone project, the workshops and training, and the assessment are aligned to supervise the student in achieving these learning outcomes by the end of this profile.

In the context of translational science, you will be able to:

Identify a life science related societal need and translate this need towards a well-defined problem definition revealing the root cause;
Recognise and integrate the needs and intentions from stakeholders and other disciplines that are related to the unmet societal need and solutions;
Design a feasible solution that alleviates or satisfies the identified social/societal need and take the entrepreneurial perspective into account;
Execute a pilot or test a concept (prototype) in the field and incorporate the outcomes into a final design or solution.

In the context of communication with stakeholders, you:

Listen carefully, establish trust, and communicate transparently;
Show interview skills;
Present ideas and results clearly and convincingly, you are aware of the level of knowledge of the audience you are addressing, and you can patiently explain disciplinary knowledge to others (laymen) without using disciplinary jargon.

In the context of boundary crossing, you:

Are able to analyse the problem from the standpoint of each interested discipline and stakeholder, and to identify their commonalities and differences;
Are able to implement the perspectives of peers, stakeholders, and other disciplines that are related to the unmet societal need and the proposed solution;
Are aware of your own insights, values, and assumptions;
Are open and curious towards perspectives other than your own, even when they collide with your own views.
Refrain from stereotyping.

In the context of collaboration, you are able to:

Share knowledge and feelings with the team, convey respect for others;
Listen to others, in an open minded and non-judgmental way;
Be flexible and compromise when necessary to move the team forward;
Participate actively and be held accountable;
Provide constructive feedback and accept feedback from others.

In the context of reflection, you:

Openly discuss your own behaviour and skills, explicitly using the feedback you received;
Relate your behaviour to theory (Gibbs reflective cycle), to previous experiences, and/or to their underlying assumptions or values;
Show a willingness to learn, the learning objectives are concrete and linked to the reflections.
Handle ambiguity in a resilient manner.

Content of the profile

To help you become a skilled translational scientist and meet the profile's learning outcomes, the programme includes four key elements: Capstone project, theoretical components, flexible component, and personal development.

Capstone project | 20 EC

Theoretical components | 6 EC

Flexible education | 3 EC

Personal development | 4 EC

Capstone project

The capstone project forms the core of the profile. Working in groups of 3 - 5 students, you will develop an innovative and practical solution to a real-world societal problem presented by a company, non-profit organisation or research institute. Following the Design Thinking model, you will spend the final seven weeks taking the first concrete steps towards your solution—whether that means generating pilot data, creating a beta version of a device or app, or drafting a grant proposal.

Every year, we search for new clients within the Life Sciences domain who can offer capstone projects in this profile. Potential topics include challenges posed by patients (like juvenile arthritis or heart failure) and issues identified by partners such as TNO, Nutricia Research and WWF. At the start of the profile, you will get the chance to express your project preferences.

Theoretical components

The profile kicks off with a one-week introduction designed to prepare you for the programme, with a strong focus on community building. This introduction includes the JAM days, a pressure cooker challenge that will prepare you for the capstone project. After this, you will regularly take part in workshops and inspirational sessions—typically once or twice a week. These sessions equip you with essential translational research skills, such as communication, collaboration and boundary crossing. You will also explore topics that directly support your capstone project, like entrepreneurship and stakeholder involvement, while fostering your personal development.

Flexibel education

To enhance personalised learning and crossing the boundaries to other perspectives and disciplines, the Flexible education component of the profile provides you with the opportunity to shape a part of your own education by selecting specific knowledge or skills you would like to acquire.

Personal development

You will develop the ability to reflect on your personal skills and competencies related to translational science. Guided (peer) feedback, coaching and intervision will support you every step of the way.

Supervision
This profile empowers you to take charge of your own learning—both in leading your capstone project and in driving your personal growth. Throughout the process, you’ll receive support and guidance from a UU supervisor and the client. Teachers from diverse backgrounds involved in the profile will also provide the specific expertise you need.

Assessment of profile

This profile primarily focuses on skills that are required for a translational scientist. The insights you have gained and the progress you have made are assessed based on a portfolio. Furthermore, the final products of your capstone project are assessed.

Want to know more? Listen to episode 13 of the Radio Life Sciences podcast, where coordinator Sanne ter Meulen and student Joshua Elford share their insights on the Translational Life Sciences profile.

Application for the profile

You have until 1 December to sign up. Don’t wait—secure your place and kick off your profile in February.

Step 1	To apply for the Translational Life Sciences profile go to Osiris Case.
Step 2	When indicating the courses you will take within the profile, make sure to include the following: Personal Development (4 EC), Theoretical Components (9 EC), and the Capstone Project (20 EC).
Step 3	The profile coordinator will inform you of your admission status within two weeks after the registration deadline.
Step 4	Confirm your participation within one week by emailing the profile coordinator.

Examples and testimonials

Discover how past students tackled real-world challenges in life sciences through innovative projects. Read their testimonials to see how the profile shaped their skills and careers.