After this course, you are able to:

• develop straightforward multistep sequences to chemically modify small (bio)molecules such as carbohydrates, amino acids and peptides
• use your experimental skills to apply your theoretical knowledge in the synthesis of relatively simple biomolecules in a safe manner
• analyse the aquired molecular tools on the basis of several spectroscopic techniques
• evaluate the aquired molecular tools on a biological system and analyse them with the use of appropriate biochemical techniques
• document the set-up of the experiment and the results in a scientific and adequate manner in a lab journal and present the results in a research report

The relatively new research discipline of chemical biology aims at developing (bioorthogonal) chemical methods and molecular tools, such as (activity-based) chemical probes, biosensors or fluorescent molecules, that can be used to study complex biological systems. In this practical course you will extend your knowledge, skills and advanced concepts in synthetic organic chemistry and apply the obtained molecules to study proteins and other biomolecules that are present in cells. Although this course contains aspects of both synthetic organic chemistry as well as biochemistry, the focus lies on aquiring and expanding the chemistry knowledge and skills.