General Information

Venue: Faculty of Sciences, Puerto Real Campus

Dates: July 13-17

Duration: 22h

Field of Knowledge: Organic Chemistry

Number of places: 20

Course Coordinator: Jesús García Zorrilla

Coordinator’s email: jesus.zorrilla@uca.es

Language: English

ECTS recognition is requested

Target Audience: Students and PDI

Course Description

Natural Products Chemistry is an interdisciplinary field linking organic and analytical chemistry with biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, and agricultural sciences, among others. It focuses on organic compounds produced by living organisms (plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine sources) through extraction, isolation, purification, structural characterization, and, when appropriate, synthesis or semisynthesis. Particular attention is given to secondary metabolites, molecules with crucial ecological roles and often relevant biological activity. For this reason, natural products remain a major source of lead compounds for drug discovery, while also driving innovation in cosmetics, nutraceuticals and food, and crop protection, supporting more sustainable solutions (e.g., bioherbicides). In a field where methods and scientific language are highly specialized, research commonly unfolds in an international, collaborative environment.

Against this background, this course provides an intensive programme with a theory-to-practice approach, adapted to students’ initial level. The course follows a realistic natural-products workflow: from extract preparation and compound purification, to structural elucidation, organic synthesis to obtain improved derivatives, and an introduction to bioassays aligned with pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or agrochemical applications. Teaching will involve experts from international universities and research centres, offering a current, application-oriented perspective. The main goal is to provide each participant with a solid, practical foundation to begin or strengthen skills in natural-products research and development. The course integrates Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, particularly those related to Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life Below Water and Life on Land (SDGs 14 and 15).

Course Objectives

• Learn and apply core techniques for sample preparation and extraction, as well as the purification of bioactive natural products, including solvent selection and separation strategies.
• Understand how organic synthesis (total synthesis and semi-synthesis) supports naturalproducts chemistry, either to access scarce compounds or to design derivatives with improved properties (activity, selectivity, stability, or physicochemical profile).
• Gain practical introductory skills in structural characterization of organic molecules using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and optical methods, with a critical, structure-oriented interpretation of data.
• Learn the principles and experimental logic behind bioassays relevant to pharmacological and agronomic applications, from a practical standpoint.
• Dispel common misconceptions found in everyday language and media narratives about “natural”, chemistry, and their applications, encouraging responsible communication.
• Integrate in a naturally way equality, inclusivity and sustainability as transversal values in research practice.

Participant requirements

Applicants must have basic prior knowledge related to the course contents, including fundamental laboratory skills and introductory organic chemistry. A minimum academic or professional background in one of the following areas is strongly recommended: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, or closely related disciplines.

The course will be taught entirely in English. Therefore, participants are advised to have at least a B1 level of English proficiency. The coordinator and teaching staff are also able to communicate in Spanish and Italian, so native speakers of these languages may use them when necessary for clarification or support.

Course Programme

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Assessment

Teaching Staff

This course is supported and sponsored by:

Instituto de Biomoléculas de la Universidad de Cádiz (INBIO)

For any questions, please contact the coordinator of this course