Master Degree in Applied and Molecular Biology

 

Location: Ancona - via Brecce Bianche - ingresso 3
Access: open access
Order: D.M. 270/04
Type: Second Cycle Degree (2 years)


 
 

The course of study in short


 

The Molecular and Applied Biology degree is divided into curricula and includes four thematic areas: cellular and molecular area (common to the two courses) and two specific areas relating to biological technologies and computational biology. This degree program trains high-level experts in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, and in biochemical, cellular, reproductive, microorganism and plant biotechnology as well as experts in computational biology in particular in the analysis and applications of transcriptomics, in biomolecular simulations and structural, in modeling and design of bioactive molecules, in programming languages and their use in bioinformatics; more generally in technologies for health and quality of life.


The course will allow students to acquire solid and integrated skills in advanced methods for the analysis of biological systems and processes, bioinformatics and their application in industrial, health and biotechnology fields. In order to acquire the aforementioned skills, the Master's Degree course in Molecular and Applied Biology includes:
- Educational activities aimed at deepening advanced and applied biological training, with particular regard to the molecular, biotechnological, biochemical aspect of biological phenomena and interactions between molecules, biomolecules and cells; in normal or altered conditions.
- Activities aimed at the acquisition of experimental techniques and methodologies useful for the understanding of biological phenomena at the molecular and cellular level and for the analysis and interpretation of big data, for the modeling of complex systems and the achievement of specialized skills in applied biology sector, both as regards the aspects of research, development and production and for the assumption of managerial roles.
- Educational activities, lectures, laboratory practice and seminars, for not less than 30 total credits, in particular dedicated to the knowledge of biological, biomolecular, biophysical, biochemical and biotechnological methodologies and data processing.
- External activities such as internships in companies and study stays at other Italian or foreign universities within the framework of national or international agreements.
- An in-depth study of the English language which must be fluent in both written and oral form, with reference also to the disciplinary lexicons, therefore appropriate training activities are provided for acquiring language skills comparable to B2 level.
- Preparation of an original degree thesis based on experimental data acquired directly by the student under the guidance of a supervisor. For this purpose, the student is required to attend one of the laboratories of the Polytechnic University of Marche for at least one year or, upon agreement in a laboratory of other Italian or foreign universities or public or private structures or industries.


Carrier opportunities
Access to research facilities at universities, public bodies (National Research Council, Higher Institute of Health, Zoo prophylaxis institutes, hospitals, national and regional environmental protection agencies). Food, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and Biotechnology related industries. Both public and private clinico-chemical analysis laboratories.
Operational Managers and Coordinators in companies in the following fields: biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and public and private healthcare. Specialists in the modeling of biological systems in public and private companies. Computing specialists in the biological field in public and private companies. Teaching at both public and private institutes.

Link: https://www.disva.univpm.it/content/corso-di-laurea-biologia-molecolare-e-applicata

 

Professional profile and employment opportunities

Biologist specialized in biotecnology field

Function in a work context:

Graduates in Molecular and Applied Biology in the Biotechnology field are part of the professional figure  who carries out coordination activities in basic research; in biotechnologies whithin  the genetic-molecular, cellular, plant, pharmaceutical and microbiological sectors; in quality and diagnostics both at  analytical and industrial level. Graduate in BMA carries out specific laboratory activities; uses advanced, innovative, and experimental methodologies of biological and molecular analyzes, also making use of bioinformatics techniques and databases of biological molecules; carries out development, control and management of biotechnological and biochemical products in the health, environmental and industrial fields.

Skills associated with the function:

Graduates in Molecular and Applied Biology in the Biotechnology field have specific skills in the fields of genetics, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, bioinformatics, basic and applicative knowledge of cellular, plant, food, microorganisms and  reproductive biotechnologies and  skills in biological, biomolecular, biotechnological methodologies, data processing and applied biology to aspects of research, development and production process. Graduates also have the ability to collect and interpret data useful for determining independent judgments on specific issues, including reflection on social, scientific and ethical issues, as well as the ability to communicate the information collected, the ideas they intend to advance in their field of work, the problems that may arise and the relative solutions to specialist interlocutors in the various fields of molecular and applied sciences, but also to non-specialist interlocutors.

Employment opportunities:

Graduates in Molecular and Applied Biology of the Biotechnology field will have the professional knowledge useful for entering in the field of work in the areas of competence of the Biologist. Graduates will be able to practice freelance upon registration in the professional register of Biologists and / or find work at: - Research structures at universities, public bodies (National Research Council, Higher Institute of Health, Zoo-prophylaxis Institutes, Hospitals, ARPA, etc.), trade associations.
- Food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic industries, including those related to biotechnology
- Public and private chemical-clinical and microbiologics analysis laboratories
- Clinic's ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology)
Graduates who will have sufficient credits in adequate groups of sectors will be able, as required by current legislation, to participate in the admission tests for training courses for secondary education.

 

Biologist specialized in computational field

Function in a work context:

Graduates in Molecular and Applied Biology in the Computational field are included in the professional figure of the biologist who carries out coordination activities in experimental research in the biomedical and biotechnological fields. They will work in collaboration with biologists, physicists, chemists, clinicians, pharmacologists and epidemiologists on the complexity of biological systems. Graduates in Molecular and Applied Biology in the Computational field have particular skills regarding:
- The analysis and interpretation of "big data" obtained with the latest generation of "omics" techniques.
-The modeling of complex systems in various professional fields with the possibility of operating creatively in fields that are at the frontier of different disciplines (biological, physical, chemical, pharmacological and medical).
-Structural biology aimed at the design and planning of molecules with pharmacological activity;
- Theoretical, methodological, experimental and applicative knowledge in the fundamental areas of bioinformatics of particular relevance for biotechnological and biomedical applications;
-The techniques and methods for the design and implementation of information systems in the biotechnological and biomedical fields.

Skills associated with the function:

Graduates in Molecular and Applied Biology in the Computational field have in-depth knowledge of the omics sciences and their analysis using bioinformatics tools and “high-throughput” experimental platforms. The graduate in the computational field has in fact skills on biochemical and biophysical aspects of cellular processes and molecular interactions, knows analytical techniques and protocols used in structural biology and in molecular and cellular biophysics studies. The graduate has the technical basis of modeling in systems biology for the study of interactions in complex biological systems as well as programming languages and their use in bioinformatics. Graduates have solid and advanced theoretical, methodological, experimental and applicative skills in the fundamental areas of information technology relevant to bioinformatics, biotechnology and biomedical applications. These skills constitute the theoretical-practical basis necessary for the typical activities of the biotechnological, biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical fields. Graduates also have the ability to collect and interpret data in their field of study,  useful for determining independent judgments on specific issues, including reflection on social, scientific and ethical issues, as well as the ability to communicate the information collected, the ideas they intend to advance in their field of work, the problems that may arise and the relative solutions to specialist interlocutors in the various fields of molecular and applied sciences, but also to non-specialist interlocutors.

Employment opportunities:

Graduates in Molecular and Applied Biology in the Computational field will have the professional knowledge useful for entering the field of work in the areas of competence of the Biologist. Graduates will be able to practice freelance upon registration in the professional register of Biologists and / or find work as:
- Researchers at universities, public and private bodies
- Operational Managers and Coordinators in companies operating in the fields of: biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and public and private healthcare
-Specialists in the modeling of biological systems in public and private companies
-Specialists in computation in the biological field in public and private companies
- Graduates who will have sufficient credits in adequate groups of disciplinary scientific sectors will be able, as required by current legislation, to participate in the admission tests for training courses for secondary education.

 
Didactic