Biomolecular Sciences – (M.Sc.)

Biomolecular Sciences is a two-year scientific programme that focuses on the biochemical unity that underlies the biological diversity. Biomolecular Science is a rapidly developing discipline in modern life science. It stands at the crossroads of chemical, biological, physical and computational sciences and focuses on the molecular understanding of cellular function. Anticipating this evolution, this Master programme will focus on the understanding of cellular processes, biological molecules and their interactions. The two year master emphasizes on two particular domains of Biomolecular Sciences: Structural Biology and Biochemistry and Cell- and Developmental Biology.

Objectives

The Master of Biomolecular Sciences programme aims at training students in new and advanced theoretical and experimental approaches for investigating the properties of cellular processes, biological molecules and their interactions. Strong emphasis is put on performing research, with focus on the training of practical skills, a critical mind and creative scientific reasoning in the field of structural biology and biochemistry and in the field of cell and developmental biology.

Final objectives

Students will have developed:

• advanced knowledge in different aspects of structural biology and biochemistry/ cell and developmental biology, such as: enzymolgy, structure determination of proteins, structure-function and synthesis of biological active (macro)molecules, synthesis and application of fine chemicals, structural bioinformatics, (molecular) immunology and parasitology, developmental biology, molecular evolution, molecular biology, molecular microbiology
• the ability to retrieve and critically evaluate scientific information and evaluate information sources for quality, accuracy, validity and currency
• the skills to independently perform original scientific research in a critical and creative way
• an active command of scientific language (English)
• communication and management skills, enabling them to take a leading position in research and development activities
• knowledge of intellectual properties issues
• the ability to build on existing information to create new knowledge
• knowledge and skills that allows the start of a PhD