Masters Degrees (Molecular Nutrition)

Our MSc Human Nutrition programme will develop your scientific research skills to an advanced level and fuel your interest in this fascinating and vital discipline.

You will develop a deep understanding of current issues in the field of human nutrition – all taught elements emphasise the evidence-based links between diet, health and disease, and are underpinned by a full appreciation for the nutritional mechanisms involved.

Our excellent links with industry will help you to pursue a successful and rewarding career. The programme also forms an excellent foundation for those who wish to pursue further education via a PhD or research post in industry following graduation.

MSc students may apply for Associate Nutritionist status on the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists.

Programme structure

This programme is studied full-time over one academic year. It consists of eight taught modules and an original research project.

Example module listing

The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. All modules described are compulsory.

• Fundamentals of Human Nutrition 
• Nutritional Evaluation and Assessment 
• Metabolic Nutrition 
• Nutrition Research Methodology  
• International and Public Health Nutrition 
• Molecular Nutrition
• Sports and Exercise Nutrition 
• Clinical Nutrition and Nutrition Support
• Research Project

Who is this programme for?

Our MSc programme caters for the following applicants:

• Surrey biosciences graduates wishing for an opportunity to convert to postgraduate study within Surrey
• Home/EU nutrition graduates from other institutions wishing to further their nutrition training via taught postgraduate study
• Overseas graduates with equivalent of a nutrition degree from a non-UK institution wishing to obtain a recognised UK postgraduate qualification in nutrition
• Home/EU graduates from a related subject (for example, a biological science including biochemistry and physiology) or registrable qualification (for example, medicine, dentistry) seeking a postgraduate qualification as way of conversion into nutrition

Why choose to study Human Nutrition?

The University of Surrey has long been regarded as a UK centre of excellence for teaching in nutrition and dietetics through our long-running and successful undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Staff within the Department of Nutritional Sciences have an internationally recognised expertise in areas such as diabetes, lipid metabolism, cardiovascular risk, bone health, Vitamin D, selenium and iodine, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity and energy balance.

As a postgraduate student, you will be taught by a variety of lecturers who are actively researching the topic being covered, or have a wealth of experience in that particular area.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake independent research via a project, guided by a dedicated and experienced supervisor. Projects are available across a range of topics representing the strength and depth of the Department and wider Faculty.

You will be working alongside staff, PhD students and post-doctoral researchers to ensure that you receive the full research experience.

This will form an excellent foundation for those MSc students wishing to pursue further education via a PhD or research post in industry.

The strong scientific element of our teaching will attract students looking for a programme of high academic quality.

Career prospects

The Department has excellent links with industry, which will help you to pursue a successful career in nutrition.

Educational aims of the programme

• Provide a fundamental understanding of nutritional science, which takes a critical and scholarly approach to relevant theory, practice, literature and latest research findings on the importance of nutrition in diet-health- disease relationships
• Provide new knowledge and understanding of the role of nutrition in both individual and community health
• Discuss the role of diet in the development of disease
• Evaluate the potential, efficacy and scope of nutritional methods in health and disease
• Examine current knowledge of the specific roles of individual macro- and micronutrient deficiencies and imbalances on short- and long-term disease risk
• Explore the concept of optimal nutrition in various special situations
• Develop an understanding of research methodology in the area of Human Nutrition
• Design, undertake, communicate and defend an original research project in nutrition
• Meet the required standards of competency for registered nutritionists as outlined by the Association for Nutrition

Programme learning outcomes

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

• The main principles of current human nutrition
• The methods and approaches used for the purposes of nutritional assessment
• Human metabolism in health and in the pathogenesis of disease
• The main principles of public health in relation to diet and nutrition, both nationally and internationally
• Analytical skills to allow interpretation of data or evidence and formulate conclusions
• The application of nutrition principles to sport and exercise
• The influence of nutrition at the molecular/genetic level
• The therapeutic use of nutrition in the management of disease

Intellectual / cognitive skills

• Find and critically evaluate scientific literature and other appropriate sources of material
• Critically evaluate research design and the methods commonly used in nutrition research
• Use acquired knowledge and appropriate skills to make professional judgements
• Design relevant experiments to test formulated hypotheses

Professional practical skills

• Demonstrate competence in commonly used nutrition research methodology
• Gather, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data
• Effectively communicate both orally and in writing
• Learn independently
• Take responsibility for planning and organisation of work both their own and in a team
• Plan and execute an investigation/experiment, act autonomously and demonstrate originality

Key / transferable skills

• Communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively by oral, written and visual means
• Work effectively and independently on a given project or task
• Work effectively in small groups and teams towards a common goal/outcome.
• Apply basic statistical and numerical skills to nutritional data
• Use Information Technology

Global opportunities

We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.

In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.

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Your programme of study

Study at one of the most renowned international Institutes for health nutrition research which has continued to play an important part in research for over 100 years at Aberdeen and internationally. The Rowett Institute informs policy and continues to join the dots between diet and health. If you are interested in health and dietary factors this programme will provide much theory and research towards answers and questions you want to ask. You look at dietary assessments, macronutrients, energy balance, metabolism, micronutrients, nutrition and body influence, body composition and nutrition throughout life. You also apply statistics to uncover answers to questions.

Understanding the link between diet and health can be the differentiator between good health and issues affecting public health. This major area of interest has grown considerably over the past few years with increasing awareness of disease and its prevention and the growth in population using health services and the service ability to cope in the future. There has also been a steady increase in the amount of professionals providing consultancy and support to people who have realised the link and want to take action to become healthier with books, films and many other supporting communications in what has almost become an industry in itself.

The Rowett Institute in Aberdeen is known UK wide and internationally as a major research contributor to many discoveries within food and nutrition, informing policy, debating health and food security and many other issues relating to the food we eat and its effects on our bodies.

The aim of this innovative programme is to provide training in human nutrition for graduates in biological or other sciences. The main focus of the programme is on the relationship between diet, health and disease, and the nutritional mechanisms involved in disease development and disease with three specialist areas harnessing Aberdeen’s unique range of expertise in Metabolic Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition. This programme can take in in several directions after graduation. You may want to work as a Nutritionist, within Public Health as a Policy Manger, as a Dietitian, or within private practice as a Fitness and Nutrition Counsellor or teaching and studying for a PhD.

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1

Foundations of Nutrition

Assessment of Nutritional Status

Applied Statistics

Nutrition and Health

Generic Skills

Semester 2

Research Methods and Professional Practice

Optional

Clinical Nutrition

Molecular Nutrition

Public Health Nutrition

Semester 3

Specialist Research Project Human Nutrition

Diploma Literature Review in Human Nutrition

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/118/human-nutrition/

Why study at Aberdeen?

• You can specialise in Clinical Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition or Public Health Nutrition, the MSc is accredited by the Association for

Nutrition

• You are taught by researchers from the Rowett Institute of Health and Nutrition in a new purpose designed building at the health

campus, Foresterhill

• Lord Boyd Orr won a Nobel Peace Prize for contributions to the worldwide fight against hunger at University of Aberdeen and

insulin was first developed at the university

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen

• 12 or 24 months

• Full Time or Part Time

• September

International Student Fees 2017/2018

Find out about fees:

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/tuition-fees-and-living-costs-287.php

*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.

Scholarships

View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/finance-funding-1599.php

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/funding/

Living in Aberdeen

Find out more about:

• Your Accommodation

• Campus Facilities

• Aberdeen City

• Student Support

• Clubs and Societies

Find out more about living in Aberdeen:

https://abdn.ac.uk/study/student-life

Living costs

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/finance.php

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Why do we eat the way we do? What happens to the components of food in our body? How does nutrition maintain our health? How do food choices affect the quality of our diet? How do we study the way people use food? How does culture influence our food choices? How is food discussed in the media? How does food behaviour change, and how can it be changed?

The Master’s Programme in Human Nutrition and Food Behaviour focuses on human nutrition and related behaviour and consumption from the perspectives of public health nutrition, nutrition physiology and the social sciences. The programme is built around human nutrition, food behaviour and consumership, as well as related research methods.

The goal of the Master’s programme is to enable you to:
-Understand the significance of nutrition to bodily functions and health.
-Understand the social and cultural aspects that affect the food choices of individuals and communities and know how to influence them.
-Form an opinion about the multifarious issues regarding nutrition and consumption.
-Be able to analyse and solve nutritional issues and related cultural questions in an ecological and socially sustainable manner.

The University of Helsinki will introduce annual tuition fees to foreign-language Master’s programmes starting on August 1, 2017 or later. The fee ranges from 13 000-18 000 euros. Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries, who do not have a permanent residence status in the area, are liable to these fees. You can check this FAQ at the Studyinfo website whether or not you are required to pay tuition fees: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/masters-programme-in-human-nutrition-and-food-behaviour-master-of-science-2-years/1.2.246.562.17.53446974973

Programme Contents

The Master’s Programme in Human Nutrition and Food Behaviour focuses on:
-The role of nutrition and other lifestyle factors in promoting health and preventing illness.
-The mechanisms through which food impacts our body at the level of molecular biology.
-Food services and their management.
-Consumption behaviour and food choices, and means of influencing them and communicating about them.
-Food culture, food politics and social movements.
-Research methods in the fields of nutrition and food behaviour.
-The Master’s thesis.
-Other studies, which you can choose according to your interests.

The multidisciplinary nature of the Master’s Programme at the University of Helsinki provides numerous options for other studies. You can choose studies at other Finnish or international universities.

The courses incorporate different methods of study, such as:
-Contact teaching, lectures.
-Group work.
-Oral presentations.
-Written reports (individual, pair, group).
-Independent study.
-Laboratory work and other assignments and related reports.
-Learning journals, oral group examinations, written examinations, take-home essays.
-Seminars.

The diversity of learning methods enhances your development and application of critical thought, argumentation and problem-solving skills.

Selection of the Major

In the Master’s Programme in Human Nutrition and Food Behaviour, you can choose between three focal areas:
-Nutritional physiology: The impact of nutrition and other lifestyle factors on bodily functions and health, as well as the underlying mechanisms at the level of molecular biology.
-Public health nutrition and food services: Insight into the nutritional factors affecting the health of a country’s population and population groups and the use of this insight to promote health, as well as nutritional questions related to food services and the food industry.
-Food behaviour in a changing society: The ways in which food choices are linked to individual, cultural and social factors, the construction of identity, the consumption society, as well as food and health policies.

Programme Structure

With a scope of 120 credits (ECTS), the Master’s programme can be completed in two academic years. The degree comprises:
-60 credits of advanced studies, including the Master’s thesis (30 credits).
-60 credits of other studies, which can include studies from your own degree programme or other degree programmes, a practical training period or international studies.
-Career orientation and career planning.
-A personal study plan.

Career Prospects

The Master’s programme qualifies you for work in expert, teaching, research and managerial positions in the public sector, NGOs and companies, and as an independent entrepreneur. The education provides you with profound field-specific competence and skills in knowledge work, as well as a solid professional identity.

Examples of duties available to graduates include:
-Expert in nutrition and food.
-Product manager.
-Product development manager, development manager.
-Director of food services.
-Researcher, special researcher.
-Planning officer.
-Senior inspector.
-Senior teacher or lecturer at a university of applied sciences.
-Growth entrepreneur.
-Journalist, press officer, content provider.

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This MSc in Applied Clinical Nutrition is intended for frontline health professionals who provide advice to the public about nutrition-related aspects of health and disease. It has been developed to meet the growing need for community and acute care professionals to have a fundamental knowledge of nutrition, as they become increasingly tasked with the responsibility to provide nutritional support and advice.

You will acquire an in-depth knowledge of the relationship between diet and disease, from the molecular to the population level, and discover the nutrients required throughout each stage of the life cycle to maintain optimal health status. You will also develop a clear understanding of the factors that determine behaviour change in relation to nutrition and health.

If you are a health professional that would like to advance your knowledge of the role nutrition plays in managing health to a high level, this course will equip you with the necessary nutritional expertise to work alongside nutrition-based health professionals to make important contributions to the nutritional wellbeing of patients.

What will I study?

You will learn about the metabolism of nutrients with regards to their effect on the causation and prevention of disease and explore the psychological models of behaviour and behaviour change in relation to food choice. The dietary and nutrient requirements needed to maintain optimal health status from pre-conception to old age will also be considered.

A key element of the programme is the development of nutritional assessment competencies including dietary assessment, anthropology and functional tests in order to learn about nutrition support and the role it plays in improving health outcomes. In addition, you will study the concept of nutrition counselling to enable you to approach patients sensitively and confidently when nutritional status is a concern for health outcomes.

The knowledge and skills you develop throughout the course will be utilised in a project-based module that will provide you with the opportunity to complete a research project relevant to your own interests or area of employment. This will be underpinned by a dedicated module enhancing your knowledge of research methods and the research process.

How will I study?

The programme incorporates a variety of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, workshops, student-led seminars, practical activities and case studies. This varied approach is designed to meet a range of learning needs, encourage problem-solving skills and foster peer discussion and communication. Teaching will usually be delivered during the daytime.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment methods are varied and include a combination of essays, case studies, presentations and examinations.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by specialists in the fields of nutrition, health, physiology, biochemistry and psychology. The programme team are actively engaged in nutrition-related research and consultancy and will use this expertise to support and enhance your learning experience.

What are my career prospects?

You will be able to register with the Association for Nutrition as an Associate Nutritionist upon completion of the course via the submission of a portfolio of evidence.

This programme provides ideal preparation to progress into nutrition-related roles in many organisations within the public and private sector. These include local authorities, charitable organisations, the NHS, health promotion organisations, the leisure industry and the private sector. Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto PhD study to further develop a specialist knowledge of nutrition.

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MSc Molecular Life Sciences

The Molecular Life Sciences programme focuses on the molecular aspects of the fields of nutrition, health, nature and the living environment and works in close coordination with colleagues from different disciplines.

Programme summary

The Molecular Life Sciences programme focuses on molecules and their properties. It seeks to discover relationships between the physical and chemical properties of molecules, particularly the role of complex molecules in living systems. It is an interdisciplinary programme that combines chemistry, physics and biology. The aim of the programme is to enable students to conduct independent research at the interface of chemistry, biology and physics, or in an applied field such as medicine, the environment, food sciences or (bio) nanotechnology. The programme is tailormade and thesis-oriented, with the thesis being the culmination of the study.

Specialisations

Biological Chemistry
By combining the principles of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, genetics and bioinformatics, this specialisation enables students to contribute new insights to the life sciences. Increasingly complex areas are studied, such as the molecular regulation of growth and cell differentiation, gene control during development and disease, and the transfer of genetic traits. Another important field is enzymology where enzyme mechanisms are studied with the aim of understanding and modifying their properties to make new compounds or biological membranes.

Physical Chemistry
This specialisation uses the most advanced technologies to focus on the chemical and physical properties of molecules and their behaviour in chemical and biochemical processes. The processes in nature are used as models for studying and synthesising new compounds with interesting chemical or physical properties for applications such as LCDs, biosensors or food science. Students can major in the fields of biophysics, organic chemistry or physical chemistry and colloid science.

Biomedical Research
This specialisation equips graduates with key skills in the natural sciences and enables them to use these skills as part of an integrated approach. Many recent breakthroughs in biomedical research have taken place at the interface between chemistry, biology and physics, so it is logical that many of our graduates enter careers in biomedical research. The explicit aim of this specialisation is to prepare students for careers at a medical research institute, academic hospital or a company in the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, students also complete their internships at such locations.

Physical Biology
Students in this specialisation learn to view biomolecules from a physical point of view. They use techniques in biophysics, physical chemistry, microspectroscopy and magnetic resonance (MRI) to contribute to areas such as cell-cell communication, transformation of light into chemical energy, and protein interactions. Students can major in fields such as biochemistry, biophysics, microbiology, molecular biology, plant physiology, physical chemistry and colloid science.

Your future career

By combining the power of chemistry, physics and biology, graduates are able to make a significant contribution to fundamental and/or applied research in fields such as (bio) nanotechnology, biotechnology, environmental research, biomedical research, nutrition and the food sciences. Our graduates enter careers at universities, research institutes and industrial laboratories. The first job for many of our graduates is a four year PhD project at a university or research institute. This is not only an excellent preparation for a research career, but it also prepares you for management positions. Others become science journalists, teachers or consultants in government or industry.

Project Flu Vaccination for bacteria.
Together with his colleagues of the Laboratory of Microbiology, professor John van der Oost unravelled part of the working of the immune systems of bacteria that had been infected by a virus. Theoretically, this knowledge allows for other bacteria to be protected against specific viruses and, thus, may be considered to be a flu vaccination for bacteria. Understanding this process in simple organisms on a molecular level, is the first step in revealing the mechanism of viral infection in the human body. This can be the starting point for a whole new line of medicines.

Related programmes:
MSc Biotechnology
MSc Food Technology
MSc Bioinformatics
MSc Nutrition and Health
MSc Plant Biotechnology
MSc Biology

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The importance of good nutrition in ensuring a healthy, disease-free human life is currently very high in the public and scientific agendas.Throughout the Nutritional Science Masters degree, we aim to guide you to an in-depth understanding of the broad discipline of Nutritional Science through the study of its different aspects both at theoretical and practical levels. In particular our MSc curriculum covers foundation and advanced human nutrition, nutrient analysis, food policy, statistics and general research skills as well as applied and professional nutritional skills.

We place great emphasis on using diverse teaching media and approaches to develop both your technical skills and abilities for effective teamwork and communication.

The programme is specifically designed to allow you to apply the scientific knowledge from your first degree to develop your understanding of the science underpinning nutritional principles in relation to human health.

MSc graduates can become members of the Nutrition Society and associate nutritionists in the Association for Nutrition. The programme will enhance your career opportunities in the nutrition, food and health industries, or prepare you for further academic research.

This course can also be taken part time - for more information, please view this web-page: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/nutritional-science-dtpnls6/

Learn From The Best

Expert academic members of staff who work in close collaboration with health, nutrition, and policy organisations via research programmes and consultancies will mentor you.

Our teaching staff is made up of industry specialists and registered nutritionists from a broad range of backgrounds. Each academic brings with them vast experience, from working within various areas of the health sector, to conducting research on behalf of government departments and within leading hospitals.

They are all actively engaged in contemporary research and consultancy – leading the agenda in areas such as metabolomics, complex public health interventions as well as public engagement.

Teaching And Assessment

Modules are assessed via combinations of examinations, coursework, and seminar presentations.

You will be provided with the best possible learning experience through wet lab and IT based classes, which will include data collection and the use of specialist software such as Microdiet© for dietary assessment.

The department has a range of technical staff with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, nutrition, sport and exercise. An academic member of staff as well as a highly experienced technician supervises all practical work.

Module Overview
AP0700 - Graduate Science Research Methods (Core, 20 Credits)
AP0708 - Applied Sciences Research Project (Core, 60 Credits)
AP0709 - Foundations of Human Nutrition (Core, 40 Credits)
AP0710 - Advanced Human Nutrition (Core, 20 Credits)
AP0711 - Contemporary Issues in Food and Nutrition (Core, 20 Credits)
AP0712 - Professional Nutrition Skills (Core, 20 Credits)

Learning Environment

You will benefit from modern laboratory facilities including designated methodology for nutritional and food sciences, laboratories for Food Technology, Sensory Evaluation, Food Analysis, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. There is also specialised computer software for dietary evaluation and statistical analysis.

Technology enabled learning is embedded in the Nutritional Science MSc.

All academic materials are available on your online learning platform (eLP), allowing you to learn at your own pace and stay up to date, wherever you are.

Digital reading lists provide instant access to key texts and you’ll be able to submit and receive feedback on assessments electronically. Electronic discussion boards such as wikis and blogs are used for networking, support and review.

You’ll always be given a full understanding of the scope, method and application of your studies, helping you to progress and readying you for your next job or further research.

Research-Rich Learning

Research rich learning is a core component of the teaching strategy at Northumbria, and we are highly focused on building sustainable partnerships with industry and commerce.

You will learn from academics that have a research background relevant to the module content. You will take part in discussions during lectures, seminars and tutorials about current nutrition research and will undertake a research project from April-September.

Departmental research topics include: early years and preschool nutrition, nutrition in the elderly, and in deprived families, and the evaluation of a number of school nutrition/physical activity interventions funded by Public Health England and Newcastle United Foundation.

During the Nutritional Science MSc you will gain the experience of carrying out research and gaining valuable skills within an academic and professional environment.

Give Your Career An Edge

At all stages of study you will be encouraged to embrace your creativity, to approach problems innovatively and to develop entrepreneurship skills through assessment tasks.

Our projects are of particular value in consolidating and putting into action the discipline knowledge. Projects are given in nutritionally relevant topics and you will be mentored by expert academic members of staff who work in close collaboration with health, nutrition, policy organisations via current research programmes and consultancies.

Your Future

Nutritional Science is a discipline of high importance in both the public and scientific agendas for a number of reasons. Nutritional scientists endeavour to understand and reduce the impact of a broad number of diet related diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The chief goals of the nutritional science sector are to secure a healthy ageing population and avoid malnutrition.

This Nutritional Science MSc will equip you with the knowledge and transferable skills for you to gain professional employment to start your own business venture or go on to further postgraduate study and research.

The course will allow you to engage with employers directly through work related learning experience, STEM ambassador activities or other volunteering opportunities.

The skills learnt and assessed through the course will develop your employability, and the research project will enhance your enterprise and entrepreneurship and will be recognised and valued by future employers.

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The graduate program in Human Nutrition offers opportunities for advanced study and original investigations in basic and applied human nutrition at both the master’s and doctoral levels. The curriculum includes coursework and thesis research through laboratory or field work in a variety of areas relevant to human nutrition including nutrient metabolism, diet and disease, nutrition through the life cycle and nutrition behaviours.

Research projects also examine environmental, social, and individual determinants of food choices and eating patterns; this includes better understanding of socio-cultural effects on diet, and the impact living in “food deserts” can have on good health.

International nutrition projects in Cambodia, Zambia, Rwanda, and other countries seek to improve maternal, infant, and child nutrition.

The program is enriched through collaboration with colleagues in graduate programs such as Applied Animal Biology, Food Science, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and others.

Coursework selected in consultation with the student's supervisory committee includes graduate courses in human nutrition and from other areas relevant to each student's research.

Research facilities are housed both within the Family and Nutritional Sciences (FNS) Building and, on a shared basis, in other buildings on campus. Within the FNS Building, the research facilities include various modern analytical laboratories and other equipment for conducting biochemical and basic molecular biological research, and computers for conducting dietary and qualitative data analysis.

Quick Facts

- Degree: Master of Science
- Specialization: Human Nutrition
- Subject: Health and Medicine
- Mode of delivery: On campus
- Program components: Coursework + Thesis required
- Faculty: Faculty of Land and Food Systems

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MSc Plant Biotechnology

The Plant Biotechnology programme is the combination of different fields of the classical plant sciences (e.g. plant physiology, plant breeding, plant pathology) working with a whole new range of techniques and possibilities opened up by modern molecular biology.

Programme summary

Due to rapid technological developments in the genomics, molecular biology and biotechnology, the use of molecular marker technology has accelerated the selection of new plant varieties with many desirable traits. It also facilitates the design, development and management of transgenic plants. At present, plants are increasingly used to produce valuable proteins and secondary metabolites for food and pharmaceutical purposes. New insights into the molecular basis of plant-insect, plant- pathogen and crop-weed relationships enable the development of disease-resistant plants and strategies for integrated pest management. A fundamental approach is combined with the development of tools and technologies to apply in plant breeding, plant pathology, post-harvest quality control, and the production of renewable resources. Besides covering the technological aspects, Plant Biotechnology also deals with the ethical issues and regulatory aspects, including intellectual property rights.

Specialisations

Functional Plant Genomics
Functional genomics aims at understanding the relationship between an organism's genome and its phenotype. The availability of a wide variety of sequenced plant genomes has revolutionised insight into plant genetics. By combining array technology, proteomics, metabolomics and phenomics with bioinformatics, gene expression can be studied to understand the dynamic properties of plants and other organisms.

Plants for Human and Animal Health
Plants are increasingly being used as a safe and inexpensive alternative for the production of valuable proteins and metabolites for food supplements and pharmaceuticals. This specialisation provides a fundamental understanding of how plants can be used for the production of foreign proteins and metabolites. In addition, biomedical aspects such as immunology and food allergy, as well as nutritional genomics and plant metabolomics, can also be studied.

Molecular Plant Breeding and Pathology
Molecular approaches to analyse and modify qualitative and quantitative traits in crops are highly effective in improving crop yield, food quality, disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Molecular plant breeding focuses on the application of genomics and QTL-mapping to enable marker assisted selection of a trait of interest (e.g. productivity, quality). Molecular plant pathology aims to provide a greater understanding of plant-insect, plant-pathogen and crop-weed interactions in addition to developing new technologies for integrated plant health management.These technologies include improved molecular detection of pathogens and transgene methods to introduce resistance genes into crops.

Your future career

The main career focus of graduates in Plant Biotechnology is on research and development positions at universities, research institutes, and biotech- or plant breeding companies. Other job opportunities can be found in the fields of policy, consultancy and communication in agribusiness and both governmental and non-governmental organisations. Over 75% of Plant Biotechnology graduates start their (academic) career with a PhD.

Alumnus Behzad Rashidi.
“I obtained my bachelor degree in the field of agricultural engineering, agronomy and plant breeding, at Isfahan University of Technology, Iran. The curiosity and interest for studying plant biotechnology and great reputation of Wageningen University motivated me to follow the master programme Plant Biotechnology. I got a chance to do my internship at State University of New York at Buffalo, working on biofuel production from microalgae. Working with this small unicellular organism made me even more motivated to continue my research after my master. Now I am doing my PhD in the Plant Breeding department of Wageningen University, working on biorefinery of microalgae.”

Related programmes:
MSc Biotechnology
MSc Molecular Life Sciences
MSc Plant Sciences
MSc Nutrition and Health
MSc Bioinformatics
MSc Biology.

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MPhil supervision covers a number of research topics supported by our research active academic staff. Our broad range of research areas relate to understanding how food and food constituents affect human health and well-being, relating to healthy ageing, food security, sensory quality, international nutrition and personalised nutrition.

Much of the research is multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary, via links across research areas within the School, and across the University through the Human Nutrition Research Centre.

Research themes

-Health benefits of consuming selected foods and food types, eg whole grains, carrots, nitrate-rich vegetables, food supplements, regarding cardiovascular health, cancer, sarcopenia, cell damage
-Elucidation of roles of fat-soluble vitamins in health and disease, eg vitamins A and D, modelling and understanding sources and metabolism in humans and farm animals
-Medicinal properties of herbs and plant extracts, eg effects on cognitive performance, pain, mood, well-being, dementia
-Effects of production/processing factors on food composition & sensory quality, eg effects of organic/conventional production, supply chain temperatures, varieties/breeds

Facilities

Our modern laboratories provide important teaching and research environments and are equipped with analytical equipment such as HPLCs, GCs, CNS analyser, centrifuges, spectrophotometers and molecular biology equipment. Our specialist research facilities include:
-A tissue culture laboratory
-Plant growth rooms
-A Class II laboratory for safe handling of human biological samples
-Taste panel facilities and test kitchen
-A thin section facility for soils analysis

We operate closely with other Schools, Institutes and the University's Central Scientific Facilities for access to more specialist analytical services. For work with human subjects we use a purpose built Clinical Research Facility which is situated in the Royal Victoria Infirmary teaching hospital and is managed jointly by us and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

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About the course

Lead academic 2016: Dr Peter Grabowski
Accredited by the Association for Nutrition

This course will give you a good understanding of the fundamentals of human nutrition. You’ll learn research skills and techniques. It will prepare you for a career in research, the food industry, academia, community nutrition and nutrition consultancy.

Our study environment

You’ll be based in teaching hospitals that serve a population of over half a million people and refer a further two million. We also have close links with the University’s other health-related departments.

Our research funding comes from many sources including the NIHR, MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, the Department of Health, EU, and prominent charities such as the Wellcome Trust, ARC, YCR, Cancer Research UK and BHF. Our partners and sponsors include Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca and Eli Lilly.

You’ll also benefit from our collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

How we teach

Classes are kept small (15–20 students) to make sure you get the best possible experience in laboratories and in clinical settings.

Our resources

We have a state-of-the-art biorepository and a £30m stem cell laboratory. The Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) opened in November 2010. We also have microarray, genetics, histology, flow cytometry and high-throughput screening technology, and the latest equipment for bone and oncology research.

At our Clinical Research Facility, you’ll be able to conduct studies with adult patients and volunteers. The Sheffield Children’s Hospital houses a complementary facility for paediatric experimental medical research.

Hepatitis B policy

If your course involves a significant risk of exposure to human blood or other body fluids and tissue, you’ll need to complete a course of Hepatitis B immunisation before starting. We conform to national guidelines that are in place to protect patients, health care workers and students.

Core modules

Epidemiology and Community Nutrition; Nutritional Biochemistry; Molecular Nutrition; Nutritional Physiology; Nutrition for Developing Countries; Clinical Nutrition. The Diploma follows the same taught structure as the masters and students must complete all modules.

Masters students complete an original Research Project and a literature review. PG Diploma students complete a library-based research project.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll learn through lectures and seminars, practical sessions, workshops, group debates, self-study units and individual presentations. The taught modules include research skills tutorials. You’ll work independently on the research and library projects, with guidance from an academic.

You’re assessed on written reports, laboratory practical classes and group and individual assignments, which may involve oral presentations. There is a written examination at the end of each module with an original research project for the MSc and a library-based project for the Diploma. The research project is assessed by a written dissertation and an oral presentation. The library project is assessed by written dissertation.

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MSc Nutrition and Health

The Nutrition and Health programme studies nutrition and health at the (sub)cellular, individual and population level.

Programme summary

Nutrition and Health focuses on the role of dietary and lifestyle factors in human health and disease. This role is studied from a biomedical perspective at the individual and population levels. In addition, the mechanisms underlying beneficial and adverse effects are studied at the sub-cellular (DNA), cellular and organ/ organism levels. Human nutrition is a multidisciplinary field of expertise. To solve problems in nutrition and health, you must consider chemical and biochemical characteristics, physiological and biomedical aspects, the social and behavioural context of nutrition, and the relationships between these factors. Solving problems in this domain requires multidisciplinary biomedical knowledge and skills as well as an interdisciplinary approach to communication with experts in human nutrition and other fields.

Specialisations

The specialisations within Nutrition and Health are:

Epidemiology and Public Health
Epidemiologists try to determine causal relationships in large groups of people, such as the elderly or people with cardiovascular problems; between food, lifestyle and the development of diseases. Research results act as starting points for health advice and lead to a greater understanding of cause and effect. If you know that certain behaviour leads to a disease, that behaviour can be addressed, and the effectiveness of the efforts to do so can be measured. You will be helping to improve the overall health of people and may be able to prevent food-related diseases from developing.

Complete Online Master
From September 2015, Wageningen University started the specialisation "Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health" as the first complete online Master of Science. For more information go to http://www.wageningenuniversity.eu/onlinemaster

Nutritional Physiology and Health Status
In this specialisation, you will study various age groups and situations, such as growth, pregnancy, and food consumption behaviour. You will also review special situations including serious diseases (clinical food), during sports and activity. You may also research the food consumption behaviour and habits of individuals and how you may be able to influence that, for example, through portion sizes. In short, you will review different aspects and will learn what the effects are of food consumption patterns and the physiological processes on the body and what that means for the status of its health and illness.

Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology
In this specialisation, you will learn to use techniques, at molecular and cellular levels, to discover the mechanism driving the relationship between food and health. In toxicology, you will learn to study the possible poisonous effects of substances present in food. For instance, new ingredients in food products and additives, but also natural substances present in our food. The relationship between food consumption, food and medicines can also be researched and through this research, you will find many new leads to improving our health.

Sensory Science
This specialisation is positioned at the interface of the programmes Food Technology and Nutrition and Health. Sensory scientists deal with the way humans perceive the world and act upon sensory input. They address how sensory systems function, from stimulation and perception to cognition and behaviour. You will work with humans and products in different contexts and study the way in which product properties affect, for example, sensory perception. The study always keeps a link to the application of this knowledge in the fields of human health and the design, production and consumption of attractive healthy foods.

Your future career

Many of our graduates begin working as researchers or PhD students. Another group becomes advisors, trainers or take up other jobs in the private sector. The majority of graduates finds employment at universities (including university medical centres), research institutes (TNO Nutrition or RIVM), in the public sector (national, regional and local governments, Netherlands Nutrition Centre, District Health Authorities) or companies involved with nutrition, pharmacology and toxicology (Unilever, Nutricia, Friesland Campina, Danone Research, Novartis). As graduates progress in their careers, they usually advance to a (more) managerial level.

Alumna Pascalle Weijzen.
Pascalle did a thesis in Epidemiology and Sensory Science. After her graduation, she did a PhD project on the dynamics of food choice and sensory specific satiety. She joined FrieslandCampina afterwards, as a Researcher Sensory & Consumer Science, where she has been responsible for innovation projects aiming at strategies to stimulate healthy food choices. “I really feel I can contribute to profit for the company and to public health at the same time. In this job I still benefit from the broad nutrition and sensory expertise, the strong academic level of thinking, and the worldwide expert network which I built up during my MSc and PhD degrees.”

Related programmes:
MSc Food Safety
Health and Society (specialisation)

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The MSc in Nutrition and Genetics aims to educate students in molecular biology principles that explain the interactions between human DNA and nutrition.

Why study Nutrition and Genetics?

The degree provides students with the knowledge and understanding of the progress, advantages and limitations of personalised nutrition. Finally, the programme will provide students with the necessary practical skills associated with molecular nutrition techniques.

NHS England states that “the shift to personalised medicine is already underway” and the NHS National Genetics and Genomics Education Centre has developed specific learning outcomes that need to be achieved by currently practising and future dietitians.

Freelance dietitians and nutritionists already feel the need to include elements of genetics and personalised nutrition in their consultations. An extensive market analysis on consumer trends (DataMonitor) showed that one of the main food-consumer “mega” trends is that people of all ages are more proactively addressing their health in a more personalised manner. The UK is one of the leading countries in consumer rates who consider the idea of using genetics in nutritional advice.

Why St Mary's?

St Mary’s University, Twickenham is the first and only university in the UK that offers a degree in Nutrition and Genetics. Teaching staff at St Mary’s have great experience teaching Nutrition and they also conduct research in the field of Nutrition and Genetics. St Mary’s University has been ranked as the top London university for student experience and we are proud of the excellent tutoring support we offer. The specific programme offers the opportunity for students to carry out their Research Project at the University of Navarra (Pamplona, Spain) as part of the Erasmus exchange programme.

Course Content

What you will study
-Principles of molecular biology
-Genetics in health and disease
-Nutrient-gene interactions
-Genetics and personalised nutrition
-Applied personalised nutrition
-Genetic tests in nutrition
-Research Project

Please note: All information is correct at the time of publication. However, course content is regularly updated and this may result in some changes, which will be communicated to students before their programme begins.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the MSc in Nutrition and Genetics will have gained an expertise in incorporating elements of genetic profiling in nutritional and dietary assessments and regimes. Also, graduates of this programme will be in a unique position to work for (or with) companies that offer genotyping services; such companies are becoming increasingly popular, creating the need for such expertise.

Finally, the specific degree is the ideal platform for a career in research considering that graduates will be in the advantageous position to combine two distinct scientific disciplines (Nutrition and Genetics).

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This course develops the careers of doctors whose interest is the practice of medicine in tropical and low- and middle-income countries. The course offers a wide choice of modules and provides training in clinical tropical medicine at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

The Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H):
All students going on the MSc will take the Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. Students with a prior DTM&H, or holding 60 Masters level credits from the East African Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene may apply for exemption from Term 1 via accreditation of prior learning.

Careers

Graduates from this course have taken a wide variety of career paths including further research in epidemiology, parasite immunology; field research programmes or international organisations concerned with health care delivery in conflict settings or humanitarian crises; or returned to academic or medical positions in low- and middle-income countries.

Awards

The Frederick Murgatroyd Award is awarded each year for the best student of the year. Donated by Mrs Murgatroyd in memory of her husband, who held the Wellcome Chair of Clinical Tropical Medicine in 1950 and 1951.

- Full programme specification (pdf) (http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/tmih_progspec.pdf)

Visit the website http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/mstmih.html

Objectives

By the end of this course students should be able to:

- understand and describe the causation, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and control of the major parasitic, bacterial, and viral diseases of developing countries

- demonstrate knowledge and skills in diagnostic parasitology and other simple laboratory methods

- understand and apply basic epidemiological principles, including selecting appropriate study designs

- apply and interpret basic statistical tests for the analysis of quantitative data

- critically evaluate published literature in order to make appropriate clinical decisions

- communicate relevant medical knowledge to patients, health care professionals, colleagues and other groups

- understand the basic sciences underlying clinical and public health practice

Structure

Term 1:
All students follow the course for the DTM&H. Term 1 consists entirely of the DTM&H lectures, seminars, laboratory practical and clinical sessions, and is examined through the DTM&H examination and resulting in the award of the Diploma and 60 Master's level credits at the end of Term 1.

Terms 2 and 3:
Students take a total of five study modules, one from each timetable slot (Slot 1, Slot 2 etc.). Recognising that students have diverse backgrounds and experience, the course director considers requests to take any module within the School's portfolio, provided that this is appropriate for the student.

*Recommended modules

- Slot 1:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 1: Bacterial & Viral Diseases & Community Health in Developing Countries*
Clinical Virology*
Epidemiology & Control of Malaria*
Advanced Immunology 1
Childhood Eye Disease and Ocular Infection
Designing Disease Control Programmes in Developing Countries
Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
Economic Evaluation
Generalised Liner Models
Health Care Evaluation
Health Promotion Approaches and Methods
Maternal & Child Nutrition
Molecular Biology & Recombinant DNA Techniques
Research Design & Analysis
Sociological Approaches to Health
Study Design: Writing a Proposal

- Slot 2:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2: Parasitic Diseases & Clinical Medicine*
Conflict and Health*
Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies*
Advanced Diagnostic Parasitology
Advanced Immunology 2
Clinical Bacteriology 1
Family Planning Programmes
Health Systems; History & Health
Molecular Virology; Non Communicable Eye Disease
Population, Poverty and Environment
Qualitative Methodologies
Statistical Methods in Epidemiology

- Slot 3:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 3: Bacterial & Viral Diseases & Community Health in Developing Countries*
Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections*
Advanced Training in Molecular Biology
Applied Communicable Disease Control
Clinical Immunology
Current Issues in Safe Motherhood & Perinatal Health
Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases
Implementing Eye Care: Skills and Resources
Medical Anthropology and Public Health
Modelling & the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
Nutrition in Emergencies
Organisational Management
Social Epidemiology
Spatial Epidemiology in Public Health
Tropical Environmental Health
Vector Sampling, Identification & Incrimination

- Slot 4:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 4: Parasitic Diseases & Clinical Medicine*
Epidemiology & Control of Communicable Diseases*
Ethics, Public Health & Human Rights*
Global Disability and Health*
Immunology of Parasitic Infection: Principles*
Analytical Models for Decision Making
Clinical Bacteriology 2
Design & Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes
Environmental Epidemiology
Evaluation of Public Health Interventions
Genetic Epidemiology
Globalisation & Health
Molecular Biology Research Progress & Applications
Nutrition Related Chronic Diseases
Population Dynamics & Projections
Reviewing the Literature
Sexual Health
Survival Analysis and Bayesian Statistics
Vector Biology & Vector Parasite Interactions

- Slot 5:
AIDS*
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy*
Mycology*
Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
Analysing Survey & Population Data
Applying Public Health Principles in Developing Countries
Environmental Health Policy
Integrated Vector Management
Integrating Module: Health Promotion
Molecular Cell Biology & Infection
Nutrition Programme Planning
Pathogen Genomics
Principles and Practice of Public Health

Further details for the course modules - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section2_coursedescriptions/ttmi.html

Project Report:
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project in a subject of their choice, for submission by early September. Projects may involve writing up and analysing work carried out before coming to the School, a literature review, or a research study proposal. Some students gather data overseas or in the UK for analysis within the project. Such projects require early planning.

Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of up to £1,500 to cover costs involved. The majority of students who undertake projects abroad receive financial support for flights from the School's trust funds set up for this purpose.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/mstmih.html#sixth

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Nutritional medicine concerns itself with the part that nutrition plays in health, disease, lifecycle and ageing.

The aim of the programme is to inform and educate those to whom the public turns for advice on nutritionally-related aspects of health and disease and those involved in the manufacture of foods and food supplements.

It is appropriate for the in-service training of doctors, dietitians, pharmacists and healthcare workers.

The programme consists of three-day taught periods at the University, preceded by preparatory study, and followed by consolidation and assessment. It will teach you to take a critical and scholarly approach to the theory, practice, literature and research findings within the subject.

Programme structure

This programme is studied part-time. On successful completion of the programme the exit awards are as follows

• Post Graduate Certificate: 4 modules (60 credits)
• Post Graduate Diploma: 8 taught modules (120 credits)
• MSc: 9 taught modules plus a research project (180 credits)

On successful completion of the MSc programme, students are eligible for direct entry on to the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists as an Associate Nutritionist via the Association for Nutrition. Students who exit with a Diploma or Certificate would still be eligible to apply for Associate Nutritionist Membership, via the Portfolio- based application pathway.

Students may also enrol for modules on an occasional route with or without assessment. Please contact us for further details.

Example module listing

The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.

• Principles of Nutritional Science 
• Principles of Applied Nutrition and Epidemiology
• Antioxidants, Phytoprotectants and Disease 
• Obesity, Diabetes and Eating Disorders 
• Diet, the Gut, Food Allergy and Intolerance 
• Nutritional Aspects of Pregnancy, Infancy and Childhood
• Nutrition and Ageing 
• Lipids and Essential Fatty Acids
• Dietary Minerals in Health and Disease 
• Clinical Nutrition and Nutritional Support 
• Nutrition and Exercise for Health and Sports Performance
• The Brain and Nervous System: Diet and Behaviour
• Research Project

Distance learning prior to attendance at the module

You will receive some preliminary material (that will require approximately 40 hours of study) around four weeks before you attend each module.

This will generally be background material (for example, a core text and/or specially written material/journal article/s) aimed at ensuring that all students, whatever their previous learning experience, will have attained a certain basic knowledge of the subject and its terminology.

Teaching at the University

The three-day periods spent at the University consist mainly of formal lectures, but will also include interactive or participative sessions incorporating some of the following learning strategies: workshops, syndicated work, demonstrations, case studies, debates, and journal clubs.

You will generally be given additional papers, reviews, notes or reading lists relating to the module lectures.

Distance learning following attendance at the module

In the two months following the module, you will be expected to study the material covered and to carry out further reading (including journal articles) to expand your understanding.

Who is the programme for?

The programme is appropriate for GPs, gastroenterologists, dietitians, pharmacists, other clinicians and health professionals with a role in nutrition and health practice.

Educational aims of the programme

The aim of the programme is to provide Masters-level learning in Nutritional Science related to health and disease. Students will gain knowledge and skills necessary to investigate, understand and apply the concepts of Nutritional Medicine in relation to current health issues. Specifically, the programme aims:

• To further the students’ knowledge of the mechanisms underlying disorders with nutritional aetiologies at both the biochemical and molecular level
• To develop evidence-based knowledge and practice in students in healthcare roles, private practice or industry who provide nutrition-related care or advice
• To enhance the critical and analytical skills of students through taking a critical and scholarly approach to theory, practice, literature and research findings within the subject resulting in a greaterunderstanding of the range and potential of nutritional management of disease risk
• To provide opportunities for professional development, encourage the acquisition of intellectual scientific, technical and transferable skills to promote self-directed and life-long learning, allowing students to show evidence of their development and support their career progression

Global opportunities

We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.

In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.

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Admission Notice now available

- check at
http://www.unipd.it/en/biotecnologie-alimentazione
http://www.unipd.it/en/how-apply

Instructions in English:
http://www.unipd.it/en/educational-offer/second-cycle-degrees/school-of-agricultural-sciences-and-veterinary-medicine?ordinamento=2011&key=IF0362
.

Biotechnologies for Food Science

In the 2016-2017 academic year, the University of Padova inaugurated a new curriculum of the Master Degree “Biotechnology applied to Food Security and Nutrition” (Second Cycle Degree) entitled “Biotechnologies for Food Science " to be entirely taught in English.
The “Biotechnologies for Food Science " Master degree (MSc) is an interdisciplinary and research-oriented Master of Science Programme and explores how to produce healthier and safer food following a cross-cutting, farm/field-to-fork approach. It is focused on the application of advanced biotechnologies in food production and safety and it is the ideal trait-d’union between the requests of consumers, of producers in the agro-food sector and research applied to production and food-safety.
The course has a strong component on cutting-edge methods, such as genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, metabolomics, nanotechnologies, all in the context of animal and crop production as well as food quality and safety. Theoretical lessons are mixed with practical training, offering hands-on experience in advanced DNA, RNA, and protein analysis together with substantial lab sessions in bioinformatics. Lectures will deal with food production, hygiene and quality, molecular methods of agro-food analyses, effects of agro-biotech products on human beings and environments. Moreover environmental stresses, disease mechanisms, pathogens and pests will be treated as essential to understand how to protect crop and farm animals and how food might impact on human health: the lectures move across animal infectious disease, immunology, microbiology, plant pests and pathogens as well as abiotic stresses to show how biotechnology might help preventing disease and improve food production. As consumers are increasingly worried about the presence of contaminants in food and on the real origin of what they eat; the Programme includes a course in food toxicology and regulation, and one on traceability for food authentication.
Our Programme is based at the Agripolis campus, where are located four departments of the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine of the University of Padova, all of which contribute to the MSc course, offering the best opportunities for a rich, cross-disciplinary experience in a highly qualified scientific environment.

Who is the MSc candidate?

This programme is open to Italian and foreign students from the EU and abroad, interested in learning and implementing effective value-added practices for the production of high-quality food products both in the EU and in international markets. English knowledge must be minimum at B2 level (CEFR). Applying students might possibly have a three-year Bachelor’s degree in a field connected with the Master’s curriculum. Good background in molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology is requested.

How is the programme organised?

Biotechnologies for Food Science is a 2-year Master programme (120 ECTS, equivalent to a Master of Science). Requirements for graduation include courses and preparation and defense of the Master thesis. Students will be encouraged to spend a period of their studies abroad, through Erasmus+ or other local programmes and agreements. Financial support to meet part of the cost for thesis work is granted to best students.
Visit the MSc “Biotechnologies for Food Science” page on the Università di Padova web-site (http://www.unipd.it/en/biotecnologie-alimentazione) for more details.

Teaching methods

Teaching takes place in an international environment and includes lectures and laboratory activities, practical exercises and seminars by experts; opportunities for intensive tutoring and for master thesis-related stages of at least six months duration will be available with outstanding companies in the sector of the food industry or with other relevant organisations in the private or public sphere. The Programme assists students to find suitable internship opportunities with qualified laboratories in Italy and abroad.
Examinations are written or oral and assess students’ participation also through reports, presentations, and group work.

Course structure

During the two-years MSc course students attend the following 12 course units

Applied genomics for animal and crop improvement
Applied Bionformatics
Food Microbiology and Food Microbial Biotechnology
Molecular basis of disease, immunology, and transmissible diseases
Laboratory of advanced DNA, RNA, and protein analysis
Biotechnology for crop production
Epidemiology and risk analysis
Traceability tools for species authentication  
Advanced technologies for the agrifood sector (nanotechnologies, proteomics, metabolomics)
Biotechnology for plant protection
Food toxicology and food regulation
Foreign language (English)

First year
During the first year of the programme the student will acquire knowledge on animal and crop genomics, focusing on the most advanced methods for high throughput genomic analysis (transcriptomics, genome-wide SNP analysis, epigenomics) and on the most recent approaches for selective breeding (genomic selection, genomic prediction). In parallel, the student will learn how bioinformatics tools might be applied to manage large sets of data, how biological data bases are organized and how to link different types of data. Extensive practical training in bioinformatics will be offered with various sessions in a dedicated lab. Food-borne pathogens and the positive role of microorganisms in food processes will be examined in an integrated microbiology course, while the molecular basis of pathology, host-response to infection, epidemiology, and diagnostics of transmissible diseases will form the basis of two courses. A course on biotechnology for crop production will introduce the molecular and physiological basis of crop production. Biotechnological approaches to improve crop yield, with particular attention to fruit production, and to reduce impact of abiotic stresses will examined. Molecular tools for food traceability and an intensive practical lab in DNA/RNA/protein analysis applied to food control will conclude the first year.

Second year
In the second year, the first semester have three courses. One will focus on novel technologies (proteomics, metabolomics, nanotechnology) and their application to food production. A second one will extend knowledge on plant biotechnology exploring advanced technologies for crop disease and pest management. A third one will deal with contaminants in food and food legislation. The second semester is completely dedicated to lab internship. It is possible to join a research lab in the campus or to have a working stage in the private sector.
link to the Campus descriptions:
http://youtu.be/gR4qcWUXvGg

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