Masters Degrees in Bio-Organic Chemistry

The MSc in Chemical Research (Bioloigcal Chemistry) course has been tailored to meet the demands of graduating chemists who wish to further their training in chemical research or who wish to use this qualification as a route into a PhD programme.

The course is designed to match the professional demand for highly-skilled personnel in industry and provides specific training in core areas of chemistry as well as specialised expertise in Biological Chemistry.

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Your programme of study

If you are interested in how drugs metabolise, small molecule discovery and biologics this programme will provide an advanced level of study and challenge to ensure you have sound skills to innovate within the drug development industry. This industry area is rapidly expanding due to new discoveries across biotechnology, biologics, Internet of Things, customised drug treatments and diagnostics at source. This has lead to many new companies being formed, customised and small batch medicines apart from large batch pharmaceutical research and production.

University of Aberdeen is world renowned in this area with the invention of Insulin to treat diabetes which won a Nobel Prize and strengths in medical research areas which also include food and nutrition and disease treatment. You learn about bio-business and the university has strong links with GSK, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca plus Novabiotics and others.

In our MSc in Drug Discovery and Development we train students in major areas of biochemical and molecular pharmacology and therapeutics relevant to the drug discovery and development business. This includes training in molecular pharmacology, drug metabolism and toxicology, therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmcovigilance, regulatory affairs and clinical pharmacology.

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1
Introduction to Bio-Business and Commercialisation of Bioscience Research
Drug Metabolism and Toxicology
Generic Skills
Basic Skills - Introduction
Small Molecule Drug Discovery

Semester 2
Advanced Bio- Business and the Commercialisation of Bioscience Research 2
Pharmokinetics
Basic Research Methods
Biologic Drug Discovery

Semester 3
Research Project

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/55/drug-discovery-and-development/

Why study at Aberdeen?

• We work closely with industry and our research strengths have spanned over 50 years with many coming from the inception of the
University
• The degree will give you the skills and knowledge to work in the pharmaceutical industry but you may wish to continue your
research towards drug discovery and start up
• You learn bio-business but you also learn how bio-business is commercialised

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• September
• 12 months or 24 months

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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The Organic Chemistry: Drug Discovery MRes at UCL offers students the opportunity to follow an integrated course of research and interdisciplinary study. Students gain outstanding training in synthetic organic chemistry applied to drug design, together with a breadth of experience in several areas of synthetic methodology and chemical biology.

Degree information

The programme provides a thorough foundation in drug design, advanced organic synthesis and molecular modelling, together with modules on research techniques, professional development and entrepreneurship. Students will carry out a substantial research project on organic/medicinal chemistry or chemical biology over a ten-month period.

MRes students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two modules from the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research (30 credits), one Master's level chemistry module (15 credits) two transferable/research skills modules (30 credits) and the research project (105 credits).

Core modules - students take 30 credits of transferable/research skills and submit a research dissertation (105 credits).
-Transferable/Research Skills
-Research Dissertation

Optional modules - students take 45 credits from the following options:
-Bioinformatics
-Target Identification
-Cheminformatics
-Biological Molecules
-Biophysical Screening
-Fragment Based Drug Design
-Target Selection (Scientific)
-Target Selection (Commercial)
-Principles of Drug Design
-Biological Chemistry
-Stereochemical Control in Asymmetric Synthesis
-Synthesis and Biosynthesis of Natural Products
-Organometallics and Catalysis
-Structural Methods in Modern Chemistry

Dissertation/report
Students will undertake a laboratory-based research project lasting ten months. An interim report is submitted after five months, and at the end of the project each student writes a dissertation, gives a short presentation and has a viva voce examination.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, problem classes, workshops and projects. Assessment is through unseen written examination, coursework, project reports and presentations.

Careers

The MRes has been developed in response to the needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors for highly qualified students as leaders in the discovery of new medicines. The pharmaceutical sector is a major employer in the UK and high-quality graduates with an understanding of the sector are always in demand. Our recent graduates have taken up PhD positions, are working in industry and have entered teacher training.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-PHD Chemical Biology, University College London (UCL)
-PhD Radiochemistry, University College London (UCL)

Why study this degree at UCL?

This programme is taught in collaboration with the Wolfson Institute of Biomedical Research (WIBR) which brings together scientists and clinicians from both academic and pharmaceutical industry backgrounds. The institute's strength is in its multidisciplinary approach to research, with the goal of identifying novel targets for drug development.

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The Master’s programme Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry aims to provide students with knowledge on the design, synthesis and evaluation of low-molecular weight biologically active organic substances. This programme offers an advanced level of knowledge with regard to organic synthesis and pharmaceutically active compounds, as well as supplementary knowledge of medicinal chemistry.

Low-molecular weight biologically active substances are at the core of Life Science Research. Knowledge of molecular structures and their properties is crucial to our understanding of a vast cross section of science, ranging from pharmaceutically active compounds to organic electronics and their incorporation into diagnostic tools as biosensors.

The main focus of this programme is the comprehension of organic synthesis pertaining to biologically active compounds. The programme begins with courses in organic chemistry and organic synthesis, building from the basic concepts to the advanced level, followed by an introduction in medicinal chemistry. It also covers protein chemistry, which broadens the students’ knowledge in the field of bioorganic chemistry.

The programme culminates by bringing together the skills and knowledge acquired in a longer thesis project, in either a research group or industry. Our research facilities are well equipped with all the necessary analytical/diagnostic equipment you would normally find in many industrial research facilities.

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Your programme of study

If you want to discover a cure for a major disease or lesser known disease this programme will help you towards that goal. Aberdeen is well know for drug discovery as Insulin was developed at the university and there has always been a strong research focus within the medical sciences to continue finding major innovations in health sciences. You learn how to formulate drugs to understand how they are regulated and the bio-business area. This area has been in rapid growth since the discovery of customised drugs which rely on individual genetic make up to define, small batch drugs which larger drug companies don't manufacture for reasons of scale and economy, and the understanding of biologics to treat diseases.

Drug Discovery is one of the few areas which have continued to expand over the last 5 years, in fact there is a major revolution in treating disease processes with other disciplines assisting.. Drug discovery involves multidisciplinary teams working in academia, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Our MRes in Drug Discovery provides training in across all aspects of drug discovery and development, clinical pharmacology and medical biotechnology. The degree programme consists of one term of taught courses (3 months) followed by 2 individual research projects lasting 16 weeks each.

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1
Molecular Pharmacology
Small Molecule Drug Discovery
Introduction to Bio-Business and the Commercialisation of Bioscience Research
Basic Skills-Induction
Generic Skills

Optional
Introduction to Molecular Biology
Applied Statistics
Drug Metabolism & Toxicology

Semester 2
Research Project
Optional
Advanced Bio-Business and the Commercialisation of Bioscience Research
Biologic Drug Discovery
Basic Research Methods

Semester 3
Research Project 2

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/54/drug-discovery/

Why study at Aberdeen?

• The university is highly regarded and known as a 'centre for excellence' in drug discovery and commercialisation
• Researchers that teach are active opinion leaders and regulators with further interdisciplinary researchers in other countries and
two British Pharmacological Society Wellcome Gold Medal winners on staff
• The university won the Nobel Prize for the treatment of diabetes and invention of insulin

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• 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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USF’s Master of Science in Chemistry is designed for graduate students seeking a research-based degree with personalized direction from research advisers and training from experienced full-time faculty. Hands-on training opportunities prepare our students for a future in professional research and development, further studies in a PhD program or health-related professional programs, and teaching positions at the high school and community college level.

Full-Tuition Merit Scholarships

Students admitted to the program are funded, including a full graduate scholarship, and most earn a salary earned through teaching or research assistantships.

Research Areas

Students are accepted into specific research groups and immediately join a research project supervised by their assigned research adviser, with whom they develop a program of directed scientific research. To qualify for admission to the program, you must be interested in pursuing research in one of the following areas:

Analytical Chemistry: Lawrence Margerum & Ryan West
Biochemistry: Megan Bolitho & Janet Yang
Inorganic Chemistry: Lawrence Margerum
Medicinal Chemistry: Jie Jack Li
Organic Chemistry: Megan Bolitho & Jie Jack Li
Physical Chemistry: Giovanni Meloni & Ryan West

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Drug discovery and development

Research in drug discovery and development enables the identification of new drug targets and therapeutics. Postgraduate programmes in Drug Discovery and Development are offered at Victoria University of Wellington. This is a collaborative programme between the following:

• Ferrier Research Institute
• Centre for Biodiscovery
• School of Biological Sciences
• School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.

The programmes operate on the interface between the fields of chemistry and biological sciences, drawing on the research expertise of the Ferrier Research Institute in drug design and development, and on expertise from the Centre for Biodiscovery in the discovery and design of bioactive compounds and the determination of their modes of action. This programme will equip graduates with the tools to enter the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and agrichemical sectors. The programme has been designed in consultation with international leaders in the pharmaceutical and related fields. 

Disciplines

Students will be provided with a programme of study tailored to their personal skills and interests, with flexibility being offered by the opportunity to undertake directed individual study courses. Alongside the core courses, students will be offered the opportunity to specialise according to their interests, with named specialisations offered in Drug Discovery, Drug Development and Chemical Biology.

Careers

The programmes provide graduates with broad knowledge of the processes and activities involved with drug discovery, design and development. It uses a mix of academic and practical skills, and is closely aligned to the needs of pharmaceutical industry in the areas of drug design and development, including bioanalytical, chemical and related industries, nutraceuticals and agrichemicals.

The programmes equip graduates to pursue careers in these industries, in the public or non-governmental sectors, or to continue directly to PhD level studies.

Further information may be found at the following websites:

• https://www.victoria.ac.nz/ferrier
• https://www.victoria.ac.nz/ferrier/students/drug-discovery
• https://www.victoria.ac.nz/international
• https://www.victoria.ac.nz/sbs/research-centres-institutes/centre-for-biodiscovery/drug,-discovery-and-design

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