Content of the studies
The students selected to the programme may freely choose their major, provided they have the required background. The major will be selected as part of the personal study plan in the beginning of the studies.
Bioinformatics and Digital Health
The studies in Bioinformatics and Digital Health cover a wide range of topics in bioinformatics and computational systems biology. To better understand the methodological basis commonly used in the field, the major will provide students with a comprehensive background in probabilistic modeling, machine learning and data science.
The major is designed to give strong competences in
- computational and data science,
- skills for developing new computational methods and models, and
- applying them to real-world biomolecular data.
Examples of research questions studied include predicting drug-target interactions, reconstructing biological networks, finding associations between genotypes and diseases, and modelling dynamical behavior of complex biological pathways.
The major in Bioinformatics and Digital Health also offers a competitive doctoral track where a limited number of top students can be admitted. Students selected to the doctoral track can have their studies tailored towards pursuing PhD studies, and can start working towards a PhD in one of the department’s research groups already during their master studies. Applicants are asked to indicate their interest in entering the doctoral track in their motivation letter. The best doctoral track applicants will be interviewed. Read more >>.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering builds on a solid basis of physics and technology to characterize, monitor, image and influence biological systems. This major introduces the student to the physics of biological systems in order to efficiently measure, image, and model such systems. In addition, it provides the student with basic knowledge and skills needed for developing novel engineering solutions for diagnosis and treatment in health care.
After completing the major, the student will be able to
- characterize biophysical systems by conceptual and quantitative models
- explain how the laws of physics enable and constrain the operation of biological systems
- follow the progress of biomedical engineering
- deepen their knowledge and skills of specific topics within biomedical engineering
- apply existing scientific knowledge of the field to research and development in the industry
- start translating new research results into product development in biomedical technology.
Biosensing and Bioelectronics
The major in Biosensing and Bioelectronics combines both theoretical and practical studies in designing, developing, fabricating and characterizing biosensors, biomedical devices and medical instrumentations. Hands-on experience is gained in order to understand the biocompatibility of both organic and inorganic materials used in electronics, as well as interactions between low frequency electromagnetic fields and living tissue, and in special applications these interactions even with single cells and biomolecules.
The target is to educate engineering experts, who have versatile comprehension of biosensors and other electronic applications. To accomplish this, the student is introduced to
- nanoscale phenomena,
- microfabrication techniques,
- biomaterials science,
- biochemical recognition of biomolecules,
- physical transducers,
- sensor technologies, and
- clinical equipment like medical imaging.
The tools needed in the development of innovations in the field of biosensors and bioelectronics are provided and the students are strongly encouraged to commercialize their own ideas.
Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering
The major in Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering provides a solid understanding of biological phenomena, biomaterials and small organic molecules important to the field of life science. At the core of the teaching are:
- the understanding of molecular and cellular level phenomena,
- reprogramming of cells,
- molecular design and characterization of small pharmaceutically active molecules, and
- the synthesis and characterization of biomaterials.
Specialization during the major allows acquiring in depth understanding in one of the selected fields or studying at the interface of the different fields.
The major in Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering is strongly research driven and is tightly linked to research activities related to the fields of biotechnology, organic chemistry, chemical and biological microdevices, and polymer science at the School of Chemical Engineering. Employment sectors for graduates are within the broad context of engineering combined with chemistry and biotechnology within the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.
Complex Systems
Complex Systems is a transdisciplinary research area that builds on statistical physics, computer science, data science, and applied mathematics. The major in Complex Systems provides the students with tools to understand systems with large numbers of interacting elements, from the human brain to social networks and from living to technological systems.
Studies in Complex Systems will focus on system-level understanding as well as on giving the students hands-on experience in data-intensive research. The set of tools in the curriculum includes
- network science,
- nonlinear dynamics,
- agent-based modelling,
- machine learning, and
- Bayesian statistics, together with
- the fundamentals of dealing with empirical data and computational data analysis.
This interdisciplinary major is suitable for students from different backgrounds (e.g. physics, bioinformatics, computer science), and students can choose to put emphasis on computational data analysis, theory, or application areas, according to their own wishes.
The major in Complex Systems also offers a competitive doctoral track where a limited number of top students can be admitted. Students selected to the doctoral track can have their studies tailored towards pursuing PhD studies, and can start working towards a PhD in one of the department’s research groups already during their master studies. Applicants are asked to indicate their interest in entering the doctoral track in their motivation letter. The best doctoral track applicants will be interviewed. Read more >>.
Human Neuroscience and Technology
Studies in Human Neuroscience and Technology draw from the world-class research conducted at the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. The grand challenges in brain research are in better understanding the function of the human brain in health and disease, as studied in well-controlled and increasingly complex experimental settings, including during social interaction.
The aim of the major is to provide students with
- a profound understanding of the structure and functions of human brain,
- brain research methods and instrumentation, and
The teaching faculty consists of recognized scientists in their research fields studying functions of sensory systems and cognitive functions, and developing brain research technologies. The curriculum reflects the research interests of the teaching faculty.
The curriculum of the Human Neuroscience and Technology major is a carefully tailored combination of
- modern systems-level research methodology of the brain, mind, and human cognition,
- signal and computational analysis, and
The emphasis of the curriculum is experimental. Although regular lecture and course work is also required, part of the studies will take place in small groups under the guidance of a senior scientist.
Structure of the studies
The Master’s Programme in Life Science Technologies consists of major studies (60 – 65 ECTS), elective studies (25 - 30 ECTS), and a master’s thesis (30 ECTS). See detailed course data for each major on the student portal Into.
Thesis
Students are required to complete a Master's thesis, which is a research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 ECTS credits. The student and the supervising professor agree upon the topic of the thesis. Master's theses are typically written for a company or for one of the research projects of the department in question.
Internationalisation
The study environment in the Life Science Technologies programme is strongly international and studies are conducted in multicultural groups. The schools involved offer diverse possibilities for student exchange all over the world. Exchange studies can be included in the degree e.g. as an international minor. Other possibilities for developing one’s global competence include conducting practical training abroad, taking a summer course abroad or acting as a tutor for first-year students.
Co-operation with other parties
The schools and departments have strong collaborations in with the academic and industrial partners in the HealthTech field nationally and internationally. In particular, Aalto contributes to the Health Capital Helsinki, an alliance formed by the City of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki, Aalto University and HUS Helsinki University Hospital as well as Biodesign Finland, an entrepreneurial programme developed at Stanford University.
Research focus
Health and Wellbeing (H&W) is one of the key research areas of Aalto University with ca. 75 active professors. The research ares of H&W are closely aligned with the Life Science Technologies MSc programme. The H&W research is conducted at a very high scientific level, demonstrated by several National Centers of Excellence, a high-impact publication record, and the high volume of competitive research funding.
