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. The Master's Programme in Life Science Technologies offers six majors:
Bioinformatics and Digital Health covers a wide range of topics in bioinformatics and computational systems biology. To better understand the methodological basis commonly used in the field, the major provides 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 for 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 for the doctoral track in their motivation letter. The best doctoral track applicants will be interviewed.
Biomedical Engineering builds on a solid basis of physics and technology to characterise, monitor, image and influence biological systems. This major introduces the student to physics of biological systems and to key concepts of related imaging and signal analysis. In addition, the major provides knowledge and skills for developing novel engineering solutions for diagnostic and treatment needs in healthcare. The Biomedical Engineering major offers excellent foundations for pursuing a career in the medical technology industry or in academia.
After completing the major, the student will be able to:
- characterise 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 his or her knowledge and skills on specific topics within biomedical engineering
- apply existing scientific knowledge in the field to research and development in the industry
- start translating new research results into product development in biomedical technology.
The Biosensing and Bioelectronics major educates engineering experts who have versatile comprehension of detection, processing and analyses of biosignals from various sources. To accomplish this, the student is introduced to nanoscale phenomena, microfabrication techniques, biomaterials science, biochemical recognition of biomolecules, physical transducers, sensor technologies and to various clinical equipment. The basic knowledge needed in the development of innovations in the field of biosensors and bioelectronics is provided. Students are also strongly encouraged to consider practical aspects and possible applications of their knowhow throughout their studies.
Students of the Biosensing and Bioelectronics major are introduced to:
- nanoscale phenomena,
- microfabrication techniques,
- biomaterials science,
- biochemical recognition of biomolecules,
- physical transducers,
- sensor technologies, and
- clinical equipment like medical imaging.
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 characterisation of small pharmaceutically active molecules, and
- the synthesis and characterisation of biomaterials.
Specialisation 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 is a transdisciplinary research area that builds upon 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 focus on system-level understanding and giving 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 emphasise computational data analysis, theory or application areas as per their own wishes and interests.
The major in Complex Systems also offers a competitive doctoral track where a limited number of top students can be admitted. Students selected for 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 for the doctoral track in their motivation letter. The best doctoral track applicants will be interviewed.
Human Neuroscience and Technology draws from the world-class research conducted at the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering. The biggest 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 interactions.
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
- Neurotechnologies.
The teaching faculty consists of recognised 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
- modelling methods.
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.
See the curriculum for each major from Student Portal Into.
