This is a specialisation of the Biology Master.
Coordinator: Dr. Remko Offringa, email: r.offringa@biology.leidenuniv.nl
All indicated courses are compulsory, except for electives
Information lecture on MSc specialisations MCB and Biology and SBB, ………………………………..room 5.T.01, Sylvius Laboratory.
Contact: Remko Offringa
Additional EC can be obtained by following optional courses or advanced lectures, by doing a minor research project or by extending a research project. The optional element ‘Colloquium course’ comprises advanced lectures and is highly recommended for student enrolled in the MCB track (flexible for 2, 3 or 4 EC). Monthly ‘spotlight’ meetings, where scientists from various research groups in the IBL will present their findings, are also recommended.
Elective courses, lectures, minor research project or extension research project 400/500 23 – 41
Note: maximally 12 EC of optional theoretical programme elements of level < 400 are permitted.
Optional courses can also be chosen from other Msc programmes in Leiden or elsewhere (i.e. Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences or Life Science and Technology). For advanced lectures see the studyguide of the other Msc programmes.
Studyguide Msc programmes
Note: Approval of your trackcoordinator is necessary
Research projects are the core of the MSc program. Students will be member of a research group of their choice and work on a specific project, usually in close collaboration with a staff member or PhD student. Compulsory is, preferably one research project of at least 9 months (54 EC), or two research projects each with a minimum duration of 6 months (36 EC). The compulsory research project(s), or at least one of them, is in either of the research groups of Molecular Developmental Genetics, Molecular Microbiology, Molecular Cell Biology, Plant Cell Physiology or other departments of the Faculty of Sciences. A research project within one of the ‘Life Science’ research groups of the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC) or at the Leiden-Amsterdam Centre of Drug Research (LACDR) may substitute for the mandatory research project within the IBL (meaning that it may count as an internal research project). A research project can be done also at the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) and it may count as an internal research project when minimally 20 EC on biomedical courses have been concluded during the bachelor programme. For all research projects, a priori approval by the track coordinator is required.
The research project includes a Master’s thesis and an oral presentation (5+2 EC for a long and 4+1 EC for the short research project)
Additional EC can be obtained by following optional courses or advanced lectures, by doing a minor research project or by extending a research project. The optional element ‘Colloquium course’ comprises advanced lectures and is highly recommended for student enrolled in the MCB track (flexible for 2, 3 or 4 EC). Monthly ‘spotlight’ meetings, where scientists from various research groups in the IBL will present their findings, are also recommended.
Elective courses, lectures, minor research project or extension research project 400/500 23 – 41
Note: maximally 12 EC of optional theoretical programme elements of level < 400 are permitted.
In the profile courses, students are trained in critical reading and writing about recent scientific literature ranging from a general perspective towards a chosen specialization. Profile course 1 is built of various parts. Part 1.1 concentrates on the basic theoretical knowledge of microbiology, cellular biology, molecular genetics, immunology and plant cell physiology and the connection between these sub disciplines. Part 1.1 should be finished satisfactory before any other part can start. Part 1.2 provides information on frontiers of scientific research participating in this MSc track taken from presentations. In part 1.3 students choose a specialization for a specialized theoretical exam. Specializations are: animal cells and disease, genetics and microbiology, biotechnology and plants. Part 1.4 concentrates on general research skills and is often integrated in the first research project. Profile course 2 aims at deepening the knowledge of and insights in one of the research fields of cellular biology, molecular genetics, microbiology or plant cell physiology.
All students getting enrolled in this track are held to start with profile course 1, part 1.1 which is self study. Only after completion of parts 1.1-1.3 of profile course 1, you can start with the research project.
This year a new colloquium course ‘Discoveries in Bioscience’ is being offered as an obligatory element by the MCB track which is flexible and very well to combine with the research project.
Students in Leiden can find details (description, literature, exam dates and further calendar events) about the Profile and other courses on Blackboard.
Each MSc-student will be assigned to a specific staff member who will arrange to meet with the student once every 6 months, or otherwise on his or her demands to discuss matters relating to progress, interests, job prospects, etcetera.