Official Master's Degree in Plant Biology, Genomics and Biotechnology

Introduction

The master’s degree in Plant Biology, Genomics and Biotechnology is a full-time one year program (60 ECTS) jointly organised by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona and the Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics.

The aim of this master's degree, entirely held in English, is to train professional researchers in the area of plants and fungi with the skills needed in the research and development departments of industries belonging to the fields of agro-genomics, agro-foods, bioenergetics, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and related sectors, and for institutions dedicate to the conservation of plant diversity such as botanical gardens and germplasm collections. The master's degree also prepares for the access to doctoral studies of an academic career.
 
Plants are key elements in the natural landscape and in the functioning of ecosystems. They form the basis of our food and health, and provide a wide range of products and processes in the food, farming, fishing, pharmaceutical, textile and energy industries. An integrated knowledge of how plants function, covering from the genetic-molecular and evolutionary level to the whole organism and its interaction with the medium, is fundamental for the scientific and technological development, both locally and abroad.

In recent years, improvements in the research tools used in molecular biology, bioinformatics and genetics have given rise to formidable advances in plant research and, at the same time, provided fast progress in crop breeding in the view of more sustainable and healthier food production systems. Further progress is also being achieved in the biotechnological production of drugs and other active compounds.

Research into the rich diversity of plant metabolism and its regulation is providing an extremely wide range of raw materials with technological applications in the fields of bio-health, farming, renewable energy and the materials industry.

Identifying and conserving the genetic diversity of plants are basic steps towards assuring the future sustainable development of all these applications, which are creating demand for specialised research and development personnel.

The master's degree in Plant Biology, Genomics  and Biotechnology provides advanced training, both theoretical and practical, in these areas and prepares students to take on new scientific projects involving the biological and technological aspects of the plant world.

 

Career options

Career options include both basic research and practical applications in the field of plant biology.

This Master's degree will train you as a professional qualified to work in academic and research sectors pertaining to universities, research centres and institutes, and R&D departments of biotechnological and/or plant improvement industries.

Additional career options include the identification and conservation of plant germplasm (germplasm collections, botanical gardens, etc.), identification and evaluation of plant drugs used both in the pharmaceutical and food industry; with particular emphasis on identifying and evaluating transgenic food.

The master's degree also meets the academic needs of research staff who wish to undertake their PhD studies in the area of Plant Biology and Biotechnology.

Teaching timetable