Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (Classe LM-8)-Enrolled from 2016/2017 Academic Year
The MB&B Master degree aims at providing students with advanced skills in molecular biotechnology and computational biology and bioinformatics, with a strong focus on the most advanced tools and approaches for the analysis of genomes, proteomes, and metabolomes. The main goal of the MB&B Master degree is to give the students a broad theoretical and practical background needed to apply their knowledge to any biological/biotechnology problems.
Specific goal of MB&B is to provide a deep and up-to-date knowledge in the following core subjects:
- bioinformatics
- molecular biology and biotechnology
- functional genomics and "-omics" technologies
- protein expression systems
- metabolic engineering and industrial processes
- structural biochemistry
- molecular enzymology
- data analysis
In addition, the student will have the opportunity to develop further specific disciplines of its interest, choosing from courses in plant genetics, nanotechnology, biophysics, molecular microbiology, molecular parasitology, structural biology, patenting and technology transfer. The MB&B Master degree combines lecture-based courses (in the first year and the first term of the second year) and an experimental laboratory project leading to a dissertation (second year), to be chosen by the students among many projects offered by the University of Milan and other research institutes, including private companies.
Specific goal of MB&B is to provide a deep and up-to-date knowledge in the following core subjects:
- bioinformatics
- molecular biology and biotechnology
- functional genomics and "-omics" technologies
- protein expression systems
- metabolic engineering and industrial processes
- structural biochemistry
- molecular enzymology
- data analysis
In addition, the student will have the opportunity to develop further specific disciplines of its interest, choosing from courses in plant genetics, nanotechnology, biophysics, molecular microbiology, molecular parasitology, structural biology, patenting and technology transfer. The MB&B Master degree combines lecture-based courses (in the first year and the first term of the second year) and an experimental laboratory project leading to a dissertation (second year), to be chosen by the students among many projects offered by the University of Milan and other research institutes, including private companies.
The MB&B Master degree provides employment opportunities in the following areas:
management of production facilities in the biotechnological industry, including diagnostics, chemicals, and agro-food industry; promotion of scientific development and technological innovation in Research & Development in different industrial settings; service management in areas related to industrial biotechnology, as well as in Quality Control laboratories; research laboratories in both private and public institutions. Graduates will be able to operate, in their fields of specialization, at a high level of responsibility, managing the ethical, technical and legal aspects of their work. In addition, thanks to its strong commitment to teaching a broad range of biotechnological disciplines, the MB&B Master degree is ideal to provide the background knowledge required for Ph.D. and other higher education courses.
The specific business contexts that the MB&B graduates can enter are, among others: the pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, food industry, industry and services for environmental biotechnology, biotechnology service centers applying information technology, genomics and proteomics research laboratories of both public and private institutions.
The MB&B graduates will possess full and updated knowledge in:
- the production of intermediates and products for fine chemicals and the food industry
- industrial fermentation processes for the production of metabolites and for obtaining energy from renewable sources
- control of biotechnological processes
- development of innovative diagnostic techniques
- analysis of nucleotide and protein sequences
- development of new biologically active molecules through the study of molecular interactions between proteins and nucleic acids, and the identification of new molecular targets
- design and development of bioinformatics platforms and new methods for biological data analysis
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
management of production facilities in the biotechnological industry, including diagnostics, chemicals, and agro-food industry; promotion of scientific development and technological innovation in Research & Development in different industrial settings; service management in areas related to industrial biotechnology, as well as in Quality Control laboratories; research laboratories in both private and public institutions. Graduates will be able to operate, in their fields of specialization, at a high level of responsibility, managing the ethical, technical and legal aspects of their work. In addition, thanks to its strong commitment to teaching a broad range of biotechnological disciplines, the MB&B Master degree is ideal to provide the background knowledge required for Ph.D. and other higher education courses.
The specific business contexts that the MB&B graduates can enter are, among others: the pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, food industry, industry and services for environmental biotechnology, biotechnology service centers applying information technology, genomics and proteomics research laboratories of both public and private institutions.
The MB&B graduates will possess full and updated knowledge in:
- the production of intermediates and products for fine chemicals and the food industry
- industrial fermentation processes for the production of metabolites and for obtaining energy from renewable sources
- control of biotechnological processes
- development of innovative diagnostic techniques
- analysis of nucleotide and protein sequences
- development of new biologically active molecules through the study of molecular interactions between proteins and nucleic acids, and the identification of new molecular targets
- design and development of bioinformatics platforms and new methods for biological data analysis
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
Students with an Italian University degree:
The MB&B Master degree can be accessed by graduates of Laurea Triennale belonging to the L-2 class (Biotechnology) and previous class 1 (Biotechnology). It can also be accessed by any student with a Laurea Triennale providing a strong background (at least 60 University credits) in biotechnology-related subjects, i.e., subjects identified as "core disciplines" for the L-2 class of Laurea Triennale.
Students with a degree from a non-Italian institution:
The candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or University, and a strong knowledge in most (or all) of the following areas: genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry.
Entry requirement requires a knowledge of English equal to or higher than level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (QCER).
Level B1 is verified during the admission phase in the following ways:
- linguistic certification obtained no later than 3 years, of B1 or higher level (for the list of linguistic certifications recognized by the University, see the website:
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/297/). The certification must be loaded during the admission procedure;
- B1 level of English achieved during a bachelor's three-year degree course through the SLAM course. Checks made less than four years ago are considered valid. Verification takes place ex officio without any need to attach certificates;
- B1 level of English achieved during a bachelor's three-year degree course at an Italian University. Checks made less than four years ago are considered valid. The university certification must be loaded during the admission procedure.
The MB&B Master degree can be accessed by graduates of Laurea Triennale belonging to the L-2 class (Biotechnology) and previous class 1 (Biotechnology). It can also be accessed by any student with a Laurea Triennale providing a strong background (at least 60 University credits) in biotechnology-related subjects, i.e., subjects identified as "core disciplines" for the L-2 class of Laurea Triennale.
Students with a degree from a non-Italian institution:
The candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or University, and a strong knowledge in most (or all) of the following areas: genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry.
Entry requirement requires a knowledge of English equal to or higher than level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (QCER).
Level B1 is verified during the admission phase in the following ways:
- linguistic certification obtained no later than 3 years, of B1 or higher level (for the list of linguistic certifications recognized by the University, see the website:
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/297/). The certification must be loaded during the admission procedure;
- B1 level of English achieved during a bachelor's three-year degree course through the SLAM course. Checks made less than four years ago are considered valid. Verification takes place ex officio without any need to attach certificates;
- B1 level of English achieved during a bachelor's three-year degree course at an Italian University. Checks made less than four years ago are considered valid. The university certification must be loaded during the admission procedure.
The MB&B degree program supports the international mobility of the University program: MB&B lecturers (for the academic year 2020/2021, Proff. Veronica Gregis and Concetta Compagno) act as tutors for students interested in the Erasmus + program, in order to guide students in their choice of the most suitable program for their formation. Every January, the Erasmus + program is presented to the MB&B students through a local event organized by the coordinator of the Erasmus + program of the Industrial Biotechnology area (Prof. Veronica Gregis).
In the frame work of the Erasmus+ program, the MB&B Master course has in place agreements with Universities in Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Norway, and The Netherlands, all offering courses in English.
Calls for participation to Erasmus Studio can be found at the following link: https://www.unimi.it/en/international/study-abroad/studying-abroad-erasmus.
The time spent abroad can be used to attend courses and pass the relative exams, thus collecting credits towards the Master degree, as well as to carry out the experimental project for the dissertation. The student admitted to the mobility program must submit a study plan detailing the training activities that he/she plans to carry out, with the corresponding credits. The number of credits should correspond as much as possible to the number of credits that the student should acquire in a similar time at the home University. The proposed activities must be consistent with the goals and the contents of the Master degree. The study plan must be approved by the MB&B Student Mobility Committee, which can request changes or integrations. At the end of the mobility program, according to the guidelines provided by the University of Milan, the courses attended (with a passed exam) by the student are registered in his/her career, preferably with its original name and with an indication of the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) and their conversion in CFU (usually
1 ECTS= 1 CFU). The students willing to carry out their dissertation work as part of a mobility program abroad must have an internal supervisor (chosen among the MB&B lecturers) and the study plan must be approved by the MB&B board.
In the frame work of the Erasmus+ program, the MB&B Master course has in place agreements with Universities in Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Norway, and The Netherlands, all offering courses in English.
Calls for participation to Erasmus Studio can be found at the following link: https://www.unimi.it/en/international/study-abroad/studying-abroad-erasmus.
The time spent abroad can be used to attend courses and pass the relative exams, thus collecting credits towards the Master degree, as well as to carry out the experimental project for the dissertation. The student admitted to the mobility program must submit a study plan detailing the training activities that he/she plans to carry out, with the corresponding credits. The number of credits should correspond as much as possible to the number of credits that the student should acquire in a similar time at the home University. The proposed activities must be consistent with the goals and the contents of the Master degree. The study plan must be approved by the MB&B Student Mobility Committee, which can request changes or integrations. At the end of the mobility program, according to the guidelines provided by the University of Milan, the courses attended (with a passed exam) by the student are registered in his/her career, preferably with its original name and with an indication of the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) and their conversion in CFU (usually
1 ECTS= 1 CFU). The students willing to carry out their dissertation work as part of a mobility program abroad must have an internal supervisor (chosen among the MB&B lecturers) and the study plan must be approved by the MB&B board.
Attendance to frontal lessons is strongly recommended. The experimental project leading to the final dissertation is considered mandatory for the Master Degree.
Courses list
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Biotechnological Products and Processes | 6 | 48 | English | CHIM/06 CHIM/11 |
| Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics | 10 | 88 | English | BIO/11 BIO/18 |
| Methods in Bioinformatics | 6 | 48 | English | INF/01 |
| Molecular and Cellular Microbiology | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/18 BIO/19 |
| Rational Design and Structural Characterization of Bioactive Molecules | 6 | 48 | English | CHIM/02 CHIM/06 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Advanced Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology | 10 | 80 | English | BIO/06 BIO/11 |
| Advanced Plant Cell Biotechnology | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/04 BIO/18 |
| Protein Engineering and Molecular Enzymology | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/10 |
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| English Proficiency B2 (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | |
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Thesis Project and Final Dissertation | 39 | 0 | English | |
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Bioimaging | 6 | 56 | English | FIS/03 FIS/07 |
| Biotechnological and Molecular Strategies in the Control of Parasites and Vector-Borne Diseases | 6 | 48 | English | VET/06 |
| Nanotechnology for Biomedical Applications and Biosensors | 6 | 48 | English | CHIM/01 CHIM/06 |
| Patenting and Technology Transfer | 6 | 48 | English | AGR/01 IUS/01 IUS/04 |
| Structural Bioinformatics | 6 | 56 | English | BIO/10 BIO/11 FIS/07 INF/01 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Advanced Bioinformatics for Biotechnology | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/11 INF/01 |
| Macromolecular Structural Biology | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/10 |
| Molecular Breeding and Plant Genetics | 6 | 48 | English | AGR/07 BIO/18 |
Optional activities and study plan rules
1 - The student must choose at least two of the following courses
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Bioinformatics for Biotechnology | 6 | 48 | English | Second semester | BIO/11 INF/01 |
| Bioimaging | 6 | 56 | English | First semester | FIS/03 FIS/07 |
| Biotechnological and Molecular Strategies in the Control of Parasites and Vector-Borne Diseases | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | VET/06 |
| Macromolecular Structural Biology | 6 | 48 | English | Second semester | BIO/10 |
| Molecular Breeding and Plant Genetics | 6 | 48 | English | Second semester | AGR/07 BIO/18 |
| Nanotechnology for Biomedical Applications and Biosensors | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | CHIM/01 CHIM/06 |
| Patenting and Technology Transfer | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | AGR/01 IUS/01 IUS/04 |
| Structural Bioinformatics | 6 | 56 | English | First semester | BIO/10 BIO/11 FIS/07 INF/01 |
2 - The student must acquire 10 additional credits (CFU) choosing from any course offered by the University of Milan, provided that they are coherent to the topics of the MBB and the contents not overlapping with those of mandatory and guided through courses in the study plan.
Four credits can be acquired by carrying out a small project (100 hours) in a research laboratory, either at the University of Milan or at another structure. The project must be approved by the MBB Coordinator
Four credits can be acquired by carrying out a small project (100 hours) in a research laboratory, either at the University of Milan or at another structure. The project must be approved by the MBB Coordinator
Course location
Milano
Presidente del Collegio Didattico
Prof. Marco Nardini
Reference structures
Contacts
- Student administrative office
Milan - Via Celoria, 18
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/359
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/359
+390250325032
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/360 - Academic Services Office
Milan - Via Celoria, 26.
[email protected]
Presently by email only. - International Students Office - Welcome Desk
Milan - Via S. Sofia, 9/1.
[email protected]
To contact the office or book an appointment:
A.Y. 2025/2026
A.Y. 2024/2025
A.Y. 2023/2024
A.Y. 2022/2023
A.Y. 2021/2022
A.Y. 2020/2021
A.Y. 2019/2020
A.Y. 2018/2019
Official documents