Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics (Classe LM-8)-Enrolled from 2019/2020 to 2024/2025 Academic Year
Master programme
interateneo Politecnico di Milano
A.Y. 2025/2026
LM-8 - Biotecnologie industriali (EN)
The Master Degree in 'Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics' (BCG) aims to form graduates with an adequate knowledge about the molecular basis of biological systems; the structure and function of biological molecules and how they participate in cellular processes; the technologies and platforms for the analysis of genomes; the tools for bioinformatic and genomic analysis; and the statistical and computational methodologies for the analysis of biomolecular data.
The BCG degree therefore includes activities providing in depth knowledge on:
1. the organization of information in the genome and the molecular and cellular processes at the basis of gene expression and its regulation
2. the experimental methods used for studying genes and their function in different model species, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic
3. the technologies employed in modern genomic research
4. methods and protocols of bioinformatic analysis in functional genomics studies
5. algorithmic, mathematical and statistical approaches underlying bioinformatic and genomic analysis tools
6. data base technologies for the storage and organization of the data
7. modelling and analysis techniques employed in systems biology for the study of interactions in complex biological systems.
The program includes, as a fundamental step in the formation of the students, an internship in research laboratories either at the University of Milan or in other Italian or foreign research institutes. The research experience of the internship and its results will be described in a final written dissertation, to be discussed in front of a thesis committee.
The BCG degree therefore includes activities providing in depth knowledge on:
1. the organization of information in the genome and the molecular and cellular processes at the basis of gene expression and its regulation
2. the experimental methods used for studying genes and their function in different model species, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic
3. the technologies employed in modern genomic research
4. methods and protocols of bioinformatic analysis in functional genomics studies
5. algorithmic, mathematical and statistical approaches underlying bioinformatic and genomic analysis tools
6. data base technologies for the storage and organization of the data
7. modelling and analysis techniques employed in systems biology for the study of interactions in complex biological systems.
The program includes, as a fundamental step in the formation of the students, an internship in research laboratories either at the University of Milan or in other Italian or foreign research institutes. The research experience of the internship and its results will be described in a final written dissertation, to be discussed in front of a thesis committee.
The BCG Master degree aims to train highly skilled professionals able to merge in depth knowledge on the molecular foundations of life sciences with up-to-date knowledge of the current techniques and technologies for bioinformatic and genomic analysis. Particular emphasis will be put on the quantitative and computational aspects of the latter ones, which will be focused on the analysis, modelling, and comprehension of biological systems. The ultimate goal is to train in a multi-disciplinary context professionals ready to cope with the challenges deriving from modern biomolecular sciences in the post-genomic era, and able to conjugate and integrate knowledge on biology, genetics, computer science, information engineering, and statistics in different fields of basic or applied research. The BCG program aims to train the following professional figures: biologist and related figures, biotechnologist.
Graduates in BCG will thus be able to:
1. take part in the design and execution of large scale genomic analyses
2. identify and extract the biological meaning from the results obtained
3. design autonomously tools and protocols for the bioinformatic analysis of different types of experimental data
4. play a pivotal role in research groups focused on basic or applied genomic research
5. coordinate and supervise research projects and groups focused on bioinformatics and genomics.
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
Graduates in BCG will thus be able to:
1. take part in the design and execution of large scale genomic analyses
2. identify and extract the biological meaning from the results obtained
3. design autonomously tools and protocols for the bioinformatic analysis of different types of experimental data
4. play a pivotal role in research groups focused on basic or applied genomic research
5. coordinate and supervise research projects and groups focused on bioinformatics and genomics.
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The BCG degree program supports the international mobility of the University program: a lecturer (for the academic year 2024/2025, Prof. Matteo Chiara) acts as a tutor for students interested in the Erasmus+ program, in order to guide students in their choice of the most suitable program for their formation.
In the frame work of the Erasmus+ program, the BCG 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 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 BCG 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 BCG lecturers) and the study plan must be approved by the BCG Teaching Board.
In the frame work of the Erasmus+ program, the BCG 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 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 BCG 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 BCG lecturers) and the study plan must be approved by the BCG Teaching Board.
Course attendance is highly recommended. Exceptions for students planning not to attend all or most of the classes of a course ("studenti non frequentanti") must be motivated and authorized by the lecturer.
Courses list
course year not available
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | 6 | 48 | English | ING-INF/05 |
| Organic Chemistry | 6 | 48 | English | CHIM/06 |
| Optional | ||||
| Biochemistry | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/10 |
| Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology | 12 | 96 | English | BIO/11 BIO/13 BIO/18 |
| Programming and Data Bases | 12 | 96 | English | INF/01 ING-INF/05 |
| Statistics | 6 | 48 | English | MAT/06 SECS-S/01 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Biostatistics | 6 | 60 | English | MAT/06 SECS-S/01 |
| Genomics and Transcriptomics | 12 | 96 | English | BIO/11 |
| Machine Learning | 6 | 60 | English | INF/01 ING-INF/05 |
| Scientific Programming | 6 | 60 | English | ING-INF/05 |
Optional activities and study plan rules
1 - Students with a degree/background in computer science, engineering, mathematics or physics will attend the courses of the "Percorso 1" ("Knowledge Alignment Plan 1") in Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology (12 CFU) and Biochemistry (6 CFU).
Students with a degree/background in life sciences (biology or biotechnology or equivalent) will attend the courses of the "Percorso 2" ("Knowledge Alignment Plan 2") in Programming and Data Bases (12 CFU) and Statistics (6 CFU).
Students with a degree/background in life sciences (biology or biotechnology or equivalent) will attend the courses of the "Percorso 2" ("Knowledge Alignment Plan 2") in Programming and Data Bases (12 CFU) and Statistics (6 CFU).
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | BIO/10 |
| Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology | 12 | 96 | English | First semester | BIO/11 BIO/13 BIO/18 |
| Programming and Data Bases | 12 | 96 | English | First semester | INF/01 ING-INF/05 |
| Statistics | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | MAT/06 SECS-S/01 |
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Advanced Genomics and Epigenomics | 12 | 96 | English | BIO/18 BIO/19 |
| Structural Chemistry | 6 | 48 | English | CHIM/06 ING-IND/34 |
| Systems Biology and Network Analysis | 6 | 48 | English | ING-INF/06 |
| Optional | ||||
| Genomic Big Data Management and Computing | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/11 ING-INF/05 |
| Interdisciplinary Project | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/11 ING-INF/05 |
| Neurogenomics and Brain Disease Modelling | 6 | 48 | English | BIO/11 |
Conclusive activities
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Language Skills and Other Activities (attendance to seminars, etc.) | 3 | 0 | English | NN |
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 | 21 | 0 | English | NN |
Optional activities and study plan rules
2 - Open choice courses: 12 CFU
The student can employ part of all of the 12 CFU of freely chosen activities in attending one ore more of the following courses:
The student can employ part of all of the 12 CFU of freely chosen activities in attending one ore more of the following courses:
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genomic Big Data Management and Computing | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | BIO/11 ING-INF/05 |
| Interdisciplinary Project | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | BIO/11 ING-INF/05 |
| Neurogenomics and Brain Disease Modelling | 6 | 48 | English | First semester | BIO/11 |
There are no propaedeutic courses in the BCG degree that can limit progression from the first to the second year.
Course location
Milan
Presidente del Collegio Didattico
GIULIO PAVESI
Docenti tutor
Students can contact, according to their needs, tutors from both University of Milan and Politecnico di Milano:
Academic guidance tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Erasmus and international mobility tutor: Matteo Chiara (Unimi)
Study plan tutor: Roberto Mantovani (Unimi)
Internship tutor: Roberto Mantovani (Unimi)
Seminar and workshop tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Dissertation tutor: Roberto Mantovani (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
University and programme transfer tutor: Matteo Chiara (Unimi)
Master's degree admission tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Credit recognition tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Academic guidance tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Erasmus and international mobility tutor: Matteo Chiara (Unimi)
Study plan tutor: Roberto Mantovani (Unimi)
Internship tutor: Roberto Mantovani (Unimi)
Seminar and workshop tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Dissertation tutor: Roberto Mantovani (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
University and programme transfer tutor: Matteo Chiara (Unimi)
Master's degree admission tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Credit recognition tutor: Giulio Pavesi (Unimi), Marco Masseroli (Polimi)
Reference structures
Contacts
- Student Desks
via Celoria, 18 - 20133 Milan
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/359
+390250325032
https://www.unimi.it/en/node/360 - Academic Services Office
via Celoria, 26 - 20133 Milan - ground floor, C Building
https://informastudenti.unimi.it/saw/ess?AUTH=SAML
+390250314870
By 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
Official documents