Master in Biology of Organisms and Ecology

Industrial sector (biotech companies, pharmaceutical industry, agro-food enterprises, "green" technologies): leader of research programs; consulting offices and publishing companies: scientific advisor and responsible of communication; in charge of impact studies;

Nature conservation and environment sector: conservation and management of biodiversity resources; management of nature conservation areas;

Education sector, from secondary schools to higher non-university schools;

Academic sector (research and higher education: universities and other higher education institutions, research centres, museums, botanical gardens);

Public sector (local, regional, national, European level): environmental management, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development: preparation of legal texts, implementation of policies; quality control, biosafety, forensic laboratories, development cooperation.

Nongovernmental organizations (nature conservation, development cooperation, sustainable development).

As a researcher in the academic sector (universities, high schools, museums, botanical gardens ...), or the private sector (biotech companies, pharmaceutical firms, agro-food enterprises), the organism biologist is involved in the development of fundamental and applied knowledge about living organisms, their functioning and evolution.

As an expert in the public sector (public institutions and administrations in charge of environment and nature management, from the local to the European level), in nongovernmental organizations (development cooperation, sustainable development)or in private consulting agencies the organism biologist is involved impact studies, in the implementation of the remediation of damage to the environment, in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of management plans of nature areas, in the conservation, management and exploitation of biodiversity resources.

Finally, as a teacher and leader of educational projects, in educational institutions, museums, not for profit organizations in environmental education, the biologist participates to science diffusion and public awareness of the role of living organisms for humans...

Industrial sector (biotech companies, pharmaceutical firms, agro-food enterprises, "green" technologies): leader of research programs; consultant firms and publishing companies: scientific advisor and responsible of communication; in charge of impact studies;

Nature conservation and environment sector: conservation and management of biodiversity resources; management of nature conservation areas;

Education sector, from secondary schools to higher non university schools;

Academic sector: research and teaching in universities and high schools;

Public sector (local, regional, national, European level): environment and sustainable development: preparation of legal texts, implementation of policies; quality control, biosafety, forensic laboratories, development cooperation;

The field of study of organism biology and ecology covers the entire diversity of life: bacteria, protists, fungi, animals and plants, but also the relations between organisms and the environment and humans.

The organism biologist is, all at once, the witness, advocate, scholar and manager of the biological heritage of our planet, nowadays seriously threatened by human activities. His/her training should enable him/her to approach the living world from different perspectives.

The Master in Organism Biology and Ecology trains students to the handling of various experimental tools of analysis and observation: morphological, physiological and molecular analytical techniques, statistical methods and modelling, management, cultivation or breeding of organisms ... The Master offers an overview of living organisms from the molecular level to the level of communities and ecosystems.

Skills taught are structured in four main directions:

1) To establish, maintain and develop knowledge in the biological sciences.

2) To provide scientific expertise in problem solving.

3) To develop and implement independent scientific research projects.

4) To communicate in a language appropriate to the context and audience.

Distribution of teaching areas in ECTS

Finalité approfondie

Organism biology - general courses: 35

Electives: 30

Statistics - data processing: 5

Field courses (in temperate regions (option générale) or in the tropics (option "Biodiversité et Environnements Végétaux Tropicaux-BEVT")): 15

Research training (including master thesis): 35

Finalité didactique

Organism biology - general courses: 35

Statistics - data processing: 5

Field courses (in temperate regions): 15

Didactics: 30

Research training (including master thesis): 35

Finalité spécialisée Erasmus Mundus Masters Course in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems (TROPIMUNDO)

Organism biology - general courses: 18-21

Electives: 18-24

Tropical oriented courses: 24-33

Statistics - data processing: 3-16

Field courses (in tropical regions): 8-15

Research training (including master thesis): 30

Training provided by the Master focuses on the advancement of knowledge. It aims to train researchers who will enhance knowledge in organism biology and ecology by a scientific approach; experts who will answer questions, pose diagnostics, propose actions for environmental protection, nature conservation or sustainable development; and teachers who will transmit knowledge and skills.

The master promotes the acquisition of international experience. It offers courses in English, organized in partnership with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

Mobility of students and their participation in intra- or extra-European exchange programs is strongly encouraged. In particular, the BEVT and TROPIMUNDO finalités are strongly oriented towards the acquisition of knowledge and experience in relation to developing countries.