Master in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology

Scientific research (in companies, universities, hospitals, ...)

Training (school teachers in biology or chemistry) or continuing education

Management and/or communication in the fields of health, biotechnology, food-processing, clinical research, quality control, ...

Graduates in BBMC move into the following careers :

- Researcher in companies (pharmacology, biotechnology, food-processing, ...)

- Researcher in academic field (universities, high schools)

- Teacher in secondary or high schools

- Instructor in continuing education

- Person in charge of communication and/or scientific publishing

- Person in charge of analyses for forensic science

- Organizer of science popularisation activities

- Scientific advisor for products from companies

- Person in charge of quality control (hospitals, private companies, public services of control of quality, ...)

- Person in charge of monitoring analyses in the fields of biodiversity, bioremediation, biosafety, ...

The master program provides a fundamental instruction in biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology (90 credits) in the following disciplines:

- Molecular biology of the cell (Cell growth and signaling, Internal organization and physiology, Molecular Biology of the gene)

- Molecular biology of multicellular organisms (Immunology, Developmental biology, Neurobiology)

- Molecular microbiology (Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology)

In addition, the student must choose among two options (each of 30 credits) of the program:

The research option provides additional courses in bioinformatics and biotechnology as well as additional practical training within research laboratories in the department

The didactic option aims at teachers through active and passive courses and stages

All two options offer the opportunity to start a PhD program

The students have access to a broad range of experimental approaches in the various research laboratories of the department during the first year of the master (10-15 credits).

In addition, they are encouraged to analyze original scientific articles and present a journal club to faculty members.

In the second year of master, the students are expected to attend many seminars and journal clubs. Students are also expected to give a seminar on his master thesis.

During thesecond year, the students have the opportunity to participate to a mobility exchange program, by performing a research stage (in foreign countries or in Belgium, in universities or private companies), or by attending thematic interuniversity courses.

During his master thesis, the student can attend professional training related to his research topic, organized by the "Biopark training unit".

The Molecular biology research program has been developed at ULB in the 1960's and has gained international reputation.

The courses are provided by several researchers of the Biopark, located at Gosselies, close to Charleroi. The Biopark is a pole of excellence in molecular biology, and hosted 700 researchers experts ia large array of areas. The Biopark includes academic departments, spin offs, pharmaceutical companies. The campus offers attractive possibilities for research-intensive programs.

The department of molecular biology has several collaborations with research institute (IMI) and centres (CMMI).