MASTER
• Program Objectives:
The objective of this Master’s program is to train students and professionals with an advanced, interdisciplinary background in modern bioinformatics techniques necessary for cutting-edge research conducted in both the public and private sectors, across health, agri-food, and environmental fields. The program seeks to address the need to prepare young professionals capable of working at the intersection of modern biology, mathematics, and computer science. The curriculum focuses on the high-level research and development needs of companies and research organizations in biology and health.
• Targeted Professional Skills (Skills Framework):
This program aims to equip students not only with solid theoretical skills in the latest biological and bioinformatics approaches but also with practical competencies through numerous individual and group projects. Upon completion of the program, the following skills are targeted:
– Analyze and utilize genomic data (local or database-stored) from next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies
– Design computational treatments tailored to address specific biological questions
– Develop structured databases (genomic or otherwise) for integration and analysis
– Program in R and/or Python and apply statistical testing
– Model and predict the dynamic behavior of a biological process
– Design and manage a Master’s thesis project in a research field
• Targeted Scientific Knowledge:
– Acquire strong knowledge in genomics and genetics, proteomics, and cellular, structural, and molecular biology
– Work effectively in an international and interdisciplinary environment, demonstrating autonomy and initiative
– Conduct bibliographic research and scientific monitoring, and synthesize reviews
– Orally present scientific work to an expert audience
– Write scientific reports, articles, and theses.
- USTTB master’s in science (M.Sc.) program
ACE-Mali is hosting the USTTB master’s in science (M.Sc.) program in Bioinformatics established in 2015. The M.Sc. curriculum comprises four semesters, with three semesters dedicated to study and short-term internships and one semester to bioinformatics thesis research. The goal of the first semester is to align participants’ skill levels with subjects like Statistics and Mathematics, Health and Biology, Computer science. The second semester is more focused on Bioinformatics disciplines as genomics and proteomics, NGS sequencing analysis, evolution and phylogenetic analysis, Molecular modeling, programming. The third semester continues with certain foundational bioinformatics topics such metabolomics and GWAS but it is largely oriented to professional skills to prepare students for the thesis project. The curriculum taking account for the actual needs are reported in Table I below:
Table I : Curriculum of USTTB MSc Program in Bioinformatics
Semester I | Basic Mathematics |
Basic Structural Biology | |
Biostatistics I | |
Cellular and Molecular Biology | |
Introduction to Linux | |
Introduction to programing | |
Scientific English |
Semester II | Genomics and Proteomics |
NGS and bioinformatic analyses | |
Evolution and Phylogeny | |
Molecular Modeling | |
Programing for Bioinformatics | |
Research Project / Development | |
Genomics and Proteomics |
Semester III | Metabolomics and in silico analyses |
Biostatistics II | |
Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) | |
Ethics in research | |
Databases | |
Web Programing | |
Data Analyses & Scientific writing |
Semester IV: dedicated to research project