Presentation
The MSc in Computational Biology (MBC), involving 5 departments of the FCTUC, has intrinsically an interdisciplinary character. Consequently, it is prepared for students with different backgrounds: biologists, biochemists, physicists, and mathematicians. The MBC is designed to introduce the area of Computational Biology in the first semester in the more appropriate way to the respective student background.
The training objectives of this master’s degree include the acquisition of a robust scientific and technical knowledge and strong competences in topics associated to the application of the principles, methods, and techniques of Computational Biology to areas of biological research, biomedicine, and biotechnology. In particular, after this master the student will be able to use and develop computational tools in the study of large samples of biological data (e.g. genomic or proteomic data), to use computational tools for modelling structural biology systems capable to support new drug development and the research of biomolecule dynamics, to develop new computational and mathematical models capable of simulating biological systems and the development of pathologies both at intracellular and tissue levels, and to know the current state-of-the-art of Computational Biology.
This master's degree also aims at developing skills of an instrumental (gathering information from various sources, capacity for analysis and synthesis, problem solving, decision-making), interpersonal (ability to communicate orally and in writing in a strongly multidisciplinary environment, respect for diversity, high sense of professional ethics, ability to work in a group, critical thinking) and systemic nature (adaptation to new situations, autonomy and responsibility, initiative, self-awareness of limitations and abilities) in the field of computational biology. These skills will allow the student to support the scientific and technological development in the context of biology and/or biotechnology both in academic and business environments.
Study Programme
1st YEAR - 1st Semester
| COURSE UNIT TITLE | TYPE | SUBJECT AREA | ECTS |
| Biological Big Data Analytics | Compulsory | Computational Biology | 6 |
| Applied OMICs | Compulsory | Computational Biology | 6 |
| Bioinformatics | Compulsory | Informatics | 6 |
| Optional 1 | Elective | | 6 |
| Optional 2 | Elective | | 6 |
| The student should register, in the 1st semester, in two curricular unit of 12 ECTS from the list below, to make 30 ECTS: |
| COURSE UNIT TITLE | TYPE | SUBJECT AREA | ECTS |
| Sampling and Surveys | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Molecular and Celular Biology | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Complements of Mathematical Analysis | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Parallel Computing | Elective |
Numerical Methods |
6 |
| Biochemistry | Elective | Biochemistry | 6 |
| Clinical Computing and Telehealth Systems | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship | Elective | Managment | 6 |
| Artificial Intelligence | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Human physiology principles | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Computacional Methods in Biology | Elective | Numerical Methods | 6 |
| Heuristic Methods | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Mathematical Methods in Physics and Biology | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Stochastic Processes and Calculus | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Chemometrics | Elective | Chemistry | 6 |
| Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics | Elective | Chemistry | 6 |
| Game Theory | Elective | Math | 6 |
1st YEAR - 2nd Semester
| COURSE UNIT TITLE | TYPE | SUBJECT AREA | ECTS |
| Machine Learning in Biology | Compulsory | Informatics | 6 |
| Molecular Systems Biology | Compulsory | Comput. Biology | 6 |
| Computational Drug Discovery | Compulsory | Chemistry | 6 |
| Quantitative Modeling in Biology | Compulsory | Comput. Biology | 6 |
| Optional 3 | Elective | | 6 |
| The student should register, in the 2nd semester, in a curricular unit of 6 ECTS from the list below, to make 30 ECTS: |
| COURSE UNIT TITLE | TYPE | SUBJECT AREA | ECTS |
| Diagnosis and Self-Regulation Algorithms | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Evolutionary Computation | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Introduction to Metabolism | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations | Elective | Numerical methods | 6 |
| Modeling and Simulation | Elective | Chemistry | 6 |
| Simulation | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Enzymology | Elective | Biochemistry | 6 |
| Numerical Optimization | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Complex Systems | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Computational Visualization | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
2nd YEAR - 1st Semester
| COURSE UNIT TITLE | TYPE | SUBJECT AREA | ECTS |
| Dissertation (Annual) | Compulsory | Computational Biology | 18 |
| Optional 4 | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Optional 5 | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| The student should register, in the 1st semester, in two curricular unit of 12 ECTS from the list below, to make 30 ECTS: |
| COURSE UNIT TITLE | TYPE | SUBJECT AREA | ECTS |
| Biology of Reproduction | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Sampling and Surveys | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Parallel Computing | Elective | Numerical Methods | 6 |
| Clinical Computing and Telehealth Systems | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship | Elective | Management | 6 |
| Mathematical Methods in Physics and Biology | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Artificial Intelligence | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Heuristic Methods | Elective | Informatics | 6 |
| Chemometrics | Elective | Chemistry | 6 |
| Human physiology principles | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Stochastic Processes and Calculus | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Molecular Biotechnology | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Neuronal Circuits and Behavior | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Molecular and Cell Neurobiology | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Biomedical NMR and Molecular Imaging | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Cellular Regulation | Elective | Biology | 6 |
| Game Theory | Elective | Math | 6 |
| Toxicity and Disease | Elective | Biology | 6 |
2nd YEAR - 2nd Semester
| COURSE UNIT TITLE | TYPE | SUBJECT AREA | ECTS |
| Dissertation (Annual) | Compulsory | Comp. Biology | 26 |
| Scientific Writing | Compulsory |
Scient. Management |
4 |
| The student must make 60 credits annually. |
| The optional course units are offered on a yearly basis, depending on the availability of the Organic Unit. |
General information
- Course name: Master degree in Computational Biology
- Course type: 2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme
- Qualification awarded: Master
- Course coordinator: Prof. Irina Moreira (irina.moreira@uc.pt)
- Mobility coordinator: Prof. António Coutinho (cafe@bot.uc.pt)
- Objectives of the course: The present proposal seeks to address the specific academic training needs required of students who wish to enter the field of Computational Biology as qualified professionals. This program of second cycle studies aims to provide students with a comprehensive and integrated view of the scientific, technological, technical and ethical topics associated with Computational Biology. After completion of the degree the student should (i) have a good knowledge of fundamental biology, (ii) be familiar with the main sources of biological and biomolecular data, (iii) master the main programming languages and analysis tools used in Computational Biology, and (iv) demonstrate solid aptitudes for modeling biological and biomolecular systems and for the analysis of biological and biomolecular data, in a context of fundamental research as well as of biomedical and biotechnological application.
- Duration: 4 semesters
- ECTS credits: 120
- Professional goals: The main professional goals are research and services in business or academic environment in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine. At the national level, and in particular in the Coimbra-Cantanhede axis, there are already several companies (eg. Coimbra Genomics, BSIM Therapeutics, Ophiomics, SilicoLife) and services (eg., Genoinseq) that have computational biology as the central axis of their activity. In addition, computational biology has a central and growing importance in personalized medicine and in advanced clinical diagnosis, which motivate a growing demand for professionals with this training in the health sector. Computational biology is also gaining increasing importance in biomedicine and biotechnology research that is carried out in national and local research centers. The current shortage of human resources in the field of computational biology is already recognized as a critical limitation to the development of these companies and institutions.
Examples of activities in the above companies and institutions that require computational biologists include (i) the modeling of biochemical and physiological processes at the service of discovery of new therapies, (ii) molecular modeling at the service of drug development, (iii) genomic, metabolomic and proteomic data at the service of clinical diagnosis and profiling / adaptation of organisms for biotechnology purposes; (iv) analysis of microscopy images and medical imaging. - Numerus clausus: 20
- Tuition fee: National student: 1.063,47€ / International student: 7.000€
- Admission requirements: First cycle in Biology, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Medical Chemistry, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Physical Engineering, Technological Physics, Applied Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computer Science, Informatics Engineering, Electrotechnical and Computational Engineering or in similar fields, or preBologna degree in one of these areas, or to hold a teaching, scientific or professional curriculum that the Program Coordination recognizes as sufficient to attest the ability to complete this cycle of studies;
- More information: UC website
Other information
Dissertations presented
This Master came into operation in the academic year 2021/2022, so no dissertations have yet been submitted.