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System-wide biology and chemistry

Introduction


Through the Master’s programme in Life Science Engineering and Informatics, you will become an expert in high-throughput biological and biochemical studies, based on novel experimental techniques and huge publicly-available biological databases.


Omics is the collective term used to describe large-scale biochemistry, e.g. the study of proteins (proteomics), DNA (genomics), RNA (transcriptomics) and biochemical processes (metabolomics) in living organisms. Omics approaches are becoming increasingly important for biochemistry research and production, for example in the pharmaceutical and food industries.


The approach first and foremost seeks to describe the full situation in a given biological system, which means that it yields results that are not obtainable through traditional reductionist methods within the field of biochemistry or molecular biology.


Since the turn of the century, the Chinese government has been investing forcefully in establishing advanced research environments and now has state-of-the-art facilities, laboratories and equipment, as well as some of the most accomplished scientists in the world. The progression has been rapid, and in some fields, for instance genomics, the competences and equipment of the Chinese institutes are unmatched.


A Master’s degree in Life Science Engineering and Informatics gives you a broad understanding of the different omics disciplines and first-hand experience with specific omics techniques. You learn how to design experiments that generate large quantities of data, how to generate omics information, and how to analyse and interpret the data using biostatistics, bioinformatics and database mining.


The Life Science Engineering and Informatics programme is unique to SDC and is not offered anywhere else.


On completion of the programme you receive a double degree and the following titles: Master of Science in Life Science Engineering and Informatics from the Technical University of Denmark and Master of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Bioinformatics/Genomics from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Programme Structure

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In your first semester, you follow a range of courses that introduce the omics fields, technologies and mindsets in combination with various analytical and preparative techniques. You take the following courses:

• Introduction to Omics Oriented Life Science (5 ECTS)

• Central Techniques in Omics (10 ECTS)

• Analytical Biochemistry and Sample Preparation for Omics (10 ECTS)

• Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (5 ECTS)

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The second semester elaborates on techniques and instrumentation and provides in-depth knowledge on how to design experiments and how to make sense of large data sets. You take the following courses:

• Molecular genetics and epigenetics (5 ECTS)

• Command Line and Python for Data Science (5 ECTS)

• Single Cell Technologies (5 ECTS)

• Drug Discovery and Development (5 ECTS)

• Applied Omics (5 ECTS)

• Emerging Metabolic Engineering Strategies Towards New-to-Nature Bioproduction (5 ECTS)

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You work on your Master’s thesis (60 ECTS) for a full year, which gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in a specific topic within omics. 

Master’s projects may focus on omics techniques, on specific life science questions or on biostatistics/bioinformatics, depending on the student’s interests.

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While working on your thesis, you have access to state-of-the-art laboratories at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and you have an opportunity to gain valuable first-hand experience with working in a Chinese lab environment.

Videos

Anne studies Life Science Engineering and Informatics

Meet Anne Eriksson Agger, who talks about what she has experiences from studying the programme in Beijing.

Anne on writing her thesis in Beijing

Anne Eriksson Agger shares her experiences from writing her thesis at the Center for Protein Science in Beijing.

Career

With a Master’s degree in Life Science Engineering and Informatics, you have a unique and broad understanding of the omics disciplines and first-hand experience with using the different techniques, such as next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry.


As a graduate of the programme, your key competencies are a comprehensive grasp of the omics approaches and the generic omics workflow, as well as the ability to manage experiment design, large quantities of data and analysis through use of bioinformatics and biostatistics.


The Master’s thesis typically provides experience with independent planning and execution of experiments as well as contextualising the results obtained in relation to existing knowledge.


In addition, you gain invaluable experience with studying, working and living in a cross-cultural environment, which enables you to contribute to an international work environment from day one of your career.


Your competencies can be useful in a wide range of industries and institutions, such as:

• The biotechnology industry

• The pharmaceutical industry

• Production and processing of food and ingredients

• Clinical labs dealing with patient sample analysis and development/research

• Universities and research institutions


Typical work tasks include analysis of large-scale data, clinical chemistry analysis, large-scale DNA/RNA sequencing, analytical biochemistry incl. mass spectrometry, quality control, product development and research and development.

Academic Regulations

Course Catalogues

Admission

Contact current student

If you have further questions, please take a look at the FAQ on the Studying in China page. If you still have questions, you have the following options.

For questions regarding specific coursesadmission or

practical matters please contact SDC at:

admission@sdc.university

For first-hand questions regarding living and studying in China, you may contact current Life Science Engineering and Informatics  student Louise Do at louisedo2001@yahoo.com.

She does not represent SDC, but will answer your questions on the basis of her own personal experiences.

SDC alumni

Heads of the Programme

Danish Head of Life Science Engineering and Informatics

Ling Ding

Associate Professor

Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine

Technical University of Denmark

Contact

Programme coordinator

Khaled Chatila

Email: khachat@dtu.dk

Mobile: +45 45 25 26 39

Chinese Head of Life Science Engineering and Informatics

Professor Yang Yungui

Beijing Institute of Genomics

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Life Sciences Research Theme