MSc in Mechanistic Biology

This course is aimed at molecular bioscience graduates who wish to work at the cutting edge of biological sciences where modern biological techniques are combined with the use of new technology and the quantitative and computational methods of the physical sciences.

By studying for the Mechanistic Biology MSc you will gain facility in using the mathematical, physical, and computational tools that underpin mechanistic modelling and advanced physical methods for observing, analysing, understanding and predicting biology, including cutting edge nanotechnological tools.

You will become one of the true communicators in a complex interdisciplinary world.

The course is run by the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, whose courses were rated in the top two places in the Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry category in the 2009 and 2010 National Student Surveys. Taught modules will also be provided by the Departments of Physics, Computer Science, Biomedical Science, and Chemistry. Research symposia and projects will be contributed from all parts of the Krebs Institute.

The course will put you in a good position to compete for PhD places: see this link for more details.

Is this course for you ?

You must have a 2(i) or First Class degree in a bioscience subject with a strong molecular component. We also require grade A or B at A-level Mathematics, or equivalent. However if you missed out on taking A-level mathematics and you can demonstrate mathematical aptitude and commitment then we can relax this requirement.

The most important thing is that you should have true enthusiasm for developing mathematics, physics and computation skills to enhance and integrate with your biological intuition and knowledge. We are offering BBSRC funded studentships, which provide a stipend and cover tuition fees. These will be awarded by competition to the most highly qualified applicants. In addition, the University of Sheffield will also be providing a number of places where the tuition fees are already covered.

The mission of the Krebs Institute is to foster fundamental biological, chemical and physical studies working towards a full understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning life, and to facilitate the translation of this research into biotechnological and medical applications. We term this interdisciplinary approach Mechanistic Biology.

The Institute was established at Sheffield University in 1988 as a multi-disciplinary, cross-departmental research arm. Its members range from molecular microbiologists and biochemists, to physicists, bioinformaticians and clinicians.

It is named after Sir Hans Krebs who, between 1938 and 1953, carried out his Nobel Prize winning biochemical experiments at Sheffield defining the Krebs cycle.

... many of the most exciting advances in biology will occur at the interfaces with other disciplines. As bioscience becomes increasingly quantitative, there is also an urgent need to raise the mathematical and computational skills of biologists at all levels

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Strategic Plan 2010-2015

... need for people to apply mathematical skills within their discipline pervades the industry, and a lack of mathematical skills is often a factor in rejecting applicants for a role in industry.

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Skills Needs for Biomedical Research (2008)

In this era of data-driven bioscience, a new cadre of skilled researchers is required, from computationally proficient biologists to software engineers, to tackle the complexity and diversity of biological data.

BBSRC Strategic Plan 2010-2015