Master in Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics

The Master Degree in 'Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics' (BCG) aims to form graduates with an adequate knowledge about the molecular basis of biological systems; the structure and function of biological molecules and how they participate in cellular processes; the technologies and platforms for the analysis of genomes; the tools for bioinformatic and genomic analysis; and the statistical and computational methodologies for the analysis of biomolecular data.

The BCG degree therefore includes activities providing in depth knowledge on: 1. the organization of information in the genome and the molecular and cellular processes at the basis of gene expression and its regulation 2. the experimental methods used for studying genes and their function in different model species, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic 3. the technologies employed in modern genomic research 4. methods and protocols of bioinformatic analysis in functional genomics studies 5. algorithmic, mathematical and statistical approaches underlying bioinformatic and genomic analysis tools 6. data base technologies for the storage and organization of the data 7. modelling and analysis techniques employed in systems biology for the study of interactions in complex biological systems.

The program includes, as a fundamental step in the formation of the students, an internship in research laboratories either at the University of Milan or in other Italian or foreign research institutes. The research experience of the internship and its results will be described in a final written dissertation, to be discussed in front of a thesis committee.

The BCG Master degree aims to train highly skilled professionals able to merge in depth knowledge on the molecular foundations of life sciences with up-to-date knowledge of the current techniques and technologies for bioinformatic and genomic analysis. Particular emphasis will be put on the quantitative and computational aspects of the latter ones, which will be focused on the analysis, modelling, and comprehension of biological systems. The ultimate goal is to train in a multi-disciplinary context professionals ready to cope with the challenges deriving from modern biomolecular sciences in the post-genomic era, and able to conjugate and integrate knowledge on biology, genetics, computer science, information engineering, and statistics in different fields of basic or applied research. The BCG program aims to train the following professional figures: biologist and related figures, biotechnologist.

Graduates in BCG will thus be able to: 1. take part in the design and execution of large scale genomic analyses 2. identify and extract the biological meaning from the results obtained 3. design autonomously tools and protocols for the bioinformatic analysis of different types of experimental data 4. play a pivotal role in research groups focused on basic or applied genomic research 5. coordinate and supervise research projects and groups focused on bioinformatics and genomics.

The University of Milan is a public teaching and research university, which - with 8 faculties and 2 schools and a teaching staff of more than 2000 professors - is distinguished by its wide variety of disciplinary fields. A leading institute in Italy and Europe for scientific productivity, the University of Milan is the largest university in the region, with approximately 64,000 students; it is also an important resource for the socio-economic context of which it is a part. Milan is, in fact, the capital of Lombardy, one of the most dynamic and international regions in the European Union, a leader in the national economy that stands at the Italian forefront of research and development investments and commitment to technological innovation.

The University of Milan also possesses a remarkable artistic and cultural heritage that includes important historic buildings, inherited and acquired collections, archives, botanical gardens and the old Brera Observatory commissioned by Maria Teresa of Austria. The University’s departments are housed in important historic edifices in the center of Milan and in modern buildings in the area known as Città Studi (the City of Studies). Among the palazzos that house the University’s facilities are the old Ca' Granda (the big house) – a monumental complex from the 15th-century in the heart of the historical city centre - the 18th-century Palazzo Greppi designed by Giuseppe Piermarini – who built the Scala Theatre in Milan – and the 17th-century Sant’Alessandro College commissioned by the Arcimboldi family. The book collection , which is one of the richest in the region, is preserved in 47 libraries, while the APICE Centre collects rare and valuable book stocks and archives. The University also has a Choir and its own Orchestra, which actively contributes to the cultural life of the city and receives international acknowledgments on an increasingly frequent basis.