Biotechnology and its applications form a widely expanding field
and at present, there are around 500 companies in Spain dedicated
to biotechnological activities, employing 80,000 people and with
a turnover of 20,000 million euros (Asebio report 2006). The development
of Biotechnology as a scientific, technological and industrial
activity requires the incorporation of professionals with a solid
scientific education, and with an understanding of the business
world and its social-economic environment.
This innovative Masters in Biotechnology is designed to provide
students with practical experience in Biotechnology, which will
allow them to begin a research career through access to the Doctorate
and to be trained as biotechnology specialists, with the skills
required to carry out research or other professional activities
in biotechnology companies.
The Masters offers the advanced scientific training and business
education necessary to form high level professionals who can perform
optimally in the frontier between the business and scientific environment.
To meet this objective, the Masters is divided into four general
areas of biotechnological specialisation: Health Biotechnology,
Plant Biotechnology, Biotechnology of Microorganisms, and Industrial
Biotechnology/Nanobiotechnology. Within each of these, half of
the credits necessary to obtain the Masters degree are obtained
through professional training in Biotechnology Companies or Research
projects in laboratories at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
and other prestigious Research Centres. (see participating Institutes).
Since its creation, the UAM has stood out for its research work
in the area of Molecular Biosciences and at present. it is the
top Spanish University in impact of its scientific publications
in this area (See
Bibliometric map).
Moreover, the research vocation of the UAM in Molecular Biosciences
is clear through the existence of two mixed centres UAM-CSIC (Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Spanish Higher Research
Council) which are situated on the University Campus: Centro
de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” and Instituto
de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Instituto
de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, as well as their
close collaboration with the most prestigious Research Centres.
(see participating Institutions).
This Masters is included in the UAM’s Official
Molecular Biosciences Postgraduate Program developed jointly
by the Department of Biochemistry (Faculty
of Medicine) and the Department of Molecular
Biology (Faculty
of Sciences) ). Thel Official
Molecular Biosciences Postgraduate Program is derived from
previous doctorate programs that received a special mention for
quality from the Ministry for Education and Science. This new
Program also includes the Masters in Molecular and Cell Biology
(BMC) and Molecular Biomedicine (BMM). The three Masters share
some of the compulsory and optional credits.
