Master in Biochemistry

Faculty of ChemistryUniversity of Belgrade

How the program was created Survey of employed biochemists (1997-

2007) New, emerging trends in Biochemistry Position of the MS within the study

programs at the Faculty of Chemistry Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular

Biology study programs at Universities in Serbia

The Low of Higher Education from 2006 – accreditation process

Planning phase of the Master in Biochemistry development Curriculum Advisory Committee

Prof. dr Vesna Niketic Assoc. Prof. dr Marija Gavrovic-Jankulovic Assoc. Prof. dr Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic Dr. Nenad Milosavic, IHTM Dr. Dragana Stanic, IHTM Dr. Natalija Polovic Milos Filipovic Jelena Acimovic

Alumni, gathering data and information, survey of employed graduate biochemists

mr Milan Nikolic

Survey conducted in 2007: Employment of graduate biochemists

34 % research/industry sector abroad

33 % research laboratories

12 % industry in Serbia (25 % are employed by the Torlak Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera)

Education sector, private sector etc

Brain-drain

Research

Industry

Education

Miscellanous

Unemployed

Emerging fields in modern biochemistry

Bioinformatics Molecular Biotechnology

Sophisticated techniques widely applied

Structure of the Master Program 2 compulsory subjects (12 ECTS)

Covering emerging new fields in Biochemistry

2 elective subjects (8 ECTS) Allowing fine-tuning of graduates towards

plant biotechnology, immunobiology or structural analysis of biomolecules

Research work (20 ECTS) Master thesis (20 ECTS)

Multidisciplinarity

Faculty of Biology Institute of Botany Institute of Physiology and

Biochemistry Faculty of Chemistry

Department of Biochemistry Department of Organic Chemistry

MSDP project objectives Development and modifications of courses e-learning Establishing twinning with EU institutions Reinforcing connections with the labor

market Facilities reinforcement and upgrade

towards establishing laboratory for Molecular Biotechnology and the FCUB

Module number and title

Course number and title No. ofNo.

of

e-Learning

BGP+ Twinning lecturer

Semester

yes no yes no yes no 1st 2nd

A. Research oriented master in biochemistry

A.1. Bioinformatics2+2+

0 4 x x x x

A.2. Contemporary biochemical methods - Molecular Biotechnology

4+1+3

8 x x x

A.3. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (elective)

2+0+2 4

xx x x

A.4. Immunobiology (elective)

2+0+2 4

xx x x

A.5. Advanced Structural Instrumental Methods (elective)

2+2+0 4

xx x x

A.6. Biochemistry and Biophysics of Macromolecules (elective)

2+0+2

4

x

x x x

Compulsory research work (tutorial)

10+010 x

Compulsory research work (tutorial)

10+010 x

Master thesis0+20

20 x

Twinning partner University of Plovdiv, Genomics Center

Faculty of Biology Master in Bioinformatics Master in Molecular Biotechnology

Visiting lecturers Bioinformatics

Genome analysis, Analysis of microarrays, RNA structure prediction, Phylogenetic prediction

Contemporary Biochemical Methods - Molecular Biotechnology

Cloning strategies, Mutagenesis Plant Biochemistry and Physiology

Plant Biotechnology, Transgenic Plants, Plant Tissue Culture, Plant Growth and Development, Senescence

Labor market partner involvement Torlak Institute of Virology, Vaccine and

Sera Invited experts (within the course of

Contemporary Biochemical methods - Molecular Biotechnology – production of sera, vaccines and preparations for allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy)

Internships Participation in MS committees Co-supervision of MS theses

Learning outcomes …

At the end of this study a student would be able to:

perform complex analysis and individual research tasks in the field biochemistry and molecular biotechnology

independently solve problems to analyze, evaluate, present results of

scientific work in a poster or oral presentation

Learning outcomes… to work efficiently in a team and in an

multidisciplinary environment to translate knowledge and apply skills

into practice in laboratories and research institutions, control laboratories etc

to communicate knowledge and practical skills to professionals in the same and related fields

to disseminate knowledge to other members of the research team and/or production unit

Implementation of the project

2007 First versions of curricula and accreditation 2007 2009 Development and modification of courses March 2009 First training seminar organized by WUS April 2009 Meeting with the Accreditation committee, no

need for additional accreditation of the study programme June 2009 Visit to University of Plovdiv, Department of

Physiology and Molecular Biology, Genomics center, meetings with guest lecturers and reviewers

June 2009 first e-learning seminar September 2009 Second training seminar organized by

WUS October 2009 Enrollment of MS students October 2009 literature purchase

Implementation of the project

October 2009 – March 2010 Writing and publishing scripts

October 2009 – February 2010 equipment purchase

Establishment of a Molecular biotechnology laboratory by the end of March 2010

November 2009, December 2009, April 2010 guest lectures,

April-May 2010 Internships to Torlak Institute and visiting lectures of Torlak experts

September 2010 finalizing transfer of parts of compulsory courses into e-learning courses within Master in Biochemistry study programme

Reinforcing connections with the labor market

Survey of companies that traditionally employ graduate biochemists

To disseminate information to potential employees

To make alumni of graduate biochemists

Plans for future sustainability of the twinning with the PU Following successful application of the FCUB within the

FP7-RegPot2010-5 call, supported by the PU, Genomics Center, as one of 8 EU partners on the project, the funding (1.363 mEuro) will be obtained for “Reinforcing FCUB towards becoming a centre of excellence in the region of WB for food research and molecular biotechnology” for the period of 2010-2012

Support will be obtained for: Mutual experts visits Mutual researchers visits in order to exchange know-how

within the field of bioinformatics and molecular biotechnology

Prof. Ivan Minkov (twinning coordinator) annual visits to the FCUB, as a member of the Advisory Board of the project

Upgrading facilities for molecular biotechnology and food research and establishment of the first Proteomics center in Serbia

Final analysis and assessment

Comparison with the existing curriculum and syllabus

Report Dissemination Guidelines for revision Adjusting existing curricula

Monitoring and evaluation

Curriculum Advisory Board Alumni Meetings More efficient networking with

stakeholders