Genomics and Systems Biology

In this program you will study how genomes change over time and how life’s molecules interact in networks to build up living organisms. This knowledge about the properties of complete biological systems, and not just their individual parts, is also essential in drug development, treatment of diseases and to improve industrial bioprocesses. Genomics and Systems Biology also opens the way for an understanding of evolution at the molecular level, which has implications for how we assess the adaptability of organisms to changing environmental conditions, such as climate change.The program gives you practical knowledge of emerging technologies for large-scale analysis of the molecules of life. The explosive development of technology in this field is interdisciplinary, and research and education lies at the intersection of Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. A central aim is to give you the skills to experimentally study all components of a biological system and describe the functional interaction between them in mathematical terms. This modeling enables simulations and predictions about the behavior of the system in various types of perturbations, such as mutations, infections or environmental impact. The program also provides a good understanding of how genomes change over time as a consequence of for example the use of antibiotics, breeding for desired characteristics and chemicals in the environment.The program is open to students with a biology background who wish to expand their knowledge in functional genomics, bioinformatics, mathematical modeling, molecular evolution, and experimental and computational systems biology. Education is strongly problem-oriented and closely linked to current research, such as bioinformatic analysis of genomes and networks analysis of the interactions between the molecules of life. This close link to research train you in formulating and solving current and future life science issues.