KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
2nd cycle graduates possess the knowledge and understanding of scientific progress in the following areas:
- the logic of complex biological systems from molecular to cellular level and organism level;
- the structures and functions of biological macromolecules and complexes, and cellular physiological and pathologic processes;
- genetic modification and manipulation techniques for the production of antibodies, enzymes, vaccines, nano-biomaterials and cells;
- functional and structural genome and proteome analysis, and the analysis of databases of biological sequences also in relation to diseases, the identification of new therapeutic targets, the activity of pharmaceuticals and toxic agents and the development of vaccines;
- action, activity, interaction and toxicity mechanisms of biotechnological pharmaceuticals and innovative therapeutic agents;
- methodologies for the identification and characterisation of new therapeutic targets;
- molecular modelling and simulation methodologies;
- combinatorial chemical techniques for the design of biologically active compounds;
- industrial fermentation processes for the production of bio-molecules of pharmaceutical interest;
- integrated analytical methods applied to the “drug discovery” process;
- nano-technologies for the development of innovative analysis and diagnosis tools;
- nano-pharmaceutics for the administration of biotechnological pharmaceuticals.
This knowledge is achieved mainly through lectures, many single-place laboratories and exercises. The knowledge and understanding will be verified through oral and/or written exams and seminar activities based on the individual critical reading of recent scientific articles.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to acquire, process and transmit significant information using electronic instruments, with particular regard for the bioinformatic sector;
- will be able to carry out genomic and proteomic analyses also in order to identify possible new therapeutic targets;
- will know how to apply interdisciplinary knowledge in the biochemical, biological-molecular and pharmaco-toxicological areas to handle and solve scientific problems linked to the study and development of biotechnological pharmaceuticals and diagnostics also in a production field;
- will be able to apply genetic modification techniques to organisms and microorganisms and purification techniques and the analysis of biological macromolecules;
- will be able to apply techniques for the production of vectors, nanobiomaterials, and molecular biosensors;
- will be able to identify and design compounds targeting a molecular target through the use of computational molecular simulation techniques;
- will be able to apply metagenomic and transcriptomic analysis methods for the identification of new microbial metabolites of pharmaceutical interest;
- will be able to apply spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques for the structural investigation of biotechnological pharmaceuticals and complex systems.
The ability to apply the knowledge is acquired through the wide-ranging experience gained in single-place learning laboratories and during the production of the dissertation in a research laboratory. The ability to apply the knowledge is verified through written reports and the following discussion of the laboratory experiences, experience in the production and presentation of the final dissertation.
JUDGEMENT SKILLS:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to work fully autonomously, taking on responsibility for projects and structures;
- will be able to use scientific instruments in the biotechnologies field and plan and organise laboratory activities, using innovative techniques;
- will be able to analyse, manage and disseminate the data of the experimental protocols and will be able to critically analyse and solve scientific problems linked to biotechnologies;
- will be able to manage their own “curriculum vitae” and relate to different working environments;
- will be able to interpret the sources, experimental data and scientific literature.
Students will cultivate their judgement skills through the critical reading of scientific articles, and in particular through the production of a Project, which may be the dissertation or other scientific project, to which a large number of CFU are allocated (5 or 10 plus 20 or 25 for the dissertation), which ends with an autonomously produced dissertation with relative bibliography.
Judgement skills are evaluated through seminar activities and at the end of the study programme in the discussion of the dissertation.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to work in groups for the design and application of experimental protocols;
- will possess relational and communication skills which allow them to work also in international contexts;
- will be able to use the English language fluently in written and spoken form;
- will be able to produce technical and scientific reports in both Italian and English;
- will be able to disseminate their own knowledge and the results of experiments to a general public.
The communication skills will be cultivated during seminars, the production of the dissertation with the periodical presentation of the work carried out to the supervising professor and its relative discussion. Credits are allocated to the acquisition of additional skills in the English language and the management of the students' own professional career.
LEARNING SKILLS:
2nd cycle graduates:
- will be able to study complex issues in their fields of competency also through continuing studies through the consultation and study of scientific literature;
- will be able to develop innovative techniques in the biotechnologies field;
- will be able to work autonomously and to autonomously continue to further studies;
- will possess the requirements for access to further studies (2nd level Master's degree, PhD, Specialisations).
