Program Overview

Mestrado em Microbiologia Aplicada

Overview

The Mestrado em Microbiologia Aplicada (Master's in Applied Microbiology) is a postgraduate program that offers students an advanced scientific education focused on the ecological, evolutionary, genomic, physiological, molecular, metabolic, and functional processes involving microorganisms and their interactions. The program aims to stimulate critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship, providing students with a solid foundation in microbiology and its applications.

Objectives

The program's objectives are:

• To provide students with an integrated scientific education centered on microbiological processes and their interactions
• To stimulate the focus on integrating knowledge to solve problems and reinforce the technological and societal dimension of Applied Microbiology
• To develop students' critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship skills, necessary for research, development, and innovation in various areas of microbiology

Program Structure

The program consists of a 1st year of specialized scientific-technical training and a master's dissertation to be carried out in the 2nd year, in an academic environment, research center, state laboratory, or bioindustry, nationally or internationally. The curriculum is structured to provide a high degree of flexibility, with articulation of programmatic lines between curricular units and transversality in approaches.

1st Year - 1st Semester

• 4 Core Competence Courses
• 1 Laboratory Competence Course
• 1 SIS (Seminars/Invited Speakers) Course

1st Year - 2nd Semester

• 3 EPS (Specialization and Societal Profile) Courses
• 1 IETT (Entrepreneurship, Technology Transfer, and Innovation) Course
• 1 Laboratory Competence Course
• 1 SIS (Seminars/Invited Speakers) Course

2nd Year - 1st Semester

• Dissertation Project

Annual

• Dissertation

Competencies

The program aims to develop the following competencies:

• Acquisition of advanced knowledge in central concepts and experimental methodologies of microbiology, molecular biology, and computational biology
• Exploration of the beneficial aspects of microbial activity and prevention/control of its harmful activity
• Design, planning, and execution of research, development, and innovation projects using cutting-edge experimental and computational methodologies
• Acquisition and consolidation of laboratory competencies in microbiological and biomolecular analysis
• Analysis, interpretation, and contextualization of microbiological and biomolecular processes
• Vocation for entrepreneurship and technology transfer
• Critical thinking, creativity, and individual responsibility
• Autonomous learning and work
• Vocation for team and network work
• Clear oral and written communication for different audiences

Professional Outcomes

The Master's in Applied Microbiology program prepares professionals with multidisciplinary conceptual and technological skills, enabling them to work in any area of microbiology application in the national and international market. Graduates will be qualified to work in:

• Companies and public institutions with activities in the areas of environment, biotechnology, human health, animal health, plant health, and agri-food production
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Regulatory and surveillance entities
• Circular economy
• Sustainability
• Biosafety
• Higher education and research institutions

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are available upon request.

Coordinators

The program is coordinated by Mónica Vieira Cunha, and more information can be found on the Faculty of Sciences website.