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Head of master’s program: Assoc.Prof. Ivanka Tsacheva, PhD
phone: 359 2 8167 355
е-mаil: itsacheva@biofac.uni-sofia.bg

Secretary: Assoc. Prof. Denitsa Teofanova, PhD
phone: 359 2 8167 337
e-mail: teofanova@biofac.uni-sofia.bg

Duration: 3 semesters, starts in Winter semester
Form of teaching: full-time, paid

Master’s degree program in Biochemistry is aimed at:

a) Bachelor’s degree graduates from professional fields of Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Education Pedagogy of: biology and chemistry, geography and biology, and acquired such a degree in respective universities in Bulgaria;

b) Master’s degree graduates from professional fields of Medicine and Pharmacy;

c) Bachelor’s degree graduates from the following areas of higher education - Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Medicine, Plant Protection;

d) Students must have passed the exams (in the corresponding degree of their education) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Immunology or Genetics, respectively).

The Master’s degree program in Biochemistry is focused on the contemporary biochemical and molecular biology problems, and includes theoretical and practical training needed for further realization of the students - for basic fundamental research and numerous applied fields of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Education (knowledge and skills required for successful professional activity, basic theoretical and specialized training, etc.).

The training is realized following an approved academic curriculum and provides high adaptability of Master’s graduates in terms of their professional career. The curriculum of the Master in "Biochemistry" is structured in four areas providing relevant specialization for the students - Molecular Biology, Molecular Immunology, Molecular Diagnostics and Molecular Agrobiology. During the first semester, students will gain fundamental knowledge about biochemical fields, interdisciplinary approaches and experimental methods that are important and compulsory for the four specialized modules. The training of graduate students in the four specializations allows direct contacts and discussions with all members of the Department of Biochemistry, and encourages student’s potential for improving practical skills by working in research laboratories at Sofia University, Biomedical centers and BAS.

The language of this MSc Program is English. The program covers the study and examinations/continuous assessment in 7/8 obligatory and 2 elective (selected from a total of 11) disciplines, completing with preparation and defense of a thesis.

The educational process per semester is structured as follows:

First semester: 3 obligatory disciplines;

 

Second semester: 3/4 obligatory, 2 elective disciplines (selected from a total of 11) and a Practical training in Biochemistry. In respect to the future specializations, the second semester is structured in four modules: Molecular Biology, Molecular Immunology, Molecular Diagnostics and Molecular Agrobiology.

 

Students choose one of the four modules.

 

Third semester: 1 obligatory discipline, preparation and defense of a thesis.

Professional competence

Students graduated Master's program in Biochemistry acquire the following competencies:

  1. In-depth knowledge of the molecular mechanisms occurring in the living organisms.
  2. Acquired modern methodological approaches for analysis.
  3. Ability to use creative approaches to study the biochemical basis of unknown or poorly studied processes in the living cell.
  4. Ability to plan and elaborate experimental tasks using biochemical and molecular biology methods in the fields of proteomics, genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics.
  5. Skills for practical application of acquired knowledge in diagnostics, biomedical practice, agriculture, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, institutions of higher education, etc.
  6. Ability for teamwork, to make decisions, to be creative, initiative and collegial.
  7. Ability to write and implement projects.

Students graduated Master's program in Biochemistry with specialization in Molecular Biology acquire additional competencies:

  1. Ability to develop theoretical and experimental tasks using biochemical and molecular biology methods in the field of proteomics, genomics, metabolomics and transcriptomics;
  2. Basic knowledge of top omics technologies and their unlimited possibilities for analysis;
  3. Knowledge in the field of bioinformatics, abilities and improved skills to process experimental data generated from the omics technologies.

Students graduated Master's program in Biochemistry with specialization in Molecular Immunology acquire additional competencies:

  1. In-depth knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the functioning of the human immune system.
  2. Acquired modern methodological approaches for analyzing these mechanisms, including modern immunological methods applied in clinical practice for diagnosis and therapy.
  3. Creative approach in immunochemical analysis of a number of unknown or poorly studied processes in the context of immune response.

Students graduated Master's program in Biochemistry with specialization in Molecular Diagnostics will acquire additional competencies:

  1. Fundamentals of laboratory diagnostics in healthcare.
  2. Organization of specialized laboratories in this field.
  3. Molecular pathology, diagnosis, prognostics and consulting monogenic and rare diseases and conditions.
  4. Analysis of predisposition, risk assessment and counseling of common multifactorial diseases and conditions.
  5. Biochemical, including metabolic and hormonal analysis for healthcare and sport.
  6. Designing of therapeutic strategies and monitoring of therapies, including for the needs of personalized medicine and other related fields.

Students graduated Master's program in Biochemistry with specialization in Molecular Agrobiology acquire additional competencies:

  1. Ability to develop theoretical and experimental tasks using biochemical and molecular biological methods in the field of proteomics, genomics and metabolomics, transcriptomics in plants.
  2. Application of contemporary knowledge, skills and competences acquired from different biological disciplines in agrobiological area;
  3. Realization of the crosstalk between molecular biology and the progress in modern agriculture.

Professional realization

Graduates from Master’s degree program in Biochemistry can continue their education at the next level – Doctoral Degree. Acquired knowledge allows realization and career prospects in: appropriate educational and research institutions with a biomedical focus, dealing with fundamental and applied research in biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics and immunology; in specialized clinical and diagnostic laboratories, in vitro centers, companies-producers and distributors of biomedical preparations; as well as companies, whose activity is related to microbiological and biotechnological industries, food industry, pharmaceutical companies, systems exercise; in the state and municipal agencies for health control, monitoring and protection of the environment; in departments related to human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, etc.