Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences

In the past, research has often focused on a single level of observation: molecules, cells, tissues or organisms. Courses and projects in the programme emphasize crossing former boundaries. The current challenge is to bring all these levels together into a comprehensive understanding of life. This systems biology approach, calls for a broad set of competences which are all available at the Utrecht University.

This acquired knowledge can be used to work on solutions in the biomedical field but also in the field of plant biology, biotechnology (e.g. industrial enzymes for biofuels) and nanotechnology (e.g. nanoparticles in medicine).

Graduates of the Master's programme Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences have excellent job prospects at universities, research institutes, and business organisations, ranging from large pharmaceutical industries to start-up biotech companies. Around 60% of the graduates are offered a PhD position before ending their programme.

The Master's programme is directly linked to the PhD programmes Biomembranes, Molecular Life Sciences and Computational Life Sciences of the Graduate School of Life Sciences.

Research groups from the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physics and faculties of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine are involved in this interdisciplinary programme. The MCLS programme is directly linked to the PhD programmes of the Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, the Institute for Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, and the PhD programme of Computational Life Sciences.