MRes in Synt0etic Biology

The proposed MRes in Synthetic Biology will be composed of 120 credits (66%) of research project and 60 credits (33%) of taught elements. The taught elements will have a new, core obligatory course on Synthetic Biology taught by the proposer (JMW) and two further M-level courses on 1) Research Methods and 2) 'Critical Assessment of Journal Articles'. The MRes students will be embedded in well funded research groups from across UCL and spend approximately 8 months carrying out their research. A dissertation and presentation will be prepared for the end of the course with a viva exam at the end of the year. The taught elements will be examined by in-course assessment. The aims of the MRes in Synthetic Biology will be to attract students from a wide range of science backgrounds in both the physical, engineering, chemical and mathematical sciences as well as graduates from biology based science degrees and train them in the new field of Synthetic Biology. The objectives to reach this goal will be to teach the students the new areas that make up Synthetic Biology which include engineering principles, mathematical modeling, molecular biology, biochemical engineering and chemistry. Give them training in research methods and in critically assessing journal publications in Synthetic Biology. And finally to train them in in-depth hands-on research projects spanning the expertise in 7 departments across UCL. The goal will be to train multidisciplinary masters students able to understand the new area of Synthetic Biology, are skilled in its practice and are able to transfer these skills to further research, industry and teaching.