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The Master MCIB does not admit new students in the 2021-22 academic year. This Master is in the process of extinction and has been replaced by the Master in Integrative Synthetic Biology - iSynBio (120 ECTS). Those interested will be able to pre-register in the new Master (with code P04H).
Organized in collaboration with and sponsored by the CSIC
4th Edition. From October 14, 2019 to February, 2021
The Master MCIB will provide an advanced training in molecular and cellular life sciences to graduate students in a cutting-edge scientific environment. The school, co-organized by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the International University Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP), will focus on training the students in Molecular and Cellular Integrative Biology.
MCIB integrates innovative experimental and/or computational technologies to characterise biological systems at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, in order to understand how component properties at one level in the dimensional scale (nano to macro) determine system behaviour at a higher level of complexity. These integrated studies, with natural and minimal synthetic systems, will help to elucidate fundamental principles of biological function and provide a basis for novel biotechnological and biomedical applications.
MCIB is currently organised at a single CSIC location (CIB), establishing a unique -pioneer-in-house research training experience. This novel concept will integrate both students and CIB scientists as a collective action of the whole research centre, bringing together a wide range of experimental expertise and know-how. Students will be exposed to the scientific activities developed in-house, based on synergies among research programs in molecular and cellular biosciences, using front-line technologies and research strategies (i.e., chemical, molecular/cellular and synthetic approaches) to study essential processes and systems with environmental or medical relevance.
MCIB is based on the Max Planck International Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences established at the Martinsried campus, which has been adapted and scaled to the Spanish research system.
Regular Pre-Enrolment Period: April 19 to June 11, 2021
Publication of the provisional admission list: up to June 21, 2021
Claims Period: 22 and June 23, 2021, or within two days of publication of the provisional admission list
Publication of the final admission list: up to June 24, 2021
Regular Enrolment Period: From June 25, 2021, within 10 calendar days of receipt of the notification of admission.
Submission of documentation: from the time of enrolment until the first two weeks of the course.
Additional information can be found at this link.
Enrolment fees for the academic year 2021-2022 are pending approval. The fees for the academic year 2020-2021 are indicative for 2021-2022.
Germán Rivas Caballero, Research Professor, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Contact E-mail: MCIB@cib.csic.es
Contact E-mail (new program): misb-synbio@cib.csic.es
Spanish and English
Admission of candidates will be decided by the Academic Committee for the Master's according to the conditions for access and specific requirements for admission to the program with the objective of not surpassing the 20 spaces established as the course maximum.
Centro de Investigaciones Biólogicas (CIB), CSIC
Ramiro de Maeztu, 9
28040 Madrid, Spain
The Master's Degree in Molecular and Cellular Integrative Biology (MCIB) has a course load of 90 ECTS credits and will be completed over three semesters, from October to February of the second year.
The program is structured around three theoretical-practical modules for 60 mandatory credits to be completed during the first academic year and the End of Master's Project worth 30 credits which will be evaluated the second year.
In this subject, the CIB researchers who form part of the MCIB faculty will present their lines of research in the different transdisciplinary scientific programs that make up the center and the master's program.
This is done in onsite classes lasting 45+15 mins in which, during the first time period indicated, presenters will address the methodological foundations used in their research as well as the scientific content that constitutes the background of their specialty and the recent developments unique to the field in which the speaker works. In the final part of each class, a dialogue between the professor and students will be established about the aspects presented and a specific case study will be distributed for later study by students. The content of these classes and the case studies distributed may be subject to projects or specific brief exercises that will be considered during evaluation of subjects for this module.
Students will actively participate in lab rotations to gain exposure to the MCIB disciplines developed in the center: structural and chemical biology; cellular and molecular biology; environmental biology; molecular and cellular medicine. These rotations will allow students to select a suitable advisor (supervisor) for the End of Master's Project.
This subject will be organized by a series of seminars and advanced MCIB workshops.
A uniquely privileged aspect of work at a research center like CIB-CSIC is that it attracts researchers of international prestige, both through established scientific collaboration and by attending symposiums and ad hoc meetings. Additionally, there is a series of center seminars at the CIB where these distinguished figures in Spanish and international science hold plenary conferences which usually include widespread distribution among the scientific community in the Community of Madrid through specific publicity distributed on the Internet.
The aim is for these monthly center seminars to serve as a chance for MCIB master's students to meet international presenters. In this way, maximum yield will be obtained through a three-fold training that will last throughout the morning (or afternoon):
Attending each seminar after studying one or two scientific case studies provided by the presenter.
Immediately following the seminar, MCIB master's students will hold a discussion with the presenter about the specific aspects and questions that have come up during the presentation. This dialogue, held in front of MCIB faculty members who will facilitate discussion (but will abstain from dominating it), will last 30-60 minutes and can be simultaneous with a meal or informal coffee.
Finally, now without the presenter present, a member of the MCIB faculty present throughout the seminar will propose a debate topic for students related to the presentation, after which the student will write a brief report to turn in within a week about the content developed and the perspectives that arose from this activity.
This subject is comprised of specific workshops held throughout the master's in which students are trained in a wide range of topics related to the scientific research process which will form a very valuable part of MCIB technology transfer activity.
The MCIB will strengthen the training process associated with the End of Master's Project for students which will be completed by each of them at a supervising laboratory over a longer period than that which is common for other master's programs. The objective is for said project to effectively solve a problem for an entity whose answer is important for the scientific community or society as a whole.
Completion of the End of Master's Project will periodically be evaluated by the corresponding advisor and 2 other senior MCIB researchers who are not directly related to said project.
The End of Master's Project will consist of two parts: a written report (with an established format) and a 30-minute public oral presentation. The oral part of the MCIB exam will be innovative as the individual presentations will form part of MCIB scientific meetings/ symposiums lasting 2 days and open to the entire scientific faculty/evaluation committee for the MCIB.
The objective of these seminars is for all MCIB students to have a first-hand look at the projects presented. In this way, this oral exam will also serve as a platform to exchange ideas and experiences. These seminars will have free access, not only for CIB staff or those involved in the MCIB. These seminars will be shared via the communication channels commonly used by the UIMP and CSIC to announce their activities which will favor seminar visibility and serve to attract new editions of MCIB students.
AF1 - Theoretical classes
AF2 - Practicum and seminars (also includes workshops)
AF3 - Tutorials
AF4 - Projects
AF5 - Autonomous work
SE1 - Objective tests for direct evaluation
SE2 - Evaluation of personal work
SE3 - Evaluation of practicums and seminars (includes oral seminars and workshops)
SE4 - Evaluation of student attendance and participation (includes tutorials)
SE5 - Evaluation of End of Master's Project. Elements to be considered in the evaluation are the advisor report, evaluation of the public defense and evaluation of the report written by the student. The advisor report is worth a maximum of 10%, the public defense is worth a maximum of 50% of the total score and the written report is worth a maximum of 40% of the final score.
The main objective of the Master's Degree in Molecular and Cellular Integrative Biology, organized by the UIMP in collaboration with the CSIC, is to provide postgraduate students advanced training in biosciences in the molecular and cellular fields on the leading edge of science.
The accumulated experience from two editions (2014-15) at the UIMP-CSIC School of Molecular and Cellular Integrative Biology in the framework of UIMP summer courses in Santander has allowed the establishing of direct contact, gathering and contrasting opinions, with 80 of the best young graduates in biosciences from Spanish universities as well as with nearly 40 distinguished professors and researchers from a variety of scientific disciplines who work in research and teaching both within and outside of Spain.
The unanimous conclusion taken from these contacts led to the master's as presented here, which goes beyond the boundaries between classical science disciplines, being put into place by a Spanish university. It thus meets student demands for advanced and competitive training and that of researchers to be able to add young researchers to their teams who are better prepared and better adapted to technologies and frontier approaches.
The MCIB, a pioneer in Spain, is thus believed to add a new and attractive element as the training program is based on multidisciplinary research activity at a CSIC center (in this case the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas - CIB) beyond the theoretical content of the teaching program. In other words, the MCIB places value on the great advanced training potential of understanding derived from a CSIC research center day to day. We believe that this academic offer is not only beneficial for students, but also for researchers at the center as it will be a driving action that will involve the entire CIB.
The CIB forms the optimal environment to put the MCIB into practice as molecular and cellular integrative biology constitute one of the center's hallmarks. This research strategy is built on already existing synergies between the most active research programs at the CIB which apply frontier technologies to study essential molecular and cellular strategies with biomedical and/or environmental relevance. These integrating studies on both natural and synthetic systems will contribute to improving students' knowledge about the fundamental bases of biological function and will be the base for developing competences in new biotechnological and biomedical applications that are based precisely on this integration of approaches and levels to understand and extract all inherent potential from biological complexity.
CG1 - Master research abilities and methods unique to molecular and cellular integrative biology.
CG2 - Critically approach the topics dealt with in molecular and cellular integrative biology.
CG3 - Contribute to the development of new ideas (models or hypotheses, strategies, methodologies or combinations) in the area of molecular and cellular integrative biology.
CG4 - Communicate with colleagues in the area of molecular and cellular integrative biology transmitting knowledge about molecular and cellular aspects of fundamental and environmental biology and biomedicine.
CG5 - Understand the impact of scientific and methodological advances in knowledge creation and the development of new technologies to apply to improvements in health and the environment.
CG6 - Contribute to ongoing research, expanding knowledge on molecular and cellular integrative biology with the possibility of being published in means used by professional researchers to communicate their scientific projects.
CT1 - Create, write and publicly defend scientific and technical reports.
CT2 - Work in multidisciplinary teams.
CT3 - Develop autonomy and daily routine efficiency for research.
CT4 - Enhance motivation towards scientific research.
CT5 - Obtain basic training about technological transfer.
CE1 - Analyze the structural characteristics of biological macromolecules and their interactions to give rise to functionally active complexes.
CE2 - Apply chemical-biological approaches for studying molecular recognition and the development of pharmaceuticals.
CE3 - Characterize minimal natural and synthetic systems to improve knowledge of the fundamental principles of biological function which will be the base for new bio and nano technological and biomedical applications.
CE4 - Develop an integrated view of the advances in fundamental molecular and cellular research or that which is applied to biomedicine or the environment.
CE5 - Competently direct and develop experimental work in a structural and chemical biology, molecular and cellular biology, environmental biology and molecular and cellular medicine research laboratory.
CE6 - Use experimental methodologies and associated instruments in the field of molecular biology research.
CE7 - Design and manage a scientific-technical project based on objectivity, integrity and societal transparency.
MCIB is offered to graduate students in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Sciences.
Foreign students are encouraged to apply. Students must be fluent in English (B2 or equivalent level).
The MCIB aims for students to obtain advanced training in topics related to fundamental biology and frontier technologies, environmental biology and biomedicine, which will be analyzed within the integrated research program - the hallmark of the MCIB- combining chemical, structural, molecular, cellular, synthetic and systemic approaches.
After completing the corresponding modules and the End of Master's Project, students will have obtained a series of competences which will allow them to complete future activity in both the academic and productive sector, being able to transmit knowledge at different levels and be able to continue research in specialized areas in these fields as well as in the field of management and in businesses related to cellular and molecular aspects of biosciences.
Access with an official university degree from Spain or the European Higher Education Area (EHEA): Admission to the Master's Degree in Molecular and Cellular Integrative Biology requires an official university degree from Spain or another higher education institution belonging to another Member State of the EHEA which grants access to study a Master's Degree in the country of origin. Special preference will be given to graduate students in Life Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Sciences. Foreign students are encouraged to apply. Students must be fluent in English (B2 or equivalent level).
Access with a university degree from outside the EHEA: Students with degrees from education systems outside the EHEA can be accepted without requiring official recognition of their degrees by accrediting that the level of studies is the equivalent to that of official university degrees in Spain and that the degree allows access to postgraduate studies in the country of origin.
Access for these students depends on a favorable decision from the Rector. The decision by the Rector will never imply official recognition of the degree the student possesses nor its recognition for purposes other than to study the Master's Degree.
Pre-enrolment should be carried out via internet by completing the online Pre-enrolment Form (Formulario de Preinscripción) available on the UIMP website.When pre-registration is made, the required documentation must be attached in PDF format, although the documents do not need to be authenticated at the time of pre-registration. However, they should be certified because it will be essential to formalize registration, if admitted.
Photocopy of National ID card, in the case of Spanish citizens, or of passport or identity document, in the case of foreign nationals.
Photocopy of the Qualification Certificate which provides access to Masters' Degree studies, or proof of having paid for the issuance of the certificate concerned.
Certification of personal academic records.
ID or Passport-size photograph, in JPG format.
Curriculum Vitae, in PDF format, so as to facilitate the assessment of other merits appropriate to the admissions profile.
Students presenting foreign and non-homologated degrees must also provide to access:
Certification from the issuing university stating that the degree offered qualifies one for access to postgraduate studies in the country in question.
Personal academic certification which specifies the study program completed; official duration of the program in academic years and listing of courses taken, grade, and credit load of each one.
IMPORTANT: The academic documents of foreign degrees are to be presented translated into Spanish, where necessary; all those corresponding to countries not belonging to the EHEA are to be certified (on the UIMP website, general information on these requirements can be found).
The required documentation in original format should ONLY be submitted to the Student Administration Office (Secretaría de Estudiantes - C/ Isaac Peral 23. 28040 Madrid - Spain) in the event that the application has been passed by the Academic Committee for the Master's.
Universal accessibility will be guaranteed and the necessary resources and support will be monitored for those students with disabilities in order to assure the correct completion of the Master's. We ask that these students indicate their specific needs when enrolling.
In this link you can consult the UIMP Protocol for the attention of students with specific educational needs.
The following will be considered in the admission process:
Academic transcript. The average grade on the academic transcript will be taken into account: 65 points.
Curriculum Vitae: 15 points.
Applicant's profile and its suitability to the aims and content of the Master: 5 points.
Personal interview: 10 points.
Other merits: 5 points.
The Academic Committee for the Master's will be in charge of examining and valuing admission applications and approving the accepted candidates according to the previously mentioned criteria. The Academic Committee will publish a list each academic course on the UIMP web site.
Once enrolled, master's students will receive all of the information necessary to be able to complete the master's both onsite and virtually via email. The master's directors are those who will permanently provide guidance for students on anything they need for correct training. The directors will meet periodically with students to analyze the teaching and learning processes and consider any aspect they deem necessary.
Before the start of the master's, students will attend an opening session where the master's directors will present the academic organization, rules of operation, contact details for support staff and faculty, procedures for addressing doubts or requesting training advice, etc.
Additionally, students will have permanent tutorials with professors who teach each subject available upon student request. If necessary, the professor can create a study and work plan for the student they are monitoring.
Students will also have support and guidance from subject coordinators who are in charge of individually monitoring students' performance, motivation, involvement, etc. in the subject on a global scale.
Finally, each student will have a personal advisor to complete the End of Master's Project who will be assigned by the academic committee.
The Academic Committee will also oversee support and guidance for students as well as evaluating the procedures and results for guidance work.
Along with all of this, students will have support and guidance from the UIMP Student Secretary and the CIB/CSIC support staff.
On its web page, the UIMP offers detailed information about all of the degrees and postgraduate programs it offers, resources available to students and relevant information and links for each of the degrees offered. Additionally, all of the information will be available on the master's own web page.
Germán Rivas Caballero, Research Professor, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Contact E-mail: MCIB@cib.csic.es
Contact E-mail (new program): misb-synbio@cib.csic.es
A broad selection of research groups at CIB, internationally recognized for their innovative research, will form the core faculty of MCIB, actively contributing to the training and education of the enrolled students.
Using state of the art approaches, faculty members aim to answer essential questions relevant to basic and applied biological and biomedical research.
Detailed information about professors associated with the program can be consulted on the "Syllabus" section on this web page.
Patricia Boya Tremoleda, Senior Scientist, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
Marta Bruix Bayés, Research Professor, Instituto de Química Física "Rocasolano" (IQFR-CSIC)
Carlos Fernández Tornero, Senior Scientist, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
Sonsoles Martín Santamaría, Senior Scientist, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
Miguel Ángel Peñalva Soto, Research Professor, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
María Dolores Pérez-Sala, Scientific Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
Alicia Prieto Orzanco, Senior Scientist, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
Enrique J. de la Rosa Cano, Scientific Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
María Cristina Vega Fernández, Senior Scientist, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC)
The master's, which will last three semesters, will begin on October, 2020 and end in February, 2022.
Module 1 will be taught during the first semester while modules 2 and 3 will be completed over the three semesters of the program. The End of Master's Project will be completed during the second and third semesters.
Evaluation will be continuous using test for each subject. The grade obtained for presenting and defending the personal End of Master's Project will be added to this grade.
Students have up to four calls to pass each subject, two per academic year enrolled with the current curriculum, counting among the four both qualified calls and those not evaluated. Without prejudice to the maximum number of calls, to guarantee a minimum academic performance, and a reasonable use, students will have to exceed a minimum of 50% of the ECTS enrolled each academic year. If they do not reach this percentage, they will not be able to renew their enrollment to continue their studies at the UIMP.
Upon completing and passing the course, students enrolled in the Master's program will receive the Master's Degree in Molecular and Cellular Integrative Biology from the Rector of the UIMP.