Master in integrated systems biology (académique)

> Teaching language: English

 The complete sequence of the human and other genomes resulted in a drastic change in the way of thinking in Biosciences. Investigations on the molecular basis of major human diseases, such as cancer, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s are now addressed on whole genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome level.

Systems Biology   (an extension of Biochemistry and Physiology) wants to understand and model systems: individual cells, organs and whole organisms on the basis of their constituting molecules. It integrates established disciplines in Biosciences and renovates them for the challenges of the future.

Aims of the programme

The Master of Systems Biology combines theoretical and practical education: at least 1,450 hours of practical work in computer labs and wet labs within the university’s Life Sciences Research Unit or in partner institutions (CRP-Santé, the CRP-Gabriel Lippmann, and the IGBMC in Strasbourg). At the end of the programme,s tudents will be able

• to think on „omics“ levels (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and physiomics)
• to understand and apply the respective new technologies.

Career Prospect

• PhD programmes (at the University of Luxembourg and abroad).
• Positions in biotech and pharma industry

Partnership with Seattle

Since November 2008 the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) in Seattle (www.systemsbiology.org) is a strategic partner of the University of Luxembourg in a 5-years project of the Luxembourgish government ( The Luxembourg Health Sciences and Technologies Plan) . The government aims to develop a centre of expertise in the area of systems biology and molecular medicine: the “Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine” (LCSB) .

Both the ISB and the LCSB will provide excellent practical and theoretical training options for the master students who will have the possibility to perform high quality MSc thesis projects and continue then world-class research projects as PhD students.

CanSys - EU-Atlantis study programme in Cancer and Systems Biology

In the framework of the Master in integrated systems biology, students can also apply to follow the CanSys  programme, an EU-Atlantis programme in Cancer and Systems Biology. During the four semesters of their Master’s programme, the selected students will study at the University of Luxembourg, the Free University of Amsterdam and the University at Buffalo/Roswell Park Cancer Institute. For the year spent in Buffalo, they will be paid a grant of 1000€/month.