Master in Biochemistry
Faculty of Chemistry
University of Belgrade
How the program was created
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Survey of employed biochemists (1997-2007)
New, emerging trends in Biochemistry
Position of the MS within the study programs
at the Faculty of Chemistry
Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular
Biology study programs at Universities in
Serbia
The Low of Higher Education from 2006 –
accreditation process
Planning phase of the Master
in Biochemistry development
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Curriculum Advisory Committee
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Prof. dr Vesna Niketic
Assoc. Prof. dr Marija Gavrovic-Jankulovic
Assoc. Prof. dr Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
Dr. Nenad Milosavic, IHTM
Dr. Dragana Stanic, IHTM
Dr. Natalija Polovic
Milos Filipovic
Jelena Acimovic
Alumni, gathering data and information, survey of
employed graduate biochemists
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mr Milan Nikolic
Survey conducted in 2007:
Employment of graduate biochemists
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34 % research/industry
sector abroad
33 % research
laboratories
12 % industry in Serbia
(25 % are employed by
the Torlak Institute of
Virology, Vaccines and
Sera)
Education sector,
private sector etc
Brain-drain
Research
Industry
Education
Miscellanous
Unemployed
Emerging fields in modern
biochemistry
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Bioinformatics
Molecular Biotechnology
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Sophisticated techniques widely applied
Structure of the Master
Program
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2 compulsory subjects (12 ECTS)
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2 elective subjects (8 ECTS)
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Covering emerging new fields in Biochemistry
Allowing fine-tuning of graduates towards plant
biotechnology, immunobiology or structural
analysis of biomolecules
Research work (20 ECTS)
Master thesis (20 ECTS)
Multidisciplinarity
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Faculty of Biology
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Institute of Botany
Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry
Faculty of Chemistry
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Department of Biochemistry
Department of Organic Chemistry
MSDP project objectives
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Development and modifications of courses
e-learning
Establishing twinning with EU institutions
Reinforcing connections with the labor market
Facilities reinforcement and upgrade towards
establishing laboratory for Molecular
Biotechnology and the FCUB
Module
number
and title
Course number and title
A.1. Bioinformatics
A. Research
oriented
master
in
biochemi
stry
No. of
2+2+
0
No.
x
8
x
4+1+
3
A.3. Plant Physiology and
Biochemistry
(elective)
2+0+
2
4
A.4. Immunobiology
(elective)
2+0+
2
4
A.5. Advanced Structural
Instrumental Methods
(elective)
2+2+
0
4
A.6. Biochemistry and
Biophysics of
Macromolecules
(elective)
2+0+
2
Compulsory research work
(tutorial)
Master thesis
10+0
10+0
0+20
yes
4
A.2. Contemporary
biochemical methods
- Molecular
Biotechnology
Compulsory research work
(tutorial)
o
f
eLear
ning
no
x
x
x
BGP+
yes
Twinning
lectu
rer
Semester
no
yes
1st
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
no
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
2nd
x
4
10
x
10
x
20
x
Twinning partner
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University of Plovdiv, Genomics Center
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Faculty of Biology
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Master in Bioinformatics
Master in Molecular Biotechnology
Visiting lecturers
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Bioinformatics
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Contemporary Biochemical Methods - Molecular
Biotechnology
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Genome analysis, Analysis of microarrays, RNA structure
prediction, Phylogenetic prediction
Cloning strategies, Mutagenesis
Plant Biochemistry and Physiology
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Plant Biotechnology, Transgenic Plants, Plant Tissue Culture,
Plant Growth and Development, Senescence
Labor market partner
involvement
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Torlak Institute of Virology, Vaccine and Sera
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Invited experts (within the course of
Contemporary Biochemical methods - Molecular
Biotechnology – production of sera, vaccines and
preparations for allergy diagnosis and
immunotherapy)
Internships
Participation in MS committees
Co-supervision of MS theses
Learning outcomes …
At the end of this study a student would be able
to:
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perform complex analysis and individual
research tasks in the field biochemistry and
molecular biotechnology
independently solve problems
to analyze, evaluate, present results of scientific
work in a poster or oral presentation
Learning outcomes…
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to work efficiently in a team and in an
multidisciplinary environment
to translate knowledge and apply skills into
practice in laboratories and research
institutions, control laboratories etc
to communicate knowledge and practical
skills to professionals in the same and related
fields
to disseminate knowledge to other members
of the research team and/or production unit
Implementation of the project
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2007 First versions of curricula and accreditation 2007
2009 Development and modification of courses
March 2009 First training seminar organized by WUS
April 2009 Meeting with the Accreditation committee, no need
for additional accreditation of the study programme
June 2009 Visit to University of Plovdiv, Department of
Physiology and Molecular Biology, Genomics center, meetings
with guest lecturers and reviewers
June 2009 first e-learning seminar
September 2009 Second training seminar organized by WUS
October 2009 Enrollment of MS students
October 2009 literature purchase
Implementation of the project
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October 2009 – March 2010 Writing and publishing
scripts
October 2009 – February 2010 equipment purchase
Establishment of a Molecular biotechnology
laboratory by the end of March 2010
November 2009, December 2009, April 2010 guest
lectures,
April-May 2010 Internships to Torlak Institute and
visiting lectures of Torlak experts
September 2010 finalizing transfer of parts of
compulsory courses into e-learning courses within
Master in Biochemistry study programme
Reinforcing connections with the
labor market
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Survey of companies that traditionally
employ graduate biochemists
To disseminate information to potential
employees
To make alumni of graduate
biochemists
Plans for future sustainability of
the twinning with the PU
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Following successful application of the FCUB within the FP7RegPot2010-5 call, supported by the PU, Genomics Center, as
one of 8 EU partners on the project, the funding (1.363 mEuro)
will be obtained for “Reinforcing FCUB towards becoming a
centre of excellence in the region of WB for food research and
molecular biotechnology” for the period of 2010-2012
Support will be obtained for:
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Mutual experts visits
Mutual researchers visits in order to exchange know-how within the
field of bioinformatics and molecular biotechnology
Prof. Ivan Minkov (twinning coordinator) annual visits to the FCUB,
as a member of the Advisory Board of the project
Upgrading facilities for molecular biotechnology and food research
and establishment of the first Proteomics center in Serbia
Final analysis and assessment
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Comparison with the existing curriculum
and syllabus
Report
Dissemination
Guidelines for revision
Adjusting existing curricula
Monitoring and evaluation
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Curriculum Advisory Board
Alumni Meetings
More efficient networking with
stakeholders