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MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFECTION BIOLOGY
Interested in host-pathogen interactions?
Ever wondered......how a vaccine for malaria could work?...how parasites kill their hosts?...how new drugs for tropical diseases are found?
Pathogens comprise viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. Basic research on these pathogens (on genomic, proteomic and metabolic level) allows us to understand the biology of pathogens and thus to develop tools for better diagnosis, and new and safe drugs or vaccines.
Infection biologists study pathogens such as African trypanosomes (causing sleeping sickness) in the hu-man host and in its insect vector. They are gaining knowledge on the dynamics of infection, and how the parasite can evade host defence mechanisms.
For malaria, infection biologists study for example sur-face molecules as key players of pathology, whilst in a bacterial disease such as tuberculosis they conduct studies to understand the evolution of drug resistance.
The knowledge gained is the basis for strategies and tools to interfere with such pathogens. Thus, research can be translated into action to provide the link ‘from the bench to the bed’.
Infection biologists work in research institutions, in governmental agencies or in industry. They do labora-tory work but are also involved in teaching.
Interdisciplinary jobs are not infrequent, e.g. as tech-nologists or scientific writers.
The optimal basis for a successful MSc in Infection Biology is a basic training in biology, biochemistry or biotechnology. A basic knowledge in parasitology and infection biology is prerequisite.
In Infection Biology host-pathogen interactions are studied, why and how pathogens cause dis-ease, and how we can interfere to prevent or cure infectious diseases.
LECTURES IN
INFECTION BIOLOGY
AND PARASITOLOGY
MSc THESIS MSc THESIS
EXAM
S
OPTIONAL COURSES
OPTIONAL COURSES
AUTUMN SPRING AUTUMN SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER SEMESTER 2
Course description
The MSc programme in Infection Biology at the University of Basel is run by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), an internation-ally recognized centre for international health. The course language is English.
The thesis work - which extends over a whole year - is usually embedded in a research project in one of the Swiss TPH Units, normally within the Depart-ment of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology. The MSc thesis work is typically a laboratory-based project in Switzerland.
Admission criteria
A Bachelor of Science in natural Sciences, medicine or veterinary medicine with a minimum average de-gree of 5.0. Alternatively, for students with an average grade below 5.0: a GRE test result in “Quantitative Reasoning” in the top 35 %. Students with a BSc in a different branch are encouraged to apply and will be assessed individually. Deadline for registration for a course starting in autumn is the 30th April of the same year, except for students completing a BSc at the University of Basel (mid August of the same year).
Further information
The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) was founded in 1943 as the Swiss Tropical In-stitute (STI). It is a world-renowned Institution for teaching, research and services in the field of Inter-national Health. It is an associated Institute of the University of Basel, the oldest university in Switzerland.
For more details, please seewww.swisstph.ch/teaching/graduate.html
or contact
Profs. Reto Brun or Till VossM.Sc. course coordinators E-mails: [email protected], [email protected]
Mrs. Christine Mensch Student administrator for general information E-mail: [email protected]
Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteStudent AdministrationSocinstrasse 57P.O. Box4002 Basel – SwitzerlandPhone: +41 61 284 82 89Fax: +41 61 284 81 06E-mail: [email protected]
