Course summary

Our MSc in Plant Biotechnology and Enterprise explores the need for society to increase agricultural productivity amid global warming and equips you with the skills and experience in biotechnological innovation and commercial know-how to support the vital efforts to shape food production in the future. The course is designed to fill a gap in biosciences education. It has been developed against a backdrop of a decade-long fall in crop protection and biotech products caused by fewer companies working in the sector, a difficult legislative environment and the lack of professionals with the right abilities and specific knowledge to convert their ideas into commercial products. You will study five taught modules delivered through a wide-ranging mix of lectures, seminars, small group classes and practical laboratory-based workshops. The final element of the course is a 6-month research project carried out on a subject of interest. The project brings together your laboratory, research and planning skills into a thesis and presentation under the guidance of a research-active supervisor. Three taught modules have been developed specifically for this course; Frontiers in Plant Science, Agriculture and Biotechnology and Technology in Biosciences. They cover research and innovation in the field and offer opportunities to interact with the sector. Of the remaining two modules, Bioinformatics and Data Science will cover the computational and statistical analysis of big data while Innovation and Enterprise in Plant Biotechnology, run jointly with Durham Business School, adds a business element to the course as you take on a real-world innovation challenge. Ensuring a flow of new scientists into the plant technology sector has never been more important given the socio-economic context and the rise in global warming-linked natural catastrophes and this course will help meet that need, helping to shape a positive future. Course structure Core modules: The Research Project develops your interest in plant biotechnology and enhances your skills in the design of experiments and project planning. The module also provides you with hands-on laboratory experience and fosters confidence in the handling and configuration of laboratory instruments. Frontiers in Plant Science provides a broad understanding of plant development and the theories behind major agricultural and biotechnological advances as well as an awareness of the current challenges. You will also gain insight into the technical, legal and ethical limitations associated with improvement of agricultural and biotechnological processes. Agriculture and Biotechnology creates a specific awareness of the benefits of agriculture and biotechnology for society in general and provides a framework for developing industrial applications from theoretical knowledge. T Bioinformatics and Data Science develops a broad understanding of bioinformatics and the ability to use public bioinformatics databases. The module provides you with skills and knowledge in the R environment for data analysis and visualisation and the analysis of genomic and transcriptomic data using open-source software, DNA and protein sequence data and next generation sequencing data. Innovation and Enterprise in Plant Biotechnology teaches the major theories and models of innovation and product development and their evaluation and provides training in how innovation is managed in company settings and how it is communicated across social systems. Technology in the Biosciences offers an overview of recent technological developments and their application to the biosciences as well as an understanding of the theoretical aspects and practical skills underpinning technological advances in the biosciences. You will be given an overall appreciation of the strategies and technologies employed in the biosciences and how they are applied to support plant science, plant biotechnology and agriculture.