MSc in Bioinformatics for Computational Genomics

Subjects

Università Degli Studi di Milano will offer the courses focused on biological topics, while Politecnico di Milano will offer the computational ones.

1st Year

1st semester

• Mandatory courses: Organic Chemistry; Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• Elective courses: Genetics, Cellular, and Molecular Biology; Biochemistry; Programming and Data Bases; Statistics

2nd semester

• Mandatory courses: Genomics and Transcriptomics; Scientific Programming; Machine Learning; Biostatistics

2nd Year

1st semester

• Mandatory courses: Advanced Genomics and Epigenomics; Structural Chemistry; Systems Biology and Network Analysis
• Elective courses: Interdisciplinary project; Genomic Big Data Management and Computing

Politecnico di Milano is one of the top universities in Milan, Italy.

It is ranked #111 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

By attending the courses taught in the B.C.G. degree you will learn about:

1. The organization of information in the genome and the molecular and cellular processes at the basis of gene expression and its regulation.
2. The experimental methods used for studying genes and their function in different model species, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic.
3. The technologies employed in modern genomic and epigenomic research, like next-generation sequencing-based assays (genome and exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, ChIP-Seq, and so on).
4. Methods and protocols of bioinformatic analysis in functional genomics studies (genome and exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, ChIP-Seq, and so on).
5. The algorithmic, mathematical and statistical approaches underlying bioinformatics and genomic analysis tools.
6. Database technologies for the storage and organization of the data.
7. Modeling and analysis techniques employed in systems biology for the study of interactions in complex biological systems.

The program includes, as a fundamental step in the formation of the students, an internship in research laboratories either at the University of Milan, the Politecnico or in other Italian or foreign research institutes. The research experience of the internship and its results will be described in a final written dissertation, to be discussed in front of a thesis committee.

The B.C.G. Master's degree aims to train “data scientists”, highly skilled professionals able to merge in-depth knowledge of the molecular foundations of life sciences with up-to-date knowledge of the current techniques and technologies for bioinformatics and genomic analysis. Particular emphasis will be put on the quantitative and computational aspects of the later ones, which will be focused on the analysis, modelling, and comprehension of biological systems. The ultimate goal is to train in a multi-disciplinary context professionals ready to cope with the challenges deriving from modern biomolecular sciences in the post-genomic era, and able to conjugate and integrate knowledge on biology, genetics, computer science, information engineering, and statistics in different fields of basic or applied research.

Graduates in B.C.G. will thus be able to:

• Take part in the design and execution of large-scale genomic analyses.
• Identify and extract the biological meaning from the results obtained.
• Design tools and protocols for the bioinformatic analysis of different types of experimental data autonomously.
• Play a pivotal role in research groups focused on basic or applied genomic research.
• Coordinate and supervise research projects and groups focused on bioinformatics and genomics.