Objectives
The programs intends to train highly qualified professionals capable of developing pure or applied research along various research lines, and contributing to improve Biological sciences teaching practices. To this effect, research lines are updated, extended and diversified to provide the applicant with the tools to rationally know and explore the country's biological resources and richness, through capacity building among the Faculty in advanced levels of study .
Study Plan
The applicant has the opportunity and obligation to focus the studies on one of the research areas offered by the Research Centers, Labs and Groups of the Biological Science Department. The syllabus consists of two compulsory courses, the first one based on statistical analysis techniques and the second intended to provide students with comprehensive knowledge about all the Department's research areas; two advanced courses in the corresponding area of concern will provide for the conceptual grounds to develop a research proposal; an elective course in any of the areas; a research project in which students, in agreement with their tutor, choose a topic for the practical execution of their graduation project. Upon completion of the courses, the students must present a preparatory exam (oral) intended to assess their ability to associate and integrate their knowledge through a discussion based on the research project. The research is conducted throughout the following courses: Graduation Project, Graduation Project I and Graduation Project II, and shall contain original contributions to the subject matter. The applicants must conclude their Master's degree with a public defense of their graduation project.
Research or Concentration Areas
Evolutionary Biology of Vertebrates.
Director: Carlos Daniel Cadena.
Topics: Phylogenetics systematics, phylogeography, especiation, biogeography, historic and genetic ecology of the preservation of birds and other vertebrates of Colombia and other neotropical countries.
Marine Molecular Biology.
Director: Juan Armando Sánchez.
Topics: Zooxanthellae, coral reefs, coralline whitening, connectivity, phylogeography.
Biochemistry.
Director: Jesús Alfredo Uribe.
Topics: Metabolic disorders, diagnostic approach, inherited diseases, magnetic resonance, white and grey matter diseases, genetic consultancy, metabolic pathways, enzymatic deficiencies.
Biochemistry of Parasites.
Director: Bárbara H. Zimmermann
Topics: Pyrimidines Synthesis, nucleotide metabolism, expression and purification of recombining proteins, Toxoplasma gondii, characterization of stumps and virulence factors of T. gondii.
Botany and Systematics.
Director: Santiago Madriñán
Topics: Phylogenetics, biodiversity, biogeography, tropical biology, floristics.
Molecular Diagnosis and Bioinformatics.
Director: Carlos Jaramilllo. Co-director: María del Pilar Delgado.
Topics: Immunodiagnosis, molecular diagnosis, bioinformatics, basic and applied molecular biology, diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Animal Ecology and Primatology.
Director: Pablo Stevenson
Topics: Preservation, animal behavior, basic ecology, fauna inventories, botany, environmental education, forest regeneration.
Ecophysiology of behavior and Herpetology.
Director: Adolfo Amézquita
Topics: Ecophysiology of amphibious and reptiles, communication, bioacoustics, geographical variation, sexual choice, evolution of life stories, cannibalism, phenotypic plasticity.
Plant Physiology.
Director: Sylvie Cournier
Topics:Plant Physiology, plant ecophysiology, high plateau, high andean forest, water relations, transpiration, osmotic adjustments, adaptation to cool temperatures.
Medical Micology and Phytopathology.
Director: Silvia Restrepo and Adriana Bernal
Topics: Interactions between plants – microorganisms, interaction between fungae - – humans, diagnosis of phytopathogens.
Human Genetics.
Director: Helena Groot
Topics: Molecular epidemiology of cancer, toxicologic genetics, genetic polimorphisms, phylogenetics, cellular growing, sensitivity to diseases.
Population Genetics.
Director: Mauricio Linares
Topics: Population Genetics, molecular genetics, profound genetic divergences, evolution, especiation, Drosophila, Heliconius, molecular systematics, biostatistics, phylogeography, cytogenetics.
Food Microbiology.
Director: María Consuelo Vanegas
Topics: Ecology and Food Microbiology, water, use of molecular techniques to detect pathogens. Food transmissible diseases (FTDs), quality in the food industry and its impact over Public Health.
Molecular Microbiology.
Director: Jenny Dussán
Topics: Microbial diversity, molecular microbiology , bioremediation, biologic control, bioprospection.
Tropical Parasitology.
Director: Felipe Guhl
Topics: Tropical parasitology, epidemiology, molecular biology, geographic information systems, entomology, population genetics, control of vector transmissible diseases (VTD), prevention and surveillance.
Water Zoology and Ecology.
Directors: Emilio Realpe
Topics: Invertebrates, bentonic macroinvertebrates, microcrustaceans, water entomology, taxonomy, diversity, distribution, limnology, biology of development.
Molecular Ecology of Water Vertebrates.
Director: Susana Caballero.
Topics: Molecular Ecology, phylogeography, taxonomy, systematics, diversity.
Model Program: Biology Emphasis
First Semester
Second Semester
Third Semester
| CBIO-4912 | Masters Degree Project | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Fourth Semester
| CBIO-4913 | Masters Degree Project II | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Model Program: Microbiology Emphasis
First Semester
Second Semester
Third Semester
| CBIO-4912 | Masters Degree Project | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Fourth Semester
| CBIO-4913 | Masters Degree Project II | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Alumni Profile
The alumnae of this program are trained to conduct fundamental or applied research in the various research areas offered by the Department. Colombia is home to one of the largest biodiversity and, at the same time, it has one of the lowest ratios of professional researchers per inhabitant. Postgraduate programs educate innovative researchers, capable of contributing to scientific progress, biodiversity preservation, sustainable use of natural products and improvement of production in microorganisms, plants and animals associated with agriculture, industry and medicine. The alumnae occupational profile is related to three relevant areas: academy (universities, basic research institutions and museums), public sector (agriculture, environment and health) and industry (research and development of biotechnologies, consultancy). At the end of the process, students are expected to demonstrate above-average knowledge in their area of concentration, to be acquainted with research processes, to the extent of being able to take participate at a professional level of its development, and to have built the ability to communicate scientific concepts clearly.