General presentation of the master track
Because of their complexity, biological systems appear to chemists as the ultimate playground in terms of chemical reactivity, analytical challenges and modeling, while chemistry is often considered by biologists as the most appropriate level of description to unravel biological processes.
Built on the renowned expertise of several schools and research institutes of Université PSL – ENS – PSL, Chimie Paris – PSL, ESPCI Paris – PSL, Mines Paris – PSL, the Institut Curie and the Collège de France – the Chemistry & Life Sciences track prepares students in exploring biological systems in new ways using the knowledge of chemistry and biology. Beyond the academic applications, exploring the chemical frontiers of living matters opens new opportunities for addressing important problems of our world.
The Chemistry & Life Sciences track of the Master’s degree of Chemistry (co-accredited by PSL University and Sorbonne University) aims at training highly motivated students interested in interrogating quantitatively and comprehensively biological systems at the molecular, cellular and network levels using various experimental and theoretical approaches. It proposes high quality core courses in chemistry and biology, and a broad range of specialized courses covering various topics at the chemistry/ biology interface. The track allows students to develop their creativity through various research projects and internships, and to learn the latest discoveries and innovations at the chemical frontiers of living matter through privileged interactions with faculty members.
Prerequisites
The Chemistry & Life Sciences track is a two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) at the interface between Chemistry and Biology. Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree in Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Biochemistry or equivalent.
Please note that the Master is taught in English.
Educational program
60 ECTS per year, including a 20 weeks/6 months internship during the second semester (30 ECTS). Courses are mainly given from September to January (S1 or S3). Students following the CSDV track from the M1 can choose courses on S1, S2 and S3.
Full syllabi: Click HERE!!
Course Title |
Language | Timetable | ECTS |
| Mandatory Courses | 42 | ||
| Master C&LS Seminar Series | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Current Challenges at the C&LS Interface (M1 or M2) | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Research design and project conception (only M2) | eng | 60 | 6 |
| Internship in laboratory or equivalent (Feb.-July) | – | 20 weeks | 30 |
| CSDV Courses 12-18 ECTS to validate among 6 courses | 12/18 | ||
| Chemical Biology for probing life and discovering drugs | eng | 30 | 6 |
| Les médicaments issus des biotechnologies | fr | 60 | 6 |
| Médicaments : des robots et des hommes | fr | 60 | 6 |
| Statistical mechanics for complex chemical and biochemical systems | eng | 32 | 6 |
| Systems Chemistry of Living and Synthetic Matter | eng | 60 | 6 |
| Valorisation des bioressources | fr | 60 | 6 |
| Optional Courses 0-6 ECTS to validate among 32 courses | 0/6 | ||
| Advanced Chemistry (S2) | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Advanced Magnetic Resonance (solid-state EPR and DNP NMR) | eng | 14 | 2 |
| Analytical and biological chemistry: Basic concepts in cellular biology and enzymology (S2) | eng | 15 | 2 |
| Analytical and biological chemistry: Bioimaging (S2) | eng | 15 | 2 |
| Analytical and biological chemistry: Bioinorganic chemistry (S2) | eng | 15 | 2 |
| Analytical and biological chemistry: Modern analytical chemistry for biology and medical diagnosis (S2) | eng | 15 | 2 |
| Analytical chemistry (S2) | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Bio-inorganic chemistry | eng | 32 | 4 |
| Biologie Cellulaire I | fr | 35 | 6 |
| Biologie Cellulaire II | fr | 60 | 6 |
| Chemical Biology and Molecular Biotechnology (S2) | eng | 33 | 3 |
| Data Analysis | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Epigenetics: from biological phenomena to molecular mechanism | eng | 60 | 6 |
| Frontiers in microbial systems | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Fundamentals in biomaterial Science | eng | 24 | 3 |
| Fundamentals of biochemistry | eng | 24 | 2 |
| Inorganic Chemistry | eng | 40 | 6 |
| Inorganic spectroscopies | eng | 14 | 2 |
| Interface Physics Biology (S2) | eng | 33 | 3 |
| Microbiologie appliquée et bioprocédés | fr | 60 | 6 |
| Molecular biology & genetics | eng | 39 | 6 |
| Nuclear Magnetic Resonance | eng | 32 | 4 |
| Optical microscopy : principles and applications | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Organic chemistry I | eng | 40 | 6 |
| Organic chemistry II | fr | 40 | 6 |
| Physicochimie analytique pour la bioanalyse et l’environnement | fr | 12 | 2 |
| Principles in tissue engineering | eng | 21 | 3 |
| Scientific communication | eng | 20 | 3 |
| Soft Matter (S2) | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Statistical Learning: Statistics, Modelling and Machine Learning | eng | 30 | 3 |
| Synthetic Chemistry and Application (S2) | eng | 33 | 3 |
| Thermodynamique statistique | fr | 40 | 6 |
| TOTAL | 60 | ||
General information
Master track’s Academic Director: Mathieu MOREL (ENS – SU), Mathilde LEPOITEVIN (ENS – PSL)
Program type: Initial training and executive education
Main teaching language: English
Learning outcomes
The program Chemistry & Life Sciences aims at training highly motivated students interested in interrogating quantitatively and comprehensively biological systems at the molecular, cellular and network levels using various experimental and theoretical approaches. It allows students to develop their creativity through various research projects and internships, and to learn the latest discoveries and innovations at the chemical frontiers of living matter through privileged interactions with PSL faculty members.
Career opportunities
This program leads to a large number of opportunities, including:
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- Academic research (PhD, postdocs)
- Private sector research, development and production
- Medical research
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Scientific patenting
- Consulting
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Association of ChemistrY and Life Sciences (ACYLS)
A group of highly motivated students and alumni of the Master created the Association of ChemistrY and Life Sciences (ACYLS)! They help the new students each year feel well integrated into the program.
Find out more about their story, mission, team and resources: ACYLS
Contact: acyls.psl@gmail.com
Admission process: Please visit the Master website on PSL website
For more info you can contact the heads of the program:
mathieu.morel@ens.fr
mathilde.lepoitevin@ens.fr