MSc in Systems Biology

在过去的4年里，华威系统生物学博士培训中心开发了为期一年的系统生物学硕士课程，其中包括6个月的密集教学材料，涵盖系统生物学的实验和理论方面，然后是两个为期12周的研究项目，一个是基于实验实验室的项目，另一个需要理论方法。理学硕士培养的学生积极性很高，他们掌握了系统生物学研究所需的跨学科技能，并具备了与其他学科的同事成功沟通的能力。到目前为止，大多数硕士学生都是在EPSRC和BBSRC DTC和DTA计划下获得资助的，大多数人都在华威大学完成了MSC培训并获得了3年的博士学位。到目前为止，已有32名学生获得了系统生物学硕士学位，今年我们正在培训另外16名学生，其中包括一名自费学生，四名BBSRC SABR计划资助的学生和一名MRC DTG计划资助的学生。新生通常拥有某一学科的本科学位，要么是理论(数学、物理、工程、计算机科学)，要么是生物学(生物、生物化学、医学、植物科学、生物信息学)。在攻读理学硕士期间，他们获得了研究水平的专业知识，掌握了采用系统方法解决具有挑战性的生物学问题所需的补充技能。培训内容包括生物、数学、生物信息学、计算机科学、建模和编程。每个学生学习8个模块，从11个模块中选择：这些模块的选择取决于学生的背景(参见课程规范文档)。特别是，为了确保学生在原来的学科中接受高级培训，以及在新学科中接受入门培训，学生被分配到生物学或理论课程，以选择模块。为了培训系统生物学的理论方法，生物学家选修了数据分析和定量生物学的统计学，而具有理论背景的生物学家选修了统计生物信息学和高级建模和统计学的高级课程。对于生物学的培训，理论流遵循密集的入门生物学课程，使他们熟悉生物学术语和过程。本课程介绍细胞、分子、分子技术等，并包括一些基本的实验室实践。生物学课程选择了一门更高级的生物学课程，它非常强调批判性阅读，以理解已发表的文献，并学习与非生物学家交流。模块选择中有一定程度的灵活性。例如，如果学生在生物信息学方面有很强的背景，但数学技能有限，他们将被鼓励选择统计生物信息学模块，而不是统计学入门课程。大多数模块构成了一个核心，供所有学生学习。这些课程提供系统生物学研究所需的广泛主题的培训，如编程(R和MatLab)；微阵列分析(包括学生自己做实验，然后使用先进方法分析数据的实用方法)；显微镜方法和图像分析；生物数据分析和建模的数学方法。一个关键的模块是生物系统，其中有来自沃里克大学不同系统生物学项目的实验者和理论家的“双重账单”演示。这使学生对大学的系统生物学研究有了深入的了解，并展示了系统生物学方法在分析生物学问题方面的价值。本单元以学生为他们选择的系统生物学主题撰写一份助学金申请为高潮。

Over the last 4 years the Warwick Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centre has developed a one-year MSc in Systems Biology that involves 6 months of intensive taught material spanning experimental and theoretical aspects of Systems Biology followed by two 12-week research projects with different supervisors, one in an experimental laboratory based project and the other requiring theoretical methods. The MSc generates highly motivated students who have mastered the interdisciplinary skills required for Systems Biology research and who have acquired the ability to successfully communicate with colleagues from other disciplines. To date, most of the MSc students have been funded under EPSRC and BBSRC DTC and DTA initiatives and most have followed the MSC training with a 3 year PhD at Warwick. So far, 32 students have graduated with an MSc in Systems Biology and this year we are training another 16, which include one self funded student, 4 students funded under the BBSRC SABR initiative and one student funded under an MRC DTG initiative. The incoming students usually have undergraduate degrees in one discipline, either theoretical (mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science) or biological (biology, biochemistry, medicine, plant science, bioinformatics). During the MSc they acquire research-level expertise in the complementary skills required to take systems approaches to solving challenging biological problems. The training comprises biology, mathematics, bioinformatics, computer science, modelling and programming. Each student takes 8 modules, chosen from 11 available: the choice of these is based on the student's background (see Course Specification document). In particular, to ensure that students receive advanced training in their original discipline as well as introductory training in the new discipline, students are allocated to either a biology or theoretical stream for a selection of the modules. For training in the theoretical methods of Systems Biology the biologist stream takes Statistics for Data Analysis and Quantitative Biology while those with theoretical backgrounds take advanced courses in Statistical Bioinformatics and Advanced Modelling and Statistics. For training in Biology, the theoretical stream follows an intensive introductory biology course to familiarise them with biological terms and processes. This course provides an introduction to cells, molecules, molecular techniques etc and includes some basic laboratory practicals. The biology stream takes a more advanced biology course, which has a strong emphasis on critical reading to understand published literature and learning to communicate with non-biologists. There is a degree of flexibility within the module choices. For example if students have a strong background in Bioinformatics but limited Mathematics skills they would be encouraged to take the Statistical Bioinformatics module instead of the introductory statistics course. The majority of modules constitute a core that is taken by all the students. These provide training in a wide range of topics necessary for Systems Biology research such as programming (R and MatLab); microarray analysis (including a practical in which the students do their own experiments followed by analysis of the data using advanced methods); microscopy methods and image analysis; mathematical methods for analysis and modeling of biological data. A key module is Biological Systems in which there are 'double bill' presentations from the experimentalist and theoretician involved with different Systems Biology projects at Warwick. This gives the students an insight into the Systems Biology research in the University and shows the value of the Systems Biology approach to analyse a biological problem. This module culminates with the students writing a grant application for a Systems Biology topic of their choice.