Master in Molecular Ecology (Two Year)

Would you like to answer ecological questions using molecular techniques? This unique master’s programme in Molecular Ecology will teach you how to do so while allowing you to combine ecology studies with molecular biology, bioinformatics and systems biology. This new interdisciplinary field will provide you with several career opportunities.

About the programme

Molecular ecology combines ecological data with molecular biological techniques to address ecological topics such as:

• Discover and characterize new species
• Measure the relationship between species and populations
• Track environmental toxins and diseases in different ecosystems
• Identify invasive species
• Identify genetic diversity within endangered species to develop conservation strategies.

Molecular ecology is an interdisciplinary master’s programme that combines the fields of ecology, molecular biology and bioinformatics. At the University of Skövde, we offer you a two-year master’s programme in Molecular ecology, where fieldwork as well as advanced laboratory and computer-based techniques are prominent parts of the studies.

The focus of your studies

Semesters 1 and 2

The main focus of the first two semesters is scientific and laboratory knowledge in molecular biology and areas that contribute necessary methods for studies in molecular ecology. You will learn to plan and perform laboratory experiments and interpret and analyse the generated data using bioinformatics and biostatistics. Laboratory techniques used include PCR, mutagenesis, cloning, qPCR and protein expression.

You will also be introduced to current research specialisations, theories, applications and scientific methods within molecular ecology, with specialisation in conservation biology and environmental monitoring. The second semester also includes advanced studies in systems biology and multivariate analysis.

Semesters 3 and 4

During the second year of the programme, you will study next-generation sequencing and applied molecular ecology. The second semester along with the first half of the third semester will give you a strong foundation in methodologies used in the analysis of ecological research data.

The program is concluded with a master’s degree project (45 credits) in systems biology, with a focus on molecular ecology. The project starts halfway through the third semester and continues through the fourth. In the master’s degree project, you will solve a relevant research problem within molecular ecology, allowing you to combine your previously gained theoretical knowledge and practical laboratory skills.

The project work is performed individually under the guidance of a qualified supervisor, at the University of Skövde, or externally at another university, company or agency.

Molecular ecology is an international Master’s programme, and all courses included in the programme are conducted in English.