Master's in Biology — Specialisation in Bioinformatics (Bioinf)

The specialisation in Bioinformatics provides a research-oriented education at the interface of biology, data science and computational modelling. It focuses on the quantitative analysis and interpretation of complex biological data arising from modern high-throughput technologies across multiple molecular layers. The programme combines a strong theoretical foundation in biostatistics, machine learning and data science with practical training in the analysis of real-world biological datasets. Students learn to formulate and evaluate statistical models, apply machine learning approaches, and critically interpret results in the context of biological systems. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the assumptions, limitations and interpretability of computational methods. The coursework consists of interactive lecture and reading courses that develop a deep conceptual understanding of probabilistic modelling, statistical inference and machine learning, complemented by project-based practical courses in which students work with multidimensional and heterogeneous biological data. These include, for example, sequencing-based measurements, imaging data and integrative multi-omics datasets. Through this combination of theory and application, students acquire the ability to translate biological questions into computational models and to derive meaningful insights from data. The programme prepares graduates for independent research in academia as well as for data-driven roles in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research and related industries.