Graduate research activities leading to the presentation of the M.Sc. Thesis involve original experimental work in one of the areas being actively investigated by the Department's research supervisors. Our graduate program offers training in a personal, unique, and multidisciplinary environment in a top Canadian university with worldwide recognition. The thesis-based Master's training is intended for students with a B.Sc. or B.A. degree in life sciences from a university of recognized reputation. Candidates with an M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M. degree are also welcome. Students are trained in how to address biological problems with an integrative understanding of cell biology by conducting hypothesis-driven projects. The training provides all the tools required for successful careers in academic settings as well as in industry or other fields.

Graduate research activities leading to the presentation of the Ph.D. thesis involve original experimental work in one of the areas being actively investigated by the Department's research supervisors. Our graduate program offers training in a personal, unique, and multidisciplinary environment in a top Canadian university with worldwide recognition. The thesis-based Ph.D. training is intended for students with a B.Sc., B.A., or M.Sc. degree in life sciences from a university of recognized reputation. Candidates with an M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M. degree are also welcome. Students are trained in how to address biological problems with an integrative understanding of cell biology by conducting hypothesis-driven projects. The training provides all the tools required for successful careers in academic settings as well as in industry or other fields.

The M.Sc. in Biochemistry introduces students to laboratory-based research at an advanced level. The M.Sc. program offers core courses in advanced biochemistry topics, but focuses on laboratory research. The program provides sophisticated training in the technical as well as theoretical aspects of biochemistry, at one of the leading Biochemistry departments in Canada. The M.Sc. program is an excellent preparation for skilled positions in the biomedical sciences, in industry or the public sector, or for superior research in a Ph.D. program.

**This program is currently not offered.**

Bioinformatics research lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. The intention of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics.

Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option at the M.Sc. level will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field.

The option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses and a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field.

**This program is currently not offered.**

The Chemical Biology Thematic Group is engaged in a diverse range of research topics, which span structural biology, enzymology, nucleic acid research, signalling pathways, single molecule biophysics, and biophysical chemistry of living tissues. Among the themes that unite the research being performed in this group is the attempt to learn new chemistry and physics from biological systems. We have projects relating to pharmaceutically relevant enzymes such as those involved in drug metabolism and antibiotic resistance; development of therapeutic agents in the control of inflammation, cancer, and viral infections; the chemical biology of NO; quantification of bioenergetic markers of metabolism; self-assembly mechanisms of the HIV-1 virion capsid; liposome microarray systems to address membrane protein dynamics and recognition; studies on reactive oxygen species translocation across the aqueous/lipid membrane interface; RNAi/antisense technologies; dynamic combinatorial chemistry; protein dynamics and function; mechanistic aspects involved in cellular adhesion and transport in membrane and zeolite channels; and cutting-edge microscopes used to examine transport, motility, and reactivity in cells.

The Chemical Biology graduate option is centred on the pursuit of an original research project under the direction of one or more mentors. The program is supported by McGill University and by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through its Strategic Training Initiatives program.

The program of training incorporates several important features, including a diverse curriculum and programs of seminars, workshops, and discussion groups designed to provide students with a well-rounded exposure to both the chemical and biological aspects of the discipline. The M.Sc. option provides a foundation in the concepts and approaches of Chemical Biology.

The Ph.D. in Biochemistry trains students in laboratory-based research at the highest level. The Ph.D. program is streamlined to emphasize independent research, and the many areas of biochemistry studied in our Department offer a wide choice of specialties. Students gain in-depth expertise in biochemistry and the biomedical sciences, with the opportunity to carry out research projects at a world-class level and build collaborations with other leading research groups.

Graduates of the Ph.D. program are outstandingly prepared for leadership careers in the basic health sciences in industry, the public sector, or academia.

**This program is currently not offered.**

Bioinformatics research lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. The intention of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyse datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating Bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics.

Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option at the Ph.D. level will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field, and have the capability of developing an independent Bioinformatics research program.

The option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses and a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field.

**This program is currently not offered.**

The Chemical Biology Thematic Group is engaged in a diverse range of research topics which span structural biology, enzymology, nucleic acid research, signalling pathways, single molecule biophysics, and biophysical chemistry of living tissues. Among the themes which unite the research being performed in this group is trying to learn new chemistry and physics from biological systems. We have projects relating to pharmaceutically relevant enzymes such as those involved in drug metabolism and antibiotic resistance; development of therapeutic agents in the control of inflammation, cancer and viral infections; the chemical biology of NO; quantification of bioenergetic markers of metabolism; self-assembly mechanisms of the HIV-1 virion capsid; liposome microarray systems to address membrane protein dynamics and recognition; studies on reactive oxygen species translocation across the aqueous/lipid membrane interface; RNAi/antisense technologies; dynamic combinatorial chemistry; protein dynamics and function; mechanistic aspects involved in cellular adhesion and transport in membrane and zeolite channels; and cutting-edge microscopes used to examine transport, motility, and reactivity in cells.

The Chemical Biology graduate option is centred on the pursuit of an original research project under the direction of one or more mentors. The program is supported by McGill University and by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through its Strategic Training Initiatives program.

The program of training incorporates several important features, including a diverse curriculum and programs of seminars, workshops, and discussion groups designed to provide students with a well-rounded exposure to both the chemical and biological aspects of the discipline. The Ph.D. option provides advanced training in Chemical Biology based on independent research.

Financial support for students in the program is available from a variety of sources, including competitively awarded CIHR-funded Chemical Biology Scholarship awards.

The M.Sc.(Applied) in Translational Biomedical Engineering; Non-Thesis is a full-time specialized 13- to 16-month professional program in translation biomedical engineering. This is an intensive program that focusses on the biomedical engineering industry through a comprehensive curriculum covering essential skills and knowledge needed to translate biomedical engineering research into clinical and commercial solutions.

The program consists of three main components that are unique to the translational process in biomedical engineering, including: 1) translational course on intellectual property, regulatory affairs, quality management systems, clinical trials and reimbursement; 2) fundamental science courses in biomedical engineering; and 3) an experiential component, comprising of a closely supervised 4-month internship in the biomedical engineering industry.

None of the courses taken in the Graduate Certificate in Translational Biomedical Engineering can be credited towards the M.Sc.(Applied) once the Graduate Certificate has been awarded.

This program will enable students to translate advances in biomedical engineering research to clinical and commercial solutions. Students will learn the complementary skills needed to take early-stage research results from the bench to the bedside and bridge the gap between invention and product innovation.

The graduate certificate responds to the demand from students for such training and addresses the needs of the biomedical industry for such highly qualified personnel.

The Graduate Certificate program, being a 15-credits program, is suitable for Canadian students and students with the Canadian Permanent Residency only.

For additional information, see the Biomedical Engineering website.

McGill University offers specialized education in bioethics to graduate students in the Faculties of Medicine and Law, the School of Religious Studies, and the Department of Philosophy. The Master's degree Specialization in Bioethics is an interdisciplinary academic program that emphasizes both the conceptual and the practical aspects of bioethics.

**This program is currently not offered.**

Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option at the M.Sc. level will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field. Bioinformatics research lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. The intention of the Bioinformatics Option is to train students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases and the use of algorithms and statistics.

Enrolment in the Bioinformatics option can only be approved after a student has been admitted into the Department. There is an agreement for the option that must be signed by the student, supervisor, and Department, and enrolment in the option is subject to space availability and other constraints that the Department cannot assess at the time of admission. For more information, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.

The M.Sc. in Genetic Counselling program provides the academic foundation and clinical training required for the contemporary practice of genetic counselling. Genetic counsellors are health professionals who provide information and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders and to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions. Genetic counsellors investigate the problem present in the family, analyze inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence, and review available options with the family. Some counsellors also work in administrative and academic capacities, and many engage in research activities.

The curriculum includes a variety of required courses in human genetics and other departments, and 40 weeks of supervised clinical training spread over four semesters. Graduates will be eligible to sit for both the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors and the American Board of Genetic Counselling certification examinations. Upon completion of the M.Sc. in Genetic Counselling program, students will demonstrate competence in, or satisfactory knowledge of: principles of human genetics, including cytogenetics, biochemical, molecular, and population genetics; methods of interviewing and counselling, and the dynamics of human behaviour in relation to genetic disease; and social, legal, and ethical issues in genetics. Enrolment will be limited to four students.

The Department of Human Genetics provides a unified curriculum of study in genetics. Areas of specialization include: biochemical genetics, genetics of development, animal models of human diseases, cancer genetics, molecular pathology, gene therapy, genetic dissection of complex traits, genetics of infectious and inflammatory diseases, non-Mendelian genetics, bioinformatics, behavioural genetics, neurogenetics, bioethics, and genomics. Many of our faculty hold cross-appointments in various departments (including: biochemistry, biology, cardiology, medicine, microbiology, immunology, neurology, pathology, pediatrics, pharmacology, psychiatry) within the Faculties of Science and Medicine. This enables numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The Department conducts research on all sites of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, the McGill Life Sciences Complex, the McGill University & Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, the Biomedical Ethics Unit, and the Centre for Genomics and Policy.

**This prgram is currently not offered.**

Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option at the Ph.D. level will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field and have the capability of developing an independent Bioinformatics research program. Bioinformatics research lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. The intention of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics.

Enrolment in the Bioinformatics option can only be approved after a student has been admitted into the Department. There is an agreement for the option that must be signed by the student, supervisor, and Department, and enrolment in the option is subject to space availability and other constraints that the Department cannot assess at the time of admission. For more information, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.

The primary goal of this program is to provide students with unique opportunities to learn experimental designs and fundamental research techniques, and objectively synthesize information from scientific literature. These tools enable the students to focus on major research topics offered by the Department: molecular microbiology, mycology, microbial physiology, virology, genetics, immunology, drug design, and aspects of host–parasite relationships. Each M.Sc. student chooses their preferred major research area and research supervisor. Following an interview, the student is presented with a research topic and offered a studentship (amounts vary). Each student must register for our graduate courses (two seminars, two reading and conference courses). If pertinent to the student’s research program, the research advisor may advise the student to take additional courses.

Most of our students, after one year, are proficient researchers, and some first authors of a research publication. M.Sc. students may fast-track to the Ph.D. program after three terms of residency. The remaining students advance their microbiology background by opting to enter into medicine, epidemiology, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical disciplines.

The primary goal of the Ph.D. program is to create a self-propelled researcher, proficient in experimental designs and advanced methodologies applicable to the varied and rapidly changing disciplines in microbiology and immunology. Close research supervision and bi-weekly laboratory sessions impart the requisite research discipline and objective assessment of acquired or published research data.

A Ph.D. student, if promoted from our M.Sc. program, without submitting the thesis, is required to register for one additional graduate seminar and one additional reading and conference course, but the bulk of their time is devoted to research. Other requirements include a yearly presentation of the accumulated research data to the Ph.D. supervisory committee, successfully clearing the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, two years after registration into the Ph.D. program, and finally submission of a thesis. The research theme must be original, and the acquired data and hypothesis must be defended orally by the student. Each student receives a stipend for the entire duration and a minimum six-semester residency is required for the completion of the program.

The objective of the M.Sc. (Thesis) and Ph.D. degree training programs is to provide in-depth independent research experience in a specific area of pharmacology. The program leading to a master’s degree is designed to provide students the opportunity to acquire knowledge in pharmacology, to conduct a research project, to analyze data, and to write a thesis. Students will also receive essential training in research professionalism and scientific communication.

The M.Sc. in Pharmacology: Environmental Health Sciences focuses on the interplay between the environment and health. Environmental health research is highly interdisciplinary; students will be given the opportunity to acquire a broad environmental perspective on exposure sciences, hazard screening methodologies, epidemiological approaches, health implications of environmental quality, and policy approaches.

The objective of the M.Sc. (Thesis) and Ph.D. degree training programs is to provide in-depth independent research experience in a specific area of pharmacology. The program leading to a doctoral degree is designed to provide students the opportunity to acquire knowledge in pharmacology, to conduct an original research project, to analyze data, and to write a thesis. Students will also receive essential training in research professionalism and scientific communication.

The Ph.D. in Pharmacology: Environmental Health Sciences program is designed to train professionals for advanced research, teaching, and leadership positions in environmental health sciences. The Option will add a distinct focus on the interplay between the environment and health research. Students will acquire a broad environmental perspective, including exposure sciences, hazard screening methodologies, epidemiological approaches, health implications of environmental quality, and policy approaches.

The Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Science Translational Research is an introduction to relevant clinical aspects of translating scientific discovery as a means of bridging the gap between research and application in clinical settings, while promoting future collaboration among scientists, clinicians, and clinician-scientists while promoting future collaboration. The program includes clinical mentorship.

The M.Sc. program is intended for students from an academic background wishing to pursue careers in academia, industry, or medicine. The multidisciplinary nature of the Department exposes students to a vast array of research interests and experimental approaches. Thesis work is available in a broad range of disciplines from molecular and cellular to systems physiology covering multiple organ systems. Students wishing to continue to the doctoral program have the option of transferring to the Ph.D., and waiving the M.Sc. thesis submission.

**This program is currently not offered.**

The intention of the Bioinformatics option is to train M.Sc. students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating of bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics. Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field. The option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses and a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field.

**This program is currently not offered.**

The Chemical Biology option is designed to expose students to aspects of drug design and development, as well as their application to the study of physiological and pathophysiological processes. In addition to thesis work with appropriate mentors, students will participate in lectures, seminar courses, and thematic workshops, all of which are designed to familiarize students with the current state of the field. This interdisciplinary approach will develop researchers interested in academic careers or in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

The doctoral program is intended for students from a strong academic background wishing to pursue research-intensive careers in academia, industry, or medicine. The multidisciplinary nature of the Department exposes students to a vast array of research interests and experimental approaches. Thesis work provides in-depth training in a broad range of disciplines from molecular and cellular to systems physiology covering multiple organ systems.

**This program is currently not offered.**

The intention of the Bioinformatics option is to train Ph.D. students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating of bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics. Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option will be fluent in concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field. The option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses and a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field.

**This program is currently not offered.**

The Chemical Biology option is designed to expose students to aspects of drug design and development, as well as their application to the study of physiological and pathophysiological processes. In addition to thesis work with appropriate mentors, students will participate in lectures, seminar courses, and thematic workshops—all of which are designed to familiarize students with the current state of the field. This interdisciplinary approach will develop researchers interested in academic careers or in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.