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MSc Biomedical SciencesMSc Biomedical Sciences

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Welcome to the programmeWelcome to the programme

Congratulations on your offer and welcome to MSc Biomedical Science.

The programme will involve seminars, taughtmodules and short projects in a wide range ofresearch laboratories attached to each of theProgramme themes.

Students will normally progress to a main PhD project in their chosen subject area.

There is a clear postgraduate ethos with a strongemphasis on student presentations and interactivediscussion with the tutors and their research groups.

Practical experience will be obtained through a miniproject which runs concurrently with each course anda wide choice of mini-projects is offered, specificallydesigned to provide experience of a wide range ofTechniques

We look forward to welcoming you to the programme

Prof Margarete MS Heck

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Margarete Heck holds a Personal Chair in Cell Biology and Genetics at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute (University of Edinburgh).

Born in Munich, her Bachelor’s degree was awarded from the State University of New York/Plattsburgh in 1981. She was a Fulbright Fellow at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, before pursuing her PhD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She carried out postdoctoral training at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, before starting her own research group in 1992 at Johns Hopkins Medical School. Professor Heck moved to the University of Edinburgh (College of Science & Engineering) to take up a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship in 1996. She then moved with a Wellcome Trust University Award to the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine in 2006.

Her research is focused on understanding the inner workings of the cell, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to identify novel, essential genes, and then furthering the analysis of these genes in human cells and zebrafish. Professor Heck is currently a member of the Council of the International Proteolysis Society.

margarete.heck@ed.ac.uk

Professor Margarete Heck-ProgrammeProfessor Margarete Heck-Programme Director Director

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Programme AimsProgramme Aims

This aim of the MSc by Research in Biomedical Sciences Programme is to prepare recent graduates with a strong degree in the sciences (biological, chemical or physical) for a PhD in the biomedical sciences.

The programme has 3 components:

1. In the first half of the year, students are given lectures, do seminar work (in which students present papers) and undertake laboratory projects (mini projects) in two research themes (see

http://www.gradlife.ed.ac.uk/post_opp/resindex/content.htm).

2. In the second half of the year, students choose a maxi project in a laboratory associated with one of their themes and first prepare a project plan (in the form of a grant application) and then do the project and write it up.

3. During the year, there are short skills courses and these

include: effective presentations; writing up science; project planning and ethics in scientific research.

Students also have the opportunity to attend research seminars across the University and so keep in touch with a very broad spectrum of biomedical research.

You will also have the opportunity to attend research seminars across the University, keeping in touch with a very broad spectrum of biomedical research.

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Course InductionCourse Induction

Details regarding your induction timetable can be found at The below link. If your programme is not on the list below please check again at a later date as the page will continue to be updated.

International OfficeInternational Office

If you are an International student and require further immigration advice, guidance and student support activities, please click on the screen shot (right) to go straight to our International Office’s home page

Programme Specific Induction Timetable

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Study offers clues on memory puzzle

Scientists have shed light on why it is easier to learn about things related to what we know than to learn about unfamiliar things.The team says this is a paradox, as very different things are arguably more novel, yet adding to what we already know is so much easier.Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Tokyo have found that building on existing knowledge activates a key set of genes in the brain. These ‘plasticity’ genes do not respond so well to subjects about which we know very little, making it harder for us to form new memories about unfamiliar topics.

Read More

Pharmatics wins inaugural Bioquarter innovation prize

Pharmatics Limited, creators of novel software intended to reduce the time required for drug development, has won the Edinburgh BioQuarter Innovation Competition2011.Pharmatics was founded by Dr Felix Agakov and Professor Paul McKeigue to address the challenges of exploiting vast arrays of modern biological data to speed up discovery and testing of new drugs. "By applying cutting edge machine learning techniques, we reduce very complex data to a handful of the most promising factors”, said Dr Agakov. Read More

Latest College News Latest College News

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Scans capture spider's heart beat

Intricate scans of tarantulas reveal for the first time in detail how their hearts beat. The MRI scans, which show blood flowing in and out of a spider’s heart, suggest the way in which a spider’s heart functions is much more complex than previously thought. Read More

New home for world-leading Institute

Scientists at a new £60 million institute are to tackle challenges such as how to feed the world’s growing population.Researchers from The Roslin Institute at the University have taken up residence in a new purpose purpose-built centre with partners from the SAC (Scottish Agricultural College). Read More

Nanotubes pose health risk, study showsTiny fibres used to strengthen items such as bike frames and hockey sticks could pose risks to workers who make them.Certain types of carbon nanotubes - cylindrical molecules about one-thousandth of the width of a human hair - could cause cancer in the lining of the lung, University research shows. Read More

Latest College News Latest College News

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Life in EdinburghLife in Edinburgh

Find out why Edinburgh is regularly voted as one of

the most desirable places to live in the world.

Nightlife

Culture

Festivals

Eating

Sports/Activities

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Keep up to date with all the latest news from MSc One Health, The College, as well as Induction and Enrolment information from our Social Communities

MSc One Health

University of EdinburghMedicine/Vet Medicine Taught MSc Offer Holders 2011

PostgradMedVet@Edin

University of EdinburghLinked in

University of Edinburgh College Of MedicineAnd Veterinary Medicine Postgraduate Experience Video

Online Social CommunitiesOnline Social Communities

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We have created a brand new website, just for new students such as yourself who are about to enrol with us in September. Here you’ll find arrival information as well as some tips and advice. Click on the screen shot (right) to learn more.

New Mobile University of Edinburgh APPU@Ed is a mobile application for students, which gives access to a range of personalised information direct to mobile devices. It enables students to stay informed with the ease and convenience that mobility brings. University of Edinburgh is the first of a group of leading universities in the UK to roll out a student mobile campus, helping students access comprehensive information on the go. Read More.

New Students Website/Mobile APPNew Students Website/Mobile APP

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Student BlogsStudent Blogs

http://explorecmvm.blogspot.com/

Follow the College’s student ambassadors and their experiences at the University of Edinburgh

Callum JohnstoneCurrent PhD student studying aspects of Dementia. Follow his blog at: http://callumjohnston.blogspot.com/

Xin MaCurrent PhD student studying causes of Alzheimer'sdisease.Follow her blog at: http://florazgnd.blogspot.com/

Hillary DaltonCurrent MSc student in Applied Animal behaviour andAnimal Welfare.Follow her blog at: http://www.hillarydalton.blogspot.com/

Vicky YoungCurrent PhD and MBA student, studying reproductive health

Current MSc student in Biomedical Sciences.Follow her blog at: http://yangxiying.blogspot.com/

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Congratulations on your offer!

We are here to provide any advice and support thatwe can to make sure your journey to the University of Edinburgh is a pleasant one.

If you have any queries or require any advice please do not hesitate to contact us and we would be happy to help.

We look forward to welcoming you to the University and City of Edinburgh

Kind RegardsBarry ConnollyCustomer Relationship ManagerPostgraduate OfficeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine The University of Edinburgh

The Chancellor's Building Room SU22149 Little France CrescentEdinburgh EH16 4SBTel +44(0)131 242 6518Barry.Connolly@ed.ac.uk

Guidance and SupportGuidance and Support