Pharmacology and Biotechnology MSc

Sheffield Hallam University

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.

Course summary

• Work in state-of-the-art facilities on exciting practical projects.
• Explore the fundamental principles of molecular pharmacology and biotechnology.
• Enhance your laboratory skills from experimental design through to interpretation of results.
• Learn how to synthesise new drugs, or produce them from genetically modified microorganism.
• Develop as an autonomous learner capable of reflecting on learning, knowledge and professional practices.

This course has been designed to respond to the increasing need for professional pharmacologists and biotechnologists. You'll learn to translate laboratory medical research into clinical applications, and study topics such as diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of disease. Throughout, you'll learn to apply medical biotechnology, biopharmaceutics and drugs.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

On this course, you’ll work with researchers and academics who are expert and renowned in the field, and do so in cutting-edge industry-standard facilities.

You’ll tackle theoretical topics including pharmacology and advanced cell biology, as well as technical topics such as sub-cloning, cell culture and quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR)

Research skills and statistical analysis are developed throughout the program and applied to pharmacological and biotechnological problems or case studies. New elements of Genomics and Proteomics have been introduced, which allow you to apply basic science knowledge and skills to experimental study design. Modules may include Fundamentals of Laboratory Practice, Cell Biology and Applied Laboratory Practice.

You learn through:

• lectures and seminars
• a programme of laboratory classes
• a full semester research project

Applied learning

Laboratory experience and research project

All practical classes are led by academic staff whose research incorporates the latest pharmacological and biotechnological techniques.

Practical skills are developed throughout the course and you gain experience in molecular biology techniques such as quantitative real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), sub-cloning and cell culture.

Core to the program are practical classes where you gain experience in a range of the latest techniques used in the determination of essential pharmacological parameters.

Research skills and statistical analysis are developed throughout the program and applied to pharmacological and biotechnological problems or case studies. New elements of Genomics and Proteomics have been introduced allowing students to apply basic science knowledge and skills to experimental study design, and management and data analysis.

You will have the opportunity to conduct a semester-long investigative research project within the biomedical field. This work will take place in cutting-edge, industry-standard laboratories and teaching labs under the supervision of world-renowned active research staff.

This work will be aligned with the current research interests of an academic member of staff within our specialist Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre. The project will include a critical review of the literature relevant to your research project, the development of a project proposal, design of research methods and the analysis, presentation and interpretation of experimental data.