mSSB

Aims of mSSB

The vigorous development of Systems and Synthetic Biology constitutes a huge challenge that must be met both from the research and education perspectives. mSSB represents the first step towards nurturing a new brand of researchers and engineers to face up to the challenge.

The aim of mSSB is to provide students from the Life Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering, Chemistry, Physical and Computer Sciences a mean to fruitfully engage in collaborative work across disciplinary boundaries, with applications in Systems & Synthetic Biology. Students undertaking the course will gain hands-on experience in experimental Biology, modelling and designing. They will also enhance transversal capacities including planning a project, giving a seminar, perceiving the industrial, economical and ethical issues associated with these developing fields.

 

Added values of mSSB

  • The first Master 2 in France teaching Synthetic Biology
  • Scientific environment:
    • Paris region, the first European R&D concentration;
    • Genopole® of Evry, the leading French Biopark, with 21 academic laboratories and 71 biotech companies
    • University Paris-Saclay
    • Excellent research facilities offered on-site
    • World-class research training laboratories
  • International environment
  • Limited number of stipends offered to foreign students
  • First row seat in the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition
  • Partnership with French leading engineering schools AgroParisTech, CentraleSupelec and SupBiotech

mSSB is part of:

Program Overview

Teaching language

is English unless all the students are all French-speakers.

 

1st SEMESTER (September to January) 

During the first semester, from September to end of January, students must attend 5 core compulsory modules and 5 elective modules (chosen among 11), for a total of 30 European Credits (ECTS).

Refresher courses in either biology or mathematics and computer science are also proposed.

Continue reading to find out all details

 

2nd SEMESTER (February to July) 

The second semester, from February to end of July, consists in a 6–months research training. Students may perform this internship in one of the academic laboratories or biotechnology companies located on site or elsewhere in France or abroad.

Continue reading to find out all details

 

Rules of examination

 

Applications

Entrance qualifications

Applicants may come from Universities or from Engineering schools.

  • After a first year of master (M1), or an equivalent qualification (4 years of successful higher education after finishing high-school), in either Biology, applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry or Physics.
  • Bi-disciplinary cursus including biology is favoured, but highly-achieving and motivated students in any of the cited disciplines can apply.
  • Excellent English proficiency is mandatory (no official document proving it is required).

Applications

The applications for 2025-2026 academic are open from January 15th to July 4th 2025.

Continue reading “Applications”

Contact

People in charge

contact (at) mssb (dot) fr

Director:

  • Ioana POPESCU, associate professor, University of Evry-Val-d’Essonne      

Deputy directors:

    • Matthieu JULES, professor, AgroParisTech      
    • Jean-Loup FAULON, professor      

Continue reading “Contact”