Subjects

The modules in traditional Biology degree programmes typically reflect how scientists discovered and learnt about biological phenomena. They begin with the organisms as a whole, their anatomy, physiology, and eventually - in later semesters - introduce the molecular basis of biological activities. In contrast, QuantBio takes a bottom up approach. You will first learn about the building blocks of life and the fundamentals of molecular mechanism, followed by the rules underlying genetic variation. You will then learn to understand how cells interact, within an organism in embryonic development, and across organisms in microbial ecology. Once these fundamentals have been studied, you arrive at organismic physiology in the fifth semester. This course structure will help you to develop a mechanistic understanding of biological principles, providing you with a solid intuition on which you can build future discoveries.

Chemistry and biology go hand in hand. The first three semesters teach the chemical principles that govern how biological molecules interact and function, beginning with a characterization of biomolecules, followed by an exploration of how their interactions result in a functioning cell, and then diving into metabolic pathways and how chemical laws control cell bioenergetics. The modules emphasize the quantitative aspects and the use of models to gain deeper understanding. This chemical foundation is central to the understanding not only of microbial cells, but also of the structure and function of tissues, organs, and organisms.

Biological knowledge by itself is not enough to understand the latest research advances in the life sciences. Today, a strong basis in mathematical fundamentals, the physics governing the various biological processes, along with a solid understanding of mathematical modelling and a sound toolkit of data science methods is necessary to make a mark in this field. The corresponding modules of QuantBio teach the mathematical methods with a clear focus on their application to biological phenomena.

Much of today's data in biological and medical research is high-throughput, making computers essential for any comprehensive analyses. QuantBio thus also emphasizes the acquisition of skills in bioinformatics. In the first semester, you will learn to write computer programs, preparing you for later modules that introduce important computer algorithms and modern methods of biological data analysis. Computers are also central to data science - the art of analyzing complex data - and machine learning, which is increasingly used to make sense of multi-dimensional data.

While virtually all modules of the first five semesters are interdisciplinary in their design, there are three modules that focus specifically on the integrative nature of biology, where advances in knowledge are typically built on technological progress.