Biology

specialisatie Biodiversity and Sustainability

The critical importance of biodiversity and the services provided by nature for our society is increasingly endorsed by national and international conventions. However, to implement the right policy measures for creating a sustainable society, a much better understanding of the biological processes involved is essential. By using 'sustainability' as a guiding principle, the programme provides you with an academic attitude by stimulating reflective, independent and creative thinking to support, conserve and manage biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem services.

The master's specialisation Biodiversity and Sustainability is a good match if you are a student with a BSc background in Biology or equivalent, and when you're interested in subjects such as the biological processes in relation with the environment and ecology.

specialisatie Biology and Education

The master's specialisation Biology and Education prepares you for a career as a teacher in secondary schools. After completion you obtained the qualifications to be a Biology teacher.

The master's specialisation Biology and Education optimally prepares you to teach the subject of biology to secondary school students, based on a solid background of high quality research in biology. The programme comprises a one-year Biology component, followed by an education component in the second year. This master's specialisation uniquely enables you to make a relevant impact on society by educating today's secondary school pupils for tomorrow's challenges in the field of biology.

Do you want to fascinate our younger generations for the field of biology? Are you aiming for a career as a modern and flexible teacher? Then, the Biology and Education master's specialisation is the right choice for you. After completion, you will have obtained your teacher qualification, which is required for employment as a biology teacher in Dutch secondary schools. You can also participate in the World Teachers Programme for international teaching. As the main education component is taught in Dutch, all applicants must provide proof of proficiency in Dutch language.

specialisatie Biology and Business Studies

Business Studies bridges science and business by focusing on areas such as technology management, innovation, entrepreneurship, operations and decision making. In this master's specialisation you combine Biology research with Business Studies. You will learn about analytical frameworks and skills for managerial decision making. The emphasis of the business specialisation is on the application of these frameworks and skills in the context of R&D-intensive organisations. After completion, you have obtained the necessary knowledge and skills to take on managerial responsibilities in your work.

Do you pursue a management career in industry from a Biology research perspective? Do you want to learn all about technology commercialization and business development? Then, Biology and Business Studies is the master's specialisation of choice for you. It enables you to broaden your scope outside biology research. The specialisation offers training that is analytically rigorous and connected to practice through class discussions based on real-life business cases, company visits, guest speakers, and an internship experience.

specialisatie Biology and Science Communication and Society

The Biology and Science Communication and Society master's specialisation focuses on the interaction between science and society.

Increasingly, the general public wants to be and needs to be informed about scientific topics. At the same time, scientists need to show accountability to the general public about their research. In this specialisation you bridge the gap between experts and the public by combining high quality research in biology with extensive training in science communication. After completion you have obtained the necessary knowledge and skills to either become science communicator with a strong biology background, or a biologist with a communicating mindset.

Do you want to bridge the gap between scientific research and the public? Do you want to combine high quality biology research with professional science communication? Then, this master's specialisation is an excellent opportunity for you. You will be prepared for a career as a science or health communicator, policy maker, PR officer, science journalist, health officer, museum educator or a researcher with a communicating mindset.

specialisatie Evolutionary Biology

Evolutionary changes over time and study the origin and maintenance of biological variation all over the tree of life. The mechanisms that drive the adaptation of organisms and their features are investigated at all biological levels. Thus, the specialisation includes genomics, functional developmental genetics, paleobiology, behavioral biology and evolutionary ecology. The important contribution of Naturalis to the programme makes this specialisation particularly attractive.

If you are interested in gaining state-of-the-art knowledge of all aspects of evolutionary biology, this master's specialisation is the right choice. You will be prepared for a PhD programme or research positions at universities or institutes.

specialisatie From Cells to Organisms

An important aspect of this specialisation is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying health and disease and how cells and organisms adapt to environmental factors ranging from light, stress and pathogens to ecological and social conditions. Model organisms include bacteria, fungi, plants and animals (invertebrates and vertebrates). The subject areas covered encompass functional genomics, signal transduction, cellular differentiation, development, host-microbe interactions and animal behaviour.

The master's specialisation From Cells to Organisms is a good match if you interested in subjects in the molecular, cellular and organismal levels of research. More in general, this master specialisation is ideally suited as a basis for starting a research career at a university or research institute and for a position in a bioscience-based company.

specialisatie Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

Through courses and research projects, students are trained by experts in the areas of molecular biology, microbiology, plant genetics, cellular imaging, animal disease models, and various -omics technologies and the corresponding bioinformatics. Attention is paid to the application of these techniques to biotechnology, i.e. how studies on model organisms can be translated to improve crops or human health.

The master's specialisation Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology is a good match if you interested in subjects as genetics, molecular- and microbiology, cellular imaging, and biotechnology. More in general, this master specialisation is ideally suited as a basis for starting a research career at a university or research institute and for a position in a bioscience-based company.

honours-/excellence program Leiden Leadership Programme

The Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP) is an honours programme of 15 ECs on top of the regular master's curriculum. The programme consists of training courses, seminars and a practical assignment.

Are you looking for an extra challenge in addition to your Leiden master's programme? Are you adventurous enough to look beyond the borders of your own master's programme? The Leiden Leadership Programme may be just what you are looking for. The programme gives you the opportunity to develop your leadership skills. You will follow seminars and courses, as well as carrying out a practical assignment for a company or organisation as part of a small, multidisciplinary team. Your lecturers will be leading academics and experienced professionals from the business sector.

Students can apply who have:

• Good study results in the bachelor's programme;
• The ambition and motivation to develop leadership qualities;
• A broad and interdisciplinary span of interest.