“General and Medical Biochemistry” Study Programme

Admission:

An applicant for the program must have a bachelor's degree in any natural science major and pass an exam in "General Biology and Biochemistry" major.

Admission is conducted according to the admission regulation of YSU master's degree programme (full- and part-time education mode)․

See also: http://www.ysu.am

Aim of the programme:

To prepare specialists with fundamental theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in the professional fields of biochemistry and general medicine, who are able to carry out professional activities in biochemical, clinical-laboratory, medical-diagnostic, immunological and medical-genetic fields as well as in scientific research institutions.

Learning outcomes of the programme:

After the successful completion of the programme student will be able to:

Professional knowledge and expertise:

• Describe the possible molecular mechanisms of enzyme activity regulation and interaction with different ligands in organ systems.
• Elucidate the principles of metabolic regulation, formulate the structure of metabolic pathways in different pathological conditions․
• Explain the effect of individual chemotherapeutic agents and xenobiotics on the organism.
  
• Formulate the biochemical characteristics of microbes in relation to solving modern problems in biotechnology.

Professional practical skills:

• Carry out detection of clinically relevant compounds and study of the dynamics of change in various pathological conditions and under the influence of various stress factors.
• Analyze age-related characteristics of pharmacotherapy and evaluate biochemical processes taking place in body in normal and pathological conditions.
• Use biochemical indicators to assess the quality and safety of plant-based products.
• Carry out research and experimental work with various biological objects, process the results of research with statistical analysis and present them in the form of reports and scientific publications.

General (transferable) skills:

•  Present the possibilities of solving current professional issues and the expediency of various methods in the course of biochemical studies, as well as prepare scientific reports and presentations and conduct academic debates.
• Analyze facts and make new proposals; use the obtained knowledge not only in scientific-educational institutions but also in medical and industrial establishments; design business proposals.
  

The curriculum:

The curriculum is available at the following link․

Future career opportunities for graduates:

Graduates of the programme can work in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, food and chemical industry as well as in education, in particular, in biochemical laboratories of medical clinics, plants producing medicine, food or product quality assurance or control and biological monitoring services, expert organizations, scientific research laboratories, occupying the following positions:

• In clinical laboratories –  researcher, medical doctor-biochemist, supervisor of research, head of laboratory, head of working group.
• In pharmaceutical factories, food or product quality assurance or control and biological monitoring services,
•  In expert organizations – biochemist, expert, laboratory manager, service manager, consultant, etc.
• In scientific research institutes – researcher, supervisor of research, laboratory manager, head of working group.

Possible work places for graduates:

• Institutes of the NAS of the RA (Institute of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Research and Production Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, etc.), RA Ministry of Health, RA Ministry of Agriculture, RA Ministry of Environment and organizations subordinate to them,
• Laboratories of clinical and industrial enterprises, organisations producing medicine, food or product quality assurance or control and biological monitoring laboratories and services,
• Faculty of Biology of YSU and relevant chairs of other universities,
• Various international organizations (World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Philip Morris International Science (PMI Science), Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST).

Learning support resources and forms:

The programme is implemented by the Chair of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology in collaboration with newly established Microbial Biotechnology and Biofuels Innovation Center, enhanced with state-of-the-art equipment, chemical reagents and accessories as well as modern computer technology. The main teaching staff of the chair has been trained in the leading universities of the USA, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Bulgaria and Russia.

The rich literature of the YSU library, including educational methodological manuals published in recent years as well as 2 international exchange study programs cooperating with the universities of Germany and Norway and operating in the chair, research groups with state thematic funding and scientific-research programmes, which include students as well, funded by foreign grants, provide for the education of students.  

Find more about the details of the center by following the link: