Biotechnology (MSc)

Location(s): Main Campus

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Master of Science in Biotechnology

Program Website: Biotechnology

Field(s) of Specialization

Chemical Biotechnology
Gene Biotechnology

Faculty and Administration

For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.

Program Description

The graduate programs offered by the Centre for Biotechnology encompass the broad fields of chemical and gene biotechnology. These fields are interdisciplinary in nature and collaboration between participating faculty and departments is encouraged. Chemical Biotechnology involves the use of the tools and techniques of chemistry to understand and manipulate biological processes. Gene biotechnology involves the use of DNA technology, bioinformatics and microbiological techniques to study biological phenomena. Graduates of these programs work in such areas as pharmaceuticals and related human health activities, food science and nutritional biochemistry, environment, energy, as well as biotechnological related issues of finance and policy.

Research Fields

The following research fields are currently represented:

CHEMICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Chemical Biotechnology involves the use of the tools and techniques of chemistry to understand and manipulate biological processes. The emphasis in the description of a new field such as Chemical Biotechnology, and its distinction from the existing discipline of biochemistry, lies in the utilization of the core skills and knowledge of chemistry (from synthetic, analytical and physical approaches) to address phenomena of biological interest.

The chemical biotechnologist has the capability to choose a biological problem, the chemical skills to tackle it, and an appreciation that chemistry impacts upon the biology as biology directs the chemistry in an interactive manner. This would, for example, describe an organic chemist who chooses a target molecule for synthesis because it represents a novel structure for a biologically important goal such as enzyme inhibition or receptor binding. The research is then guided by an iterative procedure of bioassay and structure activity relationships, efforts that require knowledge of the biological systems involved, including metabolism, enzyme/protein structure and function, in addition to cellular and molecular biology.

Research areas in the Chemical Biotechnology field include:

Molecular design, synthesis and fermentation technology

Theoretical, computational, synthetic and applied approaches to the design and biosynthesis of molecules used to investigate and/or modify biological systems.

Biocatalysis: the use of whole cells and/or enzymes to effect chemical transformations. Small molecule catalysis: the design of small molecule chiral catalysts with enzyme like activities, synthetic enzymes.
Design of key molecules/intermediates for the manipulation of biosynthesis, metabolism or signal transduction. This would include pharmacophore discovery, drug design and delivery, investigation into molecular modes of action.

Structure and dynamics of macromolecules

Physical and theoretical approaches to understanding structure and function of macromolecules with biotechnological applications.

Structural characterization by mass spectrometry, NMR, EPR, specialized RAMAN, IR and optical spectroscopic techniques.
Spectroscopic and theoretical investigations of macromolecular dynamics. Steady state and time resolved NMR, EPR, and optical absorption and emission spectroscopy. Focus on protein and lipid dynamics, protein and lipid interactions, protein conformational changes associated with enzymatic activity, active site dynamics, redox active enzymes and mechanisms of electron transport. Photoactive enzymes and mechanisms of photochemistry. Computer-based molecular modeling techniques applied to biological molecules.

GENE BIOTECHNOLOGY

Gene biotechnology involves the use of DNA technology, bioinformatics and microbiological techniques to study biological phenomena. Molecular biologists, biochemists, chemists and microbiologists increasingly employ such tools to understand the basic concepts in molecular biology. The power of gene biotechnology lies in the ability of a researcher to isolate, manipulate, study, modify and reintroduce genes into organisms. Such modification is deliberate and can answer specific questions that were impossible to address only a few years ago.

Research Areas in the Gene Biotechnology field include:

Regulation of gene expression

The characterization and manipulation of genes and factors that influence gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Genetic Engineering

Isolation, analysis, modification and re-introduction of genes into organisms with emphasis on gene expression, protein modification, and protein secretion.

Facilities

The Centre for Biotechnology uses research laboratories in the Departments Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (Inniskillin Hall). The major equipment holdings include:

In Biological Sciences: Greenhouse, cold rooms, incubators, centrifuges, radiation facilities and all routine equipment necessary for biochemical research, cell culture, and gene manipulation.
In Chemistry: Three high field NMR spectrometers with solid probe facility, electron spin resonance, mass spectrometers with EI, FAB, electrospray, APCI, and CI ionization and GC and LC inlets, ICP analysis equipment, routine UV, IR, GC, HPLC facilities, incubator and sterile environment facilities.
In Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute: Cold rooms, centrifuges, standard molecular biology equipment for purification, analysis and use of proteins and nucleic acids including next-generation sequencing; and fermentation equipment up to the pilot plant level.

All Brock students are entitled to computer accounts at no charge. These provide for internet and E-mail access, storage space on a central Unix server, and access to the Library, its catalogue and various on-line library services and databases. Students also have access to all campus wide PC and Mac labs, and the software installed on their servers, including word processing, spread sheets, data base, graphics, statistics etc. In addition to the central resources, there are typically one or more networked PCs or Macs in each research lab and in the central instrumentation service labs. Local and networked printers are available. Most major instrumentation is also networked, permitting the movement of experimental data from lab to office. Students may also access a dedicated computer lab that provides powerful molecular modelling/semi-empirical/ab-initio software and other important scientific software.

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of an Honours Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, normally with an average of not less than 78%, or the equivalent grade point average in major courses in an undergraduate program in biotechnology, chemistry, or the biological sciences (composed of but not limited to biochemistry, biology, genetics, or microbiology).

Agreement from a faculty advisor to supervise the student is also required for admission to the program.
The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.
For students who are required to provide proof of English Language Proficiency, a full listing of accepted English Language Proficiency tests is available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs English Language Proficiency webpage.
Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.

Degree Requirements

The program is designed to provide a broad background in the cognate basic disciplines of biotechnology (chemistry and biology). Students with undergraduate degrees in chemistry or the biological sciences will be exposed to the breadth of biotechnology through mandatory participation in the seminar program and will have the opportunity to focus on selected areas of biotechnology in other graduate courses.

Each student will be assigned a supervisory committee composed of three members from the departments participating in the program. The student will meet with the committee at the start of their program, and on a regular basis, at minimum intervals of six months, for the duration of their program of study. Each meeting will involve the presentation by the student of a report on research objectives and progress, and discussion with the committee on the realization of these goals.

Additional credits may be required of candidates with insufficient preparation in their areas of research specialization, at the discretion of the supervisory committee.

Total required credits of program: 3.0

Required Courses:

BTEC 5F90 - MSc Thesis to be taken each term
- As part of this course, every MSc candidate must prepare and defend a thesis which demonstrates a capacity for independent work of acceptable scientific calibre.

BTEC 5P95 - Graduate Seminar I
- As part of this course, each student must present one research level public seminar during their tenure in the program.

Elective Course Options:

Three additional half-credits are required:

Two of which must be numbered 5(alpha)00 or higher; and,
One of which may be numbered 4(alpha)00 or higher.

Normally, only one of these three additional half-credit courses may be taken from among 5(alpha)00 or 4(alpha)00 level courses offered by the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry or Physics, which are not cross-listed with the Biotechnology program. For a full list of graduate course offerings by subject area, please refer to the Courses tab in the navigation menu.