The vigorous development of Systems and Synthetic Biology constitutes a huge challenge that must be met both from the research and education perspectives. M2 SSB represents the first step towards nurturing a new brand of researchers and engineers to face up to the challenge.
During the first semester, from September to end of January, students must attend 5 core compulsory modules and 5 elective modules (chosen among 12), for a total of 30 European Credits (ECTS). Refresher courses in either biology or mathematics and computer science are also proposed.
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.
Information
Skills
- Apply engineering approaches to biology.
- Design, model and predict the behavior of biological synthetic parts, circuits and chassis.
- Recommend and execute experimental plans to engineer and test synthetic biological systems.
- Integrate concepts and technologies across disciplinary boundaries.
- Conceive and develop collaborative research work within interdisciplinary teams with applications in Systems & Synthetic Biology (iGEM).
- Anticipate the economical and societal challenges of synthetic biology to plan future career paths.
Objectives
The aim of M2 SSB 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, modeling 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.
Career Opportunities
Career prospects
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: engineer (R&D, control, production, etc.)
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: researcher or lecturer
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: engineer (research and development, control, production, etc.) in the fields of health, pharmaceuticals, agri-food, biotechnologies, instruments and reagents, cosmetics, pollution control and the environment.
Sectors of activity: fundamental or applied research in Biology, Health or Ecology in academia or the private sector
After a Master's + PhD: researcher or lecturer
After a Master's or Master's + PhD: engineer (Research & Development, control, production, etc.)
Design/research engineer in an R&D department in the ophthalmic industry
After a Master's degree: Data scientist
After a Master’s degree: Research analyst
R&D Engineer
R&D Project Manager
R and D Project Manager
Project Manager
Design engineer in the industrial sector
Design engineer in the research / scientific sector
Design engineer industry / public research
Academic staff
Design Engineer
Research & Development Engineer
Research and Innovation Manager
Project Manager
Production Engineer
Project manager in biotechnologies, biotherapies or healthcare innovation
Research & Development Engineer
Private-sector companies, including agricultural production
Manufacturing Process (CAM) Technician
Production Technician
Product Development Technician
Laboratory Manager
Research or Design Engineer
Research professions
Lecturer (after a PhD)
Design Engineer
Research Engineer
Design Engineer
Research Engineer
Development Engineer
Further Study Opportunities
Biology-Agrosciences
R&D researcher or data modelling and analysis expert in leading-edge companies or laboratories.
Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Ingénieur·e en Machine Learning dans des secteurs innovants (tech, finance, santé, énergie, etc.) ;
PhD
PhD in Bioinformatics
PhD in Chemistry / Biology
Interdisciplinary PhD in Sustainability Science (many disciplines possible)
Engineering, research and development
Students with a 2nd year Master's degree have the possibility to pursue doctoral research.
PhD thesis
Admission Route
Capacity
Available Places
Target Audience and Entry Requirements
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 curriculums including biology is favored, but highly-achieving and motivated students in any of the cited disciplines can apply.
Application Period(s)
From 21/01/2026 to 04/07/2026
Supporting documents
Compulsory supporting documents
Motivation letter.
All transcripts of the years / semesters validated since the high school diploma at the date of application.
Curriculum Vitae.
Additional supporting documents
Letter of recommendation or internship evaluation.
Document at your convenience.
Every documents and achievements which could support the candidacy (report, case study, partnership prospectus, event creation, etc.).
VAP file (obligatory for all persons requesting a valuation of the assets to enter the diploma).
Recommendation letters.
Supporting documents :
- Residence permit stating the country of residence of the first country
- Or receipt of request stating the country of first asylum
- Or document from the UNHCR granting refugee status
- Or receipt of refugee status request delivered in France
- Or residence permit stating the refugee status delivered in France
- Or document stating subsidiary protection in France or abroad
- Or document stating temporary protection in France or abroad.
| Subjects | ECTS | Semester | Lecture | directed study | practical class | Lecture/directed study | Lecture/practical class | directed study/practical class | distance-learning course | Project | Supervised studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Biology | 0 | Semester 1 | 16 | 16 | 8 | ||||||
| Introduction to Mathematics and Computer Science for Biology | 3 | Semester 1 | 15 | 7.5 | |||||||
| Advanced introduction to Mathematics and Computer Science for Biology | 0 | Semester 1 | 7.5 | 10 | |||||||
| Innovation and entrepreneurship in biotechnology (IEB) | 3 | Semester 1 | 22.5 | ||||||||
| Subjects | ECTS | Semester | Lecture | directed study | practical class | Lecture/directed study | Lecture/practical class | directed study/practical class | distance-learning course | Project | Supervised studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Parts and Devices | 3.5 | Semester 1 | 11 | 9 | |||||||
| Genome Engineering | 3.5 | Semester 1 | 11 | 9 | |||||||
| Metabolic Engineering | 3.5 | Semester 1 | 12 | 8 | |||||||
| Synthetic Biology Practical Course | 5 | Semester 1 | 45 | ||||||||
| Biosafety and Epistemology Questions on Synthetic Biology | 2 | Semester 1 | 10 | ||||||||
| Subjects | ECTS | Semester | Lecture | directed study | practical class | Lecture/directed study | Lecture/practical class | directed study/practical class | distance-learning course | Project | Supervised studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell Factory Design | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 11 | 3 | 6 | ||||||
| Chips for Molecular Evolution | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| Computational DNA Nanotechnology | 2.5 | Semestre 1 | 18 | ||||||||
| Computational Protein Design | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 12 | 8 | |||||||
| Machine Learning in Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| Environmental Biotech and Upstream Processing | 2.5 | Semestre 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| Downstream Processing for Industrial Biotechnologie | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 9 | 6 | |||||||
| Nanobiology | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 12 | 8 | |||||||
| Network Systems: Modeling and Analysis | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| Rational Protein Engineering | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis for Next Generation Sequencing | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 10 | 10 | |||||||
| Cell-Free Systems | 2.5 | Semester 1 | 8 | 12 | |||||||
| Subjects | ECTS | Semester | Lecture | directed study | practical class | Lecture/directed study | Lecture/practical class | directed study/practical class | distance-learning course | Project | Supervised studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Internship | 30 | Semester 2 | |||||||||
