ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Presentation
The Plant Biology for the Agro-Environment (BiPa) program offers a multidisciplinary training program focused on knowledge generated from major study models such as Arabidopsis thaliana, but also from cultivated plants that are now established as true models (rice, corn, etc.). Our training covers all plant-related topics (adaptation of plants to climate change, developmental biology, mineral nutrition, ecophysiology, plant-microorganism interactions). In addition to the classical approaches of biology, we also emphasize modeling and bioinformatics, disciplines that are currently essential for the valorization of the massive data generated on a daily basis.
For more information on this course and its content, go to https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/biologie-des-plantes/biologie-des-plantes-pour-lagro-environnement/
Objectives
This master's degree is both generalist and high level. Our objective is to provide you with broad general knowledge, but also with advanced knowledge in the plant field. In the long term, this master's degree will allow you to continue your training in fundamental or applied research, or to concretize your professional project related to the problems of modern agriculture.
This master's degree also aims to make you autonomous in order to facilitate your integration into the professional world through dedicated teaching units (management and project management) and numerous projects organized in groups proposed in the different teaching units.
Our goal is to give you the best knowledge and opportunities to become the researchers and engineers of the coming years, who will be able to respond to the scientific and societal challenges related to the plant world (basic science, biotechnologies, climate change, agro-ecology).
Know-how and skills
Disciplinary Skills:
- Know the tools of integrative biology: mutagenesis, transgenesis, direct and reverse genetic approaches, OMICS approaches
- Knowing the basics of epigenetics
- Know the basics of plant-microorganism interactions
- Acquire the basics in statistics, bioinformatics and modeling
- Master the cellular, molecular and physiological aspects governing the functioning of cells in their environment, the developing plant and its adaptation to environmental constraints
Cross-Cutting Skills:
- Be able to propose disciplinary and multidisciplinary strategies, both independently and as part of a team, to study a complex scientific problem
- Understand, criticize and apply a scientific and experimental approach Know how to search for scientific information (databases, scientific publications)
- Ability to synthesize and present scientific results (projects, reports, oral presentations with a jury)
- Build a professional project, write a CV, cover letters
- Acquire a good experience in the research environment (public, private).
Organization
Internships, tutored projects
Internship | Mandatory |
|---|---|
Duration of the course | 4 months (M1) and 6 months (M2) |
Internship abroad | Possible |
Duration of the internship abroad | identical to the duration in France |
Our pedagogical team has a very large network of internship opportunities (4 months in M1 and 6 in M2) that correspond to your scientific or professional project, whether locally in Montpellier, in France or abroad. Each internship is evaluated in writing (internship report) and orally (presentation to a panel of experts).
It also offers two courses entirely dedicated to project management in relation to science, with the aim of developing the ability to organize work around a project conducted alone or in a team.
Program
The course Biology of Plants for the Agro-Environment (BiPa) includes 4 semesters (120 ECTS) with some Teaching Units (UE) shared with the 3 other courses (MEV, BPT, IPM) and others specific to the BiPa course. The list and details of the content of each of the UEs of the master is available on the website of the Faculty of Sciences.
The first semesters of M1 and M2 are devoted to the courses and tutorials of the different UEs. The second semesters are mainly dedicated to an internship (in a laboratory or in a company) in line with the student's professional project. A study or internship mobility (ERASMUS), over one or two semesters, is greatly facilitated thanks to the very large network of partnerships between the University of Montpellier and European universities. It should be noted that all the practical work of the different courses is grouped together in a dedicated course at the very beginning of semester 2 in M1.
The BiPa training program is available on the web page: https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/master-biologie-agrosciences/biologie-des-plantes/
Select a program
M1 - Plant Biology for the Agro-environment (BiPa)
Biostatistics with R
5 creditsPlant Cellular and Molecular Biology
3 creditsPlant development
5 creditsPlant-Microorganism Interactions
5 creditsBasics of ecophysiology
2 creditsPlant molecular genetics
5 creditsEnvironmental adaptation and signage
3 creditsPlant nutrition
2 credits
Bioinformatics: Data and Databases
2 creditsBibliographic synthesis
2 creditsInternship 4 months
15 creditsExperimental approaches to plant biology
5 creditsProject management
3 creditsCHOICE 1
3 creditsYour choice: 1 of 2
Gene networks-Modeling
3 creditsImprovement of tropical and Mediterranean plants
3 credits
M2 - Plant Biology for the Agro-environment (BiPa)
Thematic school
3 creditsMineral nutrition adaptation of plants to abiotic constraints
3 creditsEpigenetics in plants
3 creditsModel plants, modeling
3 creditsBigOmics, comparative genomics
2 creditsEcophysiology: from phenotype to ideotype
2 creditsQuantitative genetics
3 creditsData processing
3 creditsCHOICE 1
3 creditsChoice of 1 of 3
Adaptation of tropical field crops to climate change
3 creditsPlants and Men, a shared history
3 creditsVirology
3 credits
BioInformatics: building queries
2 creditsProject management
3 credits
Admission
Conditions of access
Applications are made on the following platforms:
- French & European students: follow the "My Master" procedure from the website: https: //www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For the M2, the student will have to submit his or her application via the e-candidat application on the website of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Montpellier.
Applications are studied by a pedagogical committee made up of the main teachers of the Master's program.
Successful candidates must complete their administrative registration as soon as possible, and then proceed to a pedagogical registration indicating the nature of the teaching modules chosen.
Target audience
The Master BIPa is accessible to holders of a BiPAgro degree from the University of Montpellier or a general degree in Life Sciences or Cellular and Molecular Biology from other universities. The acceptance in Master is done on the quality of the file evaluated by the pedagogical team and our capacity of reception.
Necessary pre-requisites
Knowledge (Bachelor's level) in plant physiology, genetics, molecular and cellular biology.
Recommended prerequisites
Fundamentals of plant developmental biology.
Awareness of computer thinking and programming (e.g. R, Python or Unix)
And then
Further studies
The theoretical and practical training offered is mainly aimed at pursuing a doctorate in fundamental or applied research. Professional integration as an engineer in a public or private laboratory, or in a start-up company, are also among the possible outlets.
Continuing your studies abroad
During the two internships carried out as part of the master's program, students have the opportunity to gain experience abroad. This mobility can be an opportunity to join one of the many international Ph.D. programs (e.g. Gregor Mendel Institute (Austria); University of Tübingen (Germany), John Innes Center (United Kingdom), or to be recruited for a thesis at the end of the M2 internship in the host laboratory.
Professional integration
Graduates of our Master's program can go on to a career as a lecturer in a French, European or international university, as a researcher in a French (INRA, CNRS, IRD, CEA, CIRAD) or foreign public research organization, or in an R&D company in the field of plant sciences, in France or abroad.