ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Presentation
The Plant Biology for Agro-Environment (BiPa) program offers multidisciplinary training focused on knowledge generated from major study models such as Arabidopsis thaliana, but also from cultivated plants that are now establishing themselves as true models (rice, corn, etc.). Our program covers all plant-related topics (plant adaptation to climate change, developmental biology, mineral nutrition, ecophysiology, plant-microorganism interactions). In addition to traditional approaches to biology, we also emphasize modeling and bioinformatics, disciplines that are currently essential for leveraging the massive amounts of data generated on a daily basis.
For more information about this course and its content, visit https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/biologie-des-plantes/biologie-des-plantes-pour-lagro-environnement/.
Objectives
This master's program is designed to be both generalist and high-level. Our goal is to provide you with broad general knowledge, as well as cutting-edge expertise in the field of plant science. Ultimately, this master's degree will enable you to continue your education in fundamental or applied research, or to pursue a career related to modern agriculture.
This master's program also focuses on helping you become self-sufficient to facilitate your integration into the professional world through dedicated teaching units (management and project management) and numerous group projects offered in the various teaching units.
Our goal is to provide you with the best knowledge and opportunities to become the researchers and research engineers of the future, capable of responding to the scientific and societal challenges related to the plant world (fundamental science, biotechnology, climate change, agroecology).
Know-how and skills
Disciplinary skills:
- Understanding the tools of integrative biology: mutagenesis, transgenesis, direct and reverse genetics approaches, OMICS approaches
- Understanding the basics of epigenetics
- Understanding the basics of plant-microorganism interactions
- Acquire the basics in statistics, bioinformatics, and modeling
- Mastering the cellular, molecular, and physiological aspects governing the functioning of cells in their environment, from the developing plant to its adaptation to environmental constraints.
Cross-functional skills:
- Know how to propose disciplinary and multidisciplinary strategies independently and as part of a team in order to study a complex scientific issue.
- Understand, critique, 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 to a panel)
- Developing a career plan, writing a resume, cover letters
- Acquire solid experience in the research field (public, private).
Organization
Internships, supervised projects
Internship | Mandatory |
|---|---|
Duration of the internship | 4 months (M1) and 6 months (M2) |
Internship abroad | Possible |
Duration of the internship abroad | same as the duration in France |
Our teaching team has an extensive network offering internship opportunities (4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2) that match your scientific or professional goals, whether locally in Montpellier, in France, or abroad. Each internship is evaluated in writing (internship report) and orally (presentation before a panel of experts).
It also offers two course units entirely dedicated to science-related project management, with the aim of developing skills in organizing work around a project carried out alone or in a team.
Program
The Plant Biology for Agro-Environment (BiPa) program comprises four semesters (120 ECTS credits) including certain teaching units (UE) shared with the three other Plant programs (MEV, BPT, IPM) and others specific to the BiPa program. The list and details of the content of each of the master's program's teaching units can be found on the Faculty of Sciences website.
The first semesters of the M1 and M2 are devoted to lectures and tutorials in the various course units. The second semesters are mainly dedicated to an internship (in a laboratory or company) in line with the student's career plans. Study or internship mobility (ERASMUS), for one or two semesters, is greatly facilitated by the extensive network of partnerships between the University of Montpellier and European universities. It should be noted that all the practical work for the various course units is grouped together in a dedicated course unit at the very beginning of semester 2 of M1.
The BiPa training program can be viewed on the website: https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/master-biologie-agrosciences/biologie-des-plantes/
Select a program
M1 - Plant Biology for Agro-Environment (BiPa)
Biostatistics with R
5 creditsPlant Cellular and Molecular Biology
3 creditsPlant development
5 creditsPlant-Microorganism Interactions
5 creditsFundamentals of ecophysiology
2 creditsPlant molecular genetics
5 creditsAdaptation to the environment and signage
3 creditsPlant nutrition
2 credits
Bioinformatics: Data and Databases
2 creditsBibliographic summary
2 credits4-month internship
15 creditsExperimental approaches to plant biology
5 creditsProject management
3 creditsOPTION 1
3 creditsChoose one of two options:
Gene Networks—Modeling
3 creditsImprovement of tropical and Mediterranean plants
3 credits
M2 - Plant Biology for the Agro-Environment (BiPa)
Mineral nutrition: plant adaptation to abiotic stresses
3 creditsAnalysis of differential gene expression
3 creditsSignaling school, dyna
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 creditsBioinformatics: building queries
2 creditsProject management
3 credits
Admission
Admission requirements
Applications can be submitted on the following platforms:
- French and European students: follow the "Mon Master" procedure on the website:https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For M2 students, applicants must submit their application via the e-candidat application on the website of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Montpellier: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature/
Applications are reviewed by an academic committee comprising the main teachers on the Master's program.
Successful applicants must complete their administrative registration as soon as possible, then proceed with their academic registration, indicating the nature of the teaching modules chosen.
Target audience
The BIPa Master's program is open to holders of a BiPAgro bachelor's degree from the University of Montpellier or a general bachelor's degree in Life Sciences or Cellular and Molecular Biology from other universities. Acceptance into the Master's program is based on the quality of the application, as assessed by the teaching team, and on our capacity to accommodate new students.
Mandatory prerequisites
Knowledge (bachelor's degree level) in plant physiology, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology.
Recommended prerequisites
Fundamentals of plant development biology.
Awareness of computer thinking and programming (e.g., R, Python, or Unix)
And after
Continuing education
The theoretical and practical training offered is primarily aimed at pursuing a PhD in fundamental or applied research. Other possible career opportunities include working as an engineer in a public or private laboratory, or a start-up.
Continuing studies abroad
During the two internships completed 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 for recruitment for a thesis at the end of the M2 internship in the host laboratory.
Professional integration
Graduates of our Master's program can pursue careers as lecturers at French, European, or international universities; as researchers at French (INRA, CNRS, IRD, CEA, CIRAD) or foreign public research organizations; or in R&D companies in the field of plant sciences, in France or abroad.