Training Structure
College of Sciences
Overview
The IBION-Tec program offers students the opportunity to acquire skills at the intersection of engineering and life sciences. This Master’s specialization is clearly positioned at the intersection of biology, physics (including electronics), and chemistry. It broadens students’ skill sets to include innovative and high-performance techniques such as biotechnology and nanobiotechnology, facilitating their transition into research centers and industry. This specialization provides a foundation of expertise in the field of biomolecular detection applied to diagnostics.
Its strength lies in covering a wide range of fields in research and development, in the areas of diagnostics and traceability, from the molecular scale to the industrial process scale.
This master’s program focuses on the design of innovative tools for diagnostics and traceability. This “design component” of the program spans both years of study, providing students with access to various technology platforms and lab facilities. The goal is to collectively bring a project to the feasibility stage—or even to develop a prototype—for one innovation per year in the field of detection techniques.
Citizens’ quality of life is at the heart of the training program, which takes into account food security and access to healthcare within the context of sustainable development.
IBION-Tec's goal is to develop diagnostic and detection tools for traceability (in the medical, agricultural, food, and other sectors) in accordance with European regulations.
For more information about this course and its content, visit https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/ibion-tec/
Objectives
This training covers four main areas of focus:
- Verification of the identity of organisms (prokaryotes/eukaryotes) and of the products used or consumed, including their quality.
- Detection of chemical and biological contaminants in the environment and food.
- Combating Fraud in Industrial Food and Non-Food Products
- Conducting Innovative Projects at the Intersection of Public Research and Industrial Development
This program is particularly unique at the regional level and is also expected to attract students from across the country and internationally.
The master's program teaches students the scientific method through:
- learning through hands-on activities (pesticides, active biomolecules, identification using molecular markers, etc.) conducted over one to two weeks, with the participation of researchers, biostatisticians, and information specialists.
- learning through innovative projects carried out over the two years of the program (50 hours in the first year and 100 hours in the second year). The projects are developed and managed by the students. From concept to feasibility, each innovative project must lead to the design of a prototype. The projects are fully supervised by the University through its commercialization office.
- Preparation for the internship: Learning how to write a report or a research synthesis paper (outline, style, bibliography, figures, tables, captions, discussion of results, appendices, abstract in English).
- The five- and six-month M1 and M2 internships in public or private research laboratories (working in a professional setting, applying good laboratory practices, conducting experiments, collecting data that must be processed, statistically analyzed, and interpreted; preparing a literature review; writing and presenting a thesis; defending one’s work within a time limit before a panel of researchers and engineers, etc.). These two internships allow students to gain their first professional experience.
Expertise and Skills
This program provides a pathway to careers in both the business world and research. Careers that stem from this program include:
- Design Engineer in Diagnostics and Detection
- Traceability Management Engineer
- Head of the Testing Laboratory
- R&D Project Manager
Types of jobs available beyond strictly technical skills :
- Production Manager
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Manager
- Research and Development Engineer
- Traceability Management Engineer
- Dental Hygienist
Organization
Program
The IBION-Tec program spans four semesters, each consisting of course units (UE) awarded ECTS credits. It follows the L3 Life Sciences program. It is a participatory, student-centered learning program.
The first year (M1) of the program is primarily devoted to the initial stages of the innovative project that forms the foundation of the program. The 5-month internship rounds out the M1 program by providing students with their first hands-on laboratory experience. Through the courses offered over the course of the two semesters, the M1 year also serves as a time for students to acquire the fundamentals of nanotechnology.
The second year (M2) is devoted to organizing the annual BIOTRACE conference, which focuses on communication and collaboration with the professional community. The M2 marks the completion of an innovative project: Students have two weeks to conduct experiments leading to a proof of concept or feasibility study. The 6-month internship provides professional experience aligned with the student’s career goals.
The list of courses that make up the program can be found on the Master’s program website at https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/master-biologie-agrosciences/ibion-tec/
Select a program
M1 - Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology (IBION-Tec)
Biostatistics with R
5 creditsPlurisciences Interface
6 creditsPreparation for the internship and transition into the workforce
2 creditsInnovative Project 1
3 creditsCHOICE 1
6 creditsChoose one of the following two options:
EU OPTION 2
6 creditsChoose 2 out of 5
Food and Environmental Microbiology and Toxicology
6 credits
Protein Bioengineering for Traceability 1
3 creditsImmunotechnology (PHARMACY Course Unit)
5 credits
Plurisciences 2 Interface
4 creditsProject Management
3 creditsInnovative Project 2
3 creditsM1 Internship
12 creditsPollution in Agro-Environmental Systems
3 creditsNew Generations of Analysis
5 credits
M2 - Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology (IBION-Tec)
Biosensors and Microdevices
2 creditsBioinformatics
3 creditsNanotechnologies for Health (Pharmacy Program)
2 creditsSensors and Instrumentation
3 creditsInnovative Project 3
11 creditsCHOICE 1
3 creditsChoose 1 of 3
Bioethics and Regulation (Pharmacy Program)
3 creditsDiagnostics and Traceability in Healthcare
3 creditsVirology
3 credits
Formulation of Biopharmaceuticals and Biomaterials (PHARMACY Course)
Project Management and Conferences
3 credits
Protein Bioengineering for Traceability 2
2 creditsCreation - Entrepreneurship and Value Creation
2 creditsM2 Internship
21 creditsDevelopment and Implementation of R&D Projects
5 credits
Admission
Registration Procedures
Applications can be submitted through the following platforms:
French and European students:
- For the M1 program, follow the “My Master’s” procedure on the website: https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For the M2 program, students must submit their application through the e-candidat portal: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature
Target Audience
The IBION-Tec Master's program is open to bachelor's degree holders with a minimum background in biology, chemistry, and physics, such as:
- Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, with a concentration in Biochemistry or Cellular and Molecular Biology, or a concentration in Biotechnology and Traceability, Biotechnology;
- Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry.
Mandatory Prerequisites
Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Immunology, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry
Recommended Prerequisites
Quality Management, Electronics
And then
Continuing Education
According to data from the former Dtec-Bio master's program, 30 to 60 percent of students go on to pursue a Ph.D. Of these, approximately 30 to 40 percent are CIFRE scholarship recipients.
We encourage students—particularly those interested in pursuing a career in entrepreneurship—to continue their studies with a year-long specialization in management and business administration (IAE program).
Students may also continue their studies by enrolling in a Master's 2 program in Bioinformatics or Quality Management.
Continuing Your Education Abroad
Internships can be completed abroad (the former Dtec-Bio Master’s program recorded, depending on the year, between 1 and 5 M1 and/or M2 internships abroad—in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and England).
Transition Programs and Reorientation
Our M1 students can switch to the Master's programs in Health Biology, IBIS, and BIOTIN.
Employment Placement
Starting in the M1 program, our specialization places great emphasis on equipping our students with the best possible tools for their job search, namely: business knowledge, career planning, traceability applications, European legislation, quality management, project management, and organizing a workshop in the M2 program. All of these topics are incorporated into specific course units that provide students with the essential guidance and foundation for their transition into the workforce.