ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
The IMHE ʻInteractions Microorganismes-Hôtes-Environnementsʼ program is original and unique in the region, offering students both theoretical and research-based training in environmental and applied microbiology. Environmental microbiology covers the study of microorganisms (prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses) in ecosystems, whether or not associated with humans or animals.
The IMHE master's degree aims to provide in-depth knowledge of microbial systems, using an integrative approach that covers the study of microorganisms as cells, populations and communities in their environment, as well as interactions with their hosts (humans, animals, plants) and vectors. The course covers interactions at the molecular, cellular and microbial community levels, as well as the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on these interactions. It explores the role of microorganisms in the functioning of natural and anthropized ecosystems. The practical and finalized aspects of microbiology are also covered, in particular the applications of microbial biomass and diversity in the fields of agriculture, the environment, health and biotechnology.
Combinations of Teaching Units (TU) enable us to offer two profilesone focused on "Fundamental Research" (profile 1), while the other is more oriented towards "Research & Development" (profile 2). The program thus offers students the opportunity to meet a wide range of career goals, with a high placement rate for PhD students (40-50%) and direct job placement in companies on completion of the program. The program is open to apprentices.
The program is based on the region's strong research community in the field of microorganisms, and draws on the close involvement of researchers, teacher-researchers and industrialists from this community in Montpellier and the wider Occitanie region.
Key words: Microorganisms, Environmental microbiology, Microbial ecology, Microbiota, Emergence, Resistance, Adaptation, Symbiosis, Parasitism, (Meta)genomics, Microbial valorizations, Bacteria, Archaea, Viruses, Fungi, Eukaryotic microorganisms.
Website: https: //bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/interactions-microorg-hotes/
95%
Success rates
Objectives
The IMHE course aims to deepen knowledge of the diversity of microorganisms (prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses) and their interactions with their host(s) and their biotic and abiotic environment(s).
The specific objectives are :
- knowledge of microbial diversity and techniques for studying this diversity.
- understanding how microorganisms function and their role in the evolutionary history of living organisms.
- understanding the role of microorganisms in the functioning of ecosystems (natural and man-made), particularly in the context of the integrated "One Health" approach.
- understanding the environmental factors behind the dynamics and emergence of microorganisms as human, animal and plant pathogens.
- knowledge of possible applications for microbial biomass, including non-cultivable biomass, including new approaches to bioenergy, bioremediation and biological control.
The transversal objectives of the Biology-Agrosciences specialization are :
- an introduction to research and the research process.
- mastering bibliographic research and analysis with a critical scientific mind, writing reports and summaries, written and oral communication.
- compliance with legal, ethical and scientific rules relating to experimentation, publication and use of documents, sharing of biological resources and partnerships.
- mastery of statistical data analysis tools.
- fluency in written and spoken scientific English.
- the acquisition of professional experience through 2 long-term internships (4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2).
Organization
Open on a sandwich basis
This course is offered on a sandwich basis.
Internships, tutored projects
Internship | Mandatory |
|---|---|
Length of internship | 4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2 |
Internship abroad | Possible |
Duration of internship abroad | 4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2 |
Students complete two long-term internships (4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2) in a public or private research laboratory, or in a company, with a thesis and oral presentation before a panel of specialists.
Program
The IMHE program is divided into 4 semesters, each comprising a number of teaching units (UE) awarded ECTS credits (30 ECTS per semester). It offers a core curriculum and optional units, enabling two profiles to be proposed, one focused on "Fundamental Research" (profile 1), while the other is more oriented towards "Research & Development" (profile 2).
Profile 2 students (based on portfolio selection) can earn a double degree by taking 4 additional 5 ECTS courses offered by IAE Montpellier (2 courses per year, for a total of 20 ECTS). The program is open to apprentices.
The emphasis is on project-based teaching and pedagogical innovation. By pooling skills with the Faculty of Science's Bioinformatics master's program, and setting up a BioInfoLearning Lab (BILL), an innovative interdisciplinary learning laboratory, students are encouraged to take an active role in their training, managing a mini research project from A to Z (from field sampling to extraction, sequencing and analysis of microbial sequences, in M1) and valorizing their results (publication, conference presentation, in M2).
The first year of the M1 program forms the foundation of the training program, with the acquisition of the fundamentals of microbial ecology. The second year of the IMHE Master's program builds on the fundamental and applied knowledge and skills acquired in the first year. Students interact with numerous researchers who come to present their research work, focusing on molecular mechanisms of interaction between microorganisms and hosts (with a wide range of models), the role of microorganisms in ecosystems or their valorization.
Students work on bibliographic resources (research, comprehension, criticism and bibliographic synthesis) and pedagogical communication methods. They complete two long internships (4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2) in a public or private research laboratory, or in a company, with the writing of a dissertation and an oral defense before a jury of specialists.
Several courses are dedicated to professional integration, in which students work on their professional and personal projects.
Select a program
M1 - Microorganism-Host-Environment Interactions (MHEI)
The first year of the M1 program is the foundation of the training program, with the acquisition of the fundamentals of microbial ecology. It includes a core curriculum and optional courses, enabling two profiles to be offered: one focused on "Fundamental Research" (profile 1), while the other is more oriented towards "Research & Development" (profile 2).
The emphasis is on project-based teaching and pedagogical innovation. By pooling skills with the Faculty of Science's Bioinformatics master's program, and setting up a BioInfoLearning Lab (BILL), an innovative interdisciplinary learning laboratory, students are encouraged to take an active role in their training, managing a mini research project from A to Z (from field sampling to extraction, sequencing and analysis of microbial sequences, in M1) and valorizing their results (publication, conference presentation, in M2).
The course is designed to teach students how to conduct scientific research. Students work on bibliographic resources (research, comprehension, criticism and bibliographic synthesis) and pedagogical communication methods. In M1, they complete a 4-month internship in a public or private research laboratory, or in a company, with the writing of a dissertation and an oral presentation before a jury of specialists.
Biostatistics with R
5 creditsEnglish
5 creditsImmunity and genetics of microorganism interactions
Microbial ecology
6 creditsCHOICE 3
3 creditsChoice: 1 of 3
Emergences Resistances Adaptations
3 creditsCHOICE 1
6 creditsChoice: 1 of 3
Bioinformatics Learning Lab
2 creditsInternship preparation and professional integration
2 creditsMolecular microbial ecology 1
3 creditsMolecular microbial ecology 2
2 creditsM1 4-month internship
18 creditsCHOICE 4
3 creditsYour choice: 1 of 5
Integrative parasitology (UE Univ. Perpignan)
3 creditsMicrobiEAU
3 creditsBioenergy
3 creditsPollution in agri-environmental systems
3 creditsProject management
3 credits
M2 - Microorganism-Host-Environment Interactions (MHEI)
The second year of the IMHE Master's program builds on the fundamental and applied knowledge and skills acquired in the first year. Students interact with a large number of researchers who come to present their research work, focusing on themes such as the molecular mechanisms of interactions between microorganisms and hosts (with a wide range of models), the role of microorganisms in ecosystems or their valorization.
The course is designed to teach students how to conduct scientific research. Students work on bibliographic resources (research, comprehension, criticism and bibliographic synthesis) and pedagogical communication methods. They complete a 6-month internship in M2, either in a public or private research laboratory, or in a company, with the writing of a dissertation and an oral presentation before a jury of specialists.
Several courses are dedicated to professional integration, in which students work on their professional and personal projects.
The role of microorganisms in ecosystem functioning 2
3 creditsEnglish
3 creditsCHOICE 1
6 creditsYour choice: 1 of 2
CHOIX 5
6 creditsChoice of 2 from 6
Molecular and Cellular Bacteriology
Critical analysis and synthesis of scientific articles
6 creditsThe role of microorganisms in ecosystem functioning 1
3 creditsInteractions between microorganisms and their hosts
6 creditsResearch project
3 credits
CHOICE 2
30 creditsYour choice: 1 of 2
CHOICE 3
30 creditsChoice: 2 of 2
Professional networks and projects
3 creditsM2 laboratory internship
27 credits
CHOICE 4
30 creditsChoice: 2 of 2
M2 internship 5 months
25 creditsCreating and setting up R&D projects
5 credits
Admission
Access conditions
The IMHE program is open to students with a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences with a specialization in Microbiology, acquired in France or abroad. It can also be taken by students in medicine, pharmacy or dentistry, or by engineering students from biology and agronomy schools (such as Montpellier SupAgro/L'Institut Agro Montpellier) or veterinary schools.
How to register
Applications can be submitted on the following platforms:
French & European students :
- For M1, follow the "My Master" procedure on the website: https: //www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For M2, students must submit their application via the e-candidat application: https: //candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature
Target audience
The IMHE Master's degree is part of the range of training courses that follow on from the Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, with a specialization in Microbiology, offered by the University of Montpellier (Faculty of Science, Biology-Living Mechanisms Department). It is open to students with a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences with a specialization in Microbiology, acquired in France or abroad. It can also be taken by medical, pharmacy and odontology students, as well as engineering students from biology and agronomy schools (such as Montpellier SupAgro/L'Institut Agro Montpellier) or veterinary schools.
Necessary prerequisites
Microbiology, Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology at Licence level.
Recommended prerequisites
A minimum level of computer skills and English is recommended.
And then
Further studies
At the end of M2, students can take competitive entrance exams to doctoral schools, such as GAIA, to which the Master's program belongs, or enter the corporate R&D sector; these career choices are made possible by the continuity of the 2 profiles from M1 to M2.
We encourage students wishing to go into entrepreneurship to enroll in the IMHE FdS/IAE Management and Business Administration double-degree program, open from the start of the 2021 academic year (on application).
Students can complete their studies by enrolling in a M2 in Bioinformatics, or a MEEF master's degree to prepare for the competitive teaching exams.
Studying abroad
Thanks to the network of international collaborations maintained by Montpellier laboratories and the many links between the Master's teaching teams and foreign laboratories, M1 and M2 internships can be carried out abroad (mainly in Europe and North America, but also in Asia, Africa and Latin America). This gives students the opportunity to do a PhD in the laboratory where they did their internship, or to join international PhD programs. This possibility is not restricted to students doing their Master's internship abroad, but is also widely open to those doing their internship in Montpellier or other research centers in France.
Professional integration
The IMHE program offers students the opportunity to meet a wide range of professional goals, with a high placement rate for PhD students (40-50% depending on the year) and direct job opportunities in companies after graduation.
The professions resulting from this training are :
- Teacher-researcher and researcher
- Design and research engineer
- R&D managers in the fields of plant protection, agri-food, health and microbial biotechnologies
- Experts and project managers
- Teacher and trainer
The fields in which microbiology is employed are vast, covering health, agriculture, food, cosmetics, hygiene and safety, the environment, biotechnologies, etc.
Specific courses give students the foundations and tools they need to enter the job market.