ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Language(s) of Instruction
French, English
Overview
TheIntegrative Study of Parasitic and Infectious Outbreaks (EI-EPI) track is part of the Eco-Epidemiology (Eco-EPI ) master’s program, which aims to train experts capable of addressing the challenges posed by contemporary epidemiological phenomena.
Indeed, epidemics and disease outbreaks linked to pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, eukaryotic parasites) have been on the rise in recent decades. This phenomenon is the result of complex, multifaceted factors with varied origins: human population density, degradation of natural ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, overexploitation, intensive livestock farming, urbanization, land development, climate change, pollution, the globalization of human and commercial exchanges, inappropriate use of antibiotics, inadequate healthcare, declining vaccination coverage, poverty …
The study or management of these epidemic phenomena therefore requires the involvement of a wide range of expertise and different levels of analysis—and thus an integrative and multidisciplinary approach (ecology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, parasitology, statistics, computer science, geomatics, geography, as well as sociology, economics, anthropology, and more). An eco-evolutionary perspective facilitates this synthesis by situating analyses of the underlying biological phenomena within population, spatial, and temporal contexts.
The Benefits of the Training Program
The Eco-EPI track has received support from the MUSE website through funding for the project “Eco-Epidemiology of Animal and Human Pathogens: Comprehensive and Utilitarian Resources—EpiCURe” (Take Off Call for Proposals #3: Curricula—SUPPORTING THE TRANSFORMATION AND/OR CREATION OF CURRICULA). This project involves the implementation of a data collection platform built by successive cohorts of students in the specialization. It will be integrated with a suite of web services designed to analyze the stored data. Through this cross-disciplinary and integrative tool, concretely grounded in the complete curriculum for the M1 and M2 programs, students will be able to “take ownership” of the scientific content and knowledge to be acquired during their master’s program. This platform will highlight the knowledge acquired and synthesized through a collaborative approach involving students, the teaching staff, researchers, and practitioners in the field. The accumulated knowledge will be preserved, utilized, and disseminated in French and English, extending beyond the program and the university, thereby providing national and international visibility to the Eco-Epidemiology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases program and to the programs associated with the project (Bioinformatics, Geomatics).
Objectives
The EI-EPI program is designed to train future researchers capable of tracing eco-epidemiological events (phylogenetic, short- or long-term eco-evolutionary, environmental, socioeconomic, etc.) linked to pathogens that infect humans and/or domestic animals (and/or wildlife).
The “multidisciplinary and integrative scientific approach” that characterizes the program is essential for addressing the challenges facing our contemporary societies. Aware of the human contexts and the sustainable development implications of this knowledge, graduates will be equipped to become researchers in “engaged science.” This highly relevant term describes a scientific approach—rooted in “reality” and all its dimensions—that aims to provide concrete scientific evidence to support “informed” management and, better yet, prevention.
Expertise and Skills
Graduates of the EI-EPI track within the Eco-EPI program are prepared to design and implement research programs focused on the factors contributing to the emergence of parasitic and infectious diseases, specifically:
- Ecological cycles and transmission dynamics
- the evolutionary and molecular mechanisms that contribute to epidemics, the emergence of new diseases, and/or changes in hosts
- eco-environmental factors that contribute to epidemics and/or disease outbreaks
- socioeconomic factors that contribute to epidemics and/or disease outbreaks
- the relative risks associated with each of these factors in each case of an epidemic and/or outbreak
To carry out their research,
- They have mastered subject-specific skills and specialized tools in a variety of fields such as
- in biological and ecological sciences (including evolutionary biology) focused on diseases caused by pathogens
- in the fields of mathematics (statistics and modeling) and computer science, with a focus on the collection and analysis of epidemiological data (databases, GIS, etc.)
- They know how to identify and incorporate into their analysis the elements (and tools) of applied humanities necessary for understanding the origins of emerging phenomena and/or assessing risks: sociology, anthropology, economics, political governance, and law (as applied to organizations and institutions)
- They know how to independently apply a scientific and analytical approach, apply it to a specific context, and integrate a variety of information.
- They are skilled in project management and collaborative work.
- They are able to interact and communicate with non-academic colleagues: managers in epidemiological surveillance or control, public health professionals or veterinarians, policymakers or elected officials…
- They are able to disseminate results to an informed audience of peers, as well as to decision-makers and managers.
International Dimension
The Eco-Epidemiology of Animal and Human Pathogens Comprehensive and Utilitary Resources – EpiCURe project (Take Off Call for Proposals #3: Curriculum - SUPPORTING THE TRANSFORMATION AND/OR CREATION OF CURRICULA), which is concretely based on the complete curriculum framework for the M1 and M2 programs, aims to provide international visibility for the Eco-epidemiology program . It will enable the development of partnerships with foreign universities and institutions.
Organization
Knowledge Assessment
Depending on the course units: Final exam, ongoing assessment, oral exam. Project-based and internship course units are evaluated using specific ongoing assessment methods: a written report or thesis and an oral defense before a panel.
Special Features
An M1 program specifically forfourth-year pharmacy students in the research track, designed to focus their training on skills not covered in their previous coursework
Internships, supervised projects
Internship | Required |
|---|---|
Duration of the internship | 5 to 6 months |
Internship Abroad | Possible |
Duration of the internship abroad | 5 to 6 months |
A 3- to 4-month internship is offered and recommended starting in the first year of the master’s program (M1); it must be in the field of basic, applied, or applied research. An in-depth supervised project is offered as an alternative to the first-year internship for students who need to deepen their knowledge and/or strengthen their analytical approach and ability to synthesize information, in order to better prepare for the second year of the master’s program (M2) and the end-of-program internship.
The end-of-program internship in a laboratory, public or private research organization or institute (or even corporate R&D) is mandatory for M2 students and lasts 5 to 6 months, in the student’s chosen area of specialization.
Program
Year 1 is primarily a year common to both tracks of the program: it features a curriculum that is largely common to both tracks in the first semester of the M1 (26 ECTS out of 30), with an elective option that allows students to explore various fields and delve deeper into specific issues.
Students begin to define their academic track in the second semester of the M1 program by selecting a specialization that provides in-depth training in the eco-epidemiological research approach. This track is also prepared through the selection of a topic for the M1 internship or the Advanced Supervised Project.
The M2 EI-EPI program is organized into courses
- Courses shared with the Management and Surveillance track: project management, current topics in the eco-epidemiology of infectious and parasitic diseases (required), the interface between public health emergencies and society (elective)
- Multiscale analyses (genomes/socio-ecosystems) specific to research in eco-epidemiology
- Specialization in one of the key areas of eco-epidemiology (see below)
- In-depth study of evolutionary bio-ecological sciences or bioinformatics tools (shared with other majors)
- Relating to the conservation or management of resources (shared with other specializations)
There are four major areas of specialization. These specializations are not completely separate from one another but overlap in certain areas. They are:
- Zoonoses and Animal Diseases
- Vector-borne diseases
- Global Changes
- Urbanization, Modern Technologies, and Therapeutics
Students begin exploring this specialization in the second semester of the first year of the master’s program through thematic projects, an internship, or an in-depth supervised project. They will further develop this specialization through their course selections in the third semester of the second year of the master’s program and the second-year internship.
Select a program
M1 - Eco-Epidemiology
Epidemics and disease outbreaks caused by pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, eukaryotic parasites) have been on the rise in recent decades. Recent outbreaks of SARS, Ebola, Zika, and highly pathogenic avian influenza have, even more recently, been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the African swine fever outbreak. These events should not overshadow the resurgence of measles, the antibiotic resistance of the tuberculosis bacillus, the increasingly persistent threat of healthcare-associated infections, or the continuing concern posed by malaria, dengue, and anthrax…
This increase in “cases” is the result of complex and multifaceted phenomena: population density, degradation of natural ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, overexploitation, intensive livestock farming, urbanization, land development, climate change, pollution, globalization of human and commercial exchanges, inappropriate use of antibiotics, inadequate healthcare, declining vaccination coverage, poverty … These changes and imbalances therefore stem from diverse and varied sources. The study or management of these epidemic phenomena therefore requires the integration of diverse expertise and different levels of analysis—hence an integrative and multidisciplinary approach (Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Statistics, Computer Science, Geomatics, Geography, as well as Sociology, Economics, Anthropology…). An eco-evolutionary perspective facilitates this synthesis by situating analyses of the underlying biological phenomena within population, spatial, and temporal dimensions.
Study of Variability
4 creditsPathogenic Organisms: From Viruses to Helminths
4 creditsDescription and Inference
2 creditsIssues and Challenges in the Epidemiology of Diseases
4 creditsInformation Systems and Databases
4 creditsEcology Keys
2 creditsCHOICE S1
4 creditsChoose 1 of 4
Phylogeny and Evolution
Food Safety Risk
4 creditsFood Safety Risk 1
4 creditsFood Safety Risk 2
1 credit
Water and Public Health
Skill Enhancements
4 credits
Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms and Parasitism
6 credits
Epidemiology Tools
2 creditsLongitudinal, cross-sectional, and epidemiological analyses
4 creditsEmergence: Eco-epidemiological Contexts and Mechanisms
8 creditsCHOICE S2
14 creditsCHOICE 3
4 creditsChoose 1 out of 7
Public Health and Prevention
4 creditsHealth Policy and Public Health
Evolutionary Genomics
4 creditsEvolutionary Ecology
4 creditsEXDIM: Multidimensional Data Exploration
4 creditsAlignment and Phylogeny
4 creditsOption 5
4 creditsBioinformatics Learning Lab
2 creditsBiological Information
2 credits
CHOICE 4
10 creditsChoose one of the following two options:
In-Depth Supervised Project
10 creditsInternship
10 credits
Preparation for the internship or in-depth supervised project
2 credits
M2 - Integrative Study of Parasitic and Infectious Outbreaks (EI-EPI)
Option 3
4 creditsChoose 1 out of 5
Bioanalysis, transcriptomics
4 creditsSpatial Data
4 creditsAdvanced Phylogenetics: Methods and Applications in Evolutionary Biology
Option 4
4 creditsChoose 2 out of 6
EXADIM: Advanced Exploration of Multidimensional Data
2 creditsConservation Biology
2 creditsConservation Biology (Advanced)
2 creditsTOIC/TOEFL Preparation
2 creditsHost-Pathogen Interactions in Aquatic Animals
2 creditsEmergence and Society
2 credits
Statistical Tests
4 credits
Mechanisms Underlying the Emergence of Pathogens
4 creditsTransmission: Case Study
2 creditsProject Management in Basic and Applied Epidemiology
10 creditsOption 1
8 creditsChoose 2 out of 4
Arboviral Diseases
4 creditsWater as a Vector for Pathogens
4 creditsZoonoses
4 creditsHealthcare, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence
4 credits
News on Emergence II (Journal Club)
2 credits
Admission
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for the M1 program: a bachelor’s degree or equivalent
Admission requirements for the M2 program: completion of the first year of a master’s degree or equivalent
See "Target Audience" for more information
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
International students from outside the EU: Follow the “Études en France” procedure:https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Target Audience
At the entrance to the M1:
- students from
- degrees in Life Sciences or Life and Earth Sciences, particularly the following tracks: Ecology and Organism Biology, Organism and Population Biology, Environmental Sciences, Microbiology, Cell Biology and Physiology,
- Health Sciences bachelor's degrees
- Bachelor's degrees in Biology and the Humanities (Catholic universities)….
- fourth-year pharmacy or human medicine students.
At the entrance to the M2:
- In the field of law, students who have earned the M1 in Eco-EPI
- students changing their academic focus, who have completed a first-year master’s degree (M1) in Biology, Health Biology, Health, Life Sciences, Public Health, Microbiology, Nutrition and Food Science, Biology–Agricultural Sciences, Agrosciences, Environment, Territories, Landscape, Forestry, Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Risks and Environment, Teaching, Education, and Training Professions (MEEF),Secondary Education. Their admission will be evaluated based on the M1 prerequisites essential for continuing on to the M2 EI-EPI program, the alignment between their educational goals and the program’s objectives, and the availability of potential openings relative to the program’s capacity.
- 6th-year veterinary students pursuing a career in research (under the same conditions as those listed above)
- In continuing education, pharmacists and medical residents are addressing the need for integrative skills among future healthcare professionals
Capacity
Mandatory Prerequisites
Determined by the entry level (see “Target Audience”), the specific requirements related to initial, continuing, or work-study training. These therefore primarily include
- a bachelor’s degree in biological and environmental sciences, or its equivalent, for admission to the first year of the master’s program (M1);
- knowledge equivalent to the first year of a master’s program in biological and peri-biological sciences, or its equivalent, at the M2 level, which in this case includes fundamental knowledge of pathogens or infectious and parasitic diseases.
For admission to the M1 program, “knowledge” at the L3 level or equivalent in at least two of these fields
- Biology of Organisms
- Physiology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Parasitology
- Microbiology
For admission to the M2 program, knowledge at the M1 level or equivalent is required in the biology of major pathogenic organisms and in at least two of the following fields:
- Physiology, Immunology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Infectious Processes
- Diseases of Infectious and Parasitic Origin
- Antibiotic Therapy and Anti-Infective Drugs
- General Ecology
- Parasitic Ecology
- Microbial Ecology
- Health Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology and/or Conservation Biology
- Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Vector Entomology
- Descriptive epidemiology (statistics)
- Modeling
Recommended Prerequisites
For admission to the M1 program,
- Knowledge at the L1-L2 level in at least one of these areas
- Biostatistics
- Computer Science (databases, GIS)
- Basic knowledge—even if self-taught—in one or two of the following areas can be invaluable
- Human/Animal Genetics
- Livestock Farming Systems
- Economy
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Land Use Planning
- Environmental Management
- Conservation Biology
For admission to the M2 program
- Master's-level knowledge in at least one of these fields (Initial Training)
- Biostatistics
- Computer Science (databases, GIS)
- Experience (professional experience, internships, academic studies, extracurricular activities) in one or two of the following areas
- Human or veterinary health
- Biotechnology for Diagnostic and Preventive Tools (treatments, vaccines, etc.)
- Livestock Farming and Animal Production Systems
- Economics and the Globalization of Trade
- Citizen Science
- Sociology / Anthropology
And then
Continuing Education
The primary goal of the program is to prepare students to pursue a doctoral degree in basic, applied, or applied research.
Continuing Your Education Abroad
Pursuing a doctoral degree abroad is a career path that graduates of the program should not overlook
Employment Placement
Occupations: Eco-epidemiologists and related professionals, Eco-epidemiology experts
Career Opportunities: Research Organizations/Institutes, Universities, International Organizations, R&D Departments at Pharmaceutical Companies, …