ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French, English
Presentation
Become a Living Matter Physics researcher!
Biological phenomena and systems represent a new paradigm of complex, active and self-regulating matter, governed by laws that are, for the most part, still unknown. To study them, we need to employ the most innovative physical principles, methods and techniques. The PhIMV program will prepare you for fundamental and applied research in the physics of living matter.
91%
Success rates
Objectives
The aim of your training will be to acquire the disciplinary skills and attitude of a physicist in the study of complex matter and biological systems, and also to learn to dialogue and collaborate with scientists from other disciplines (biology, chemistry, medicine, electronics, bioinformatics, etc.) in research at the interface between physics and the biological sciences.
You'll learn about the cutting-edge physical technologies used in public research laboratories and in companies operating in the biotech, diagnostics and medical sectors.
You'll benefit from an interdisciplinary teaching team and a well-established network of research institutions in Montpellier, France and abroad.
In conclusion, the PhIMV pathway offers high-level training in a fast-growing interdisciplinary field, in the discovery of physical principles and methods for studying life and its evolution.
Know-how and skills
- Learn the basics of how new non-invasive experimental techniques, visualization and super-resolution microscopy work, single-molecule manipulation experiments, biomimetic, microfluidic, biosynthetic approaches and large-scale physical instruments for exploring the properties of matter. These are cutting-edge technologies that link physics with the disciplines of quantitative, computational, integrative and systems biology, towards bioinformatics and bioengineering.
- Train in experimental techniques and develop the skills most in demand by taking part in practical work led by renowned experts in the field.
- Learn and master the analytical, numerical and simulation tools from physics, mathematics and computer science needed to model complex systems, analyze experimental data and set up quantitative and predictive models of the phenomena studied.
- Explore new concepts in fundamental physics: molecular motors and switches, thermodynamics of small systems, active systems, stochastic systems, regulation, information, evolution, etc.
- During your laboratory internship project, you'll learn about the techniques and day-to-day workings of research, the values of teamwork and the importance of scientific discussion and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Organization
Knowledge control
https://mcc.umontpellier.fr/ lists all the teaching units (UE) and their assessment procedures.
Internships, tutored projects
Internship | Mandatory |
|---|
The PhIMV master's program includes two internships of different durations. The first internship (10 ECTS) will take place in M1S2 and will last a minimum of 2 months, with the possibility of a paid extension. The second internship (30 ECTS) will take place in M2S2 and will last at least 5 months.
The aim of the internships is to bring students closer to applied and fundamental research in the physics of living matter and biological systems (from molecules to organisms and possibly even populations of organisms). This experience will be a springboard for students after the Master's degree, whether they decide to go into public or private research. What's more, these internships represent an excellent opportunity to directly learn and deepen a number of experimental and theoretical techniques (physics and biology) covered in the courses.
Students will need to be proactive in their search for internships, but will benefit from an interdisciplinary teaching team and a network of well-established research institutions in the Montpellier area. Internships will take place in research laboratories, supervised by lecturers and researchers from the host research teams. Particularly gifted students can also aspire to internships in companies or abroad.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of the main research laboratories that have hosted our students' internships in the past:
- Charles Coulomb Laboratory (L2C)
- Center for Structural Biochemistry (CBS)
- European Membrane Institute (EMI)
- Montpellier Cell Biology Research Center (CRBM)
- Physico-Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, Paris
- Interdisciplinary Physics Laboratory (LiPhy), Grenoble
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
Program
The Master's program is organized into four semesters, each of which represents a progressive specialization. Each semester comprises 30 ECTS and must be taken independently (there is no inter-semester compensation). To validate each year, the 2 semesters must be validated separately, and to obtain the diploma, the 2 years must be validated.
In the first year, there is a high degree of mutualization with other Physics Master's courses, in particular with the SoftMat course. The second semester is more specialized, and the third in particular. The 4th semester is devoted to the long end-of-course internship.
Select a program
M1 - Physics of Living Matter Engineering (PhIMV)
Hydrodynamics
4 credits33hEnglish M1 PFA
2 credits21hAtoms, Molecules and Radiation
5 credits42hExperimental physics
5 credits42hCondensed matter physics 1
5 credits42hBiological physics
4 credits33hModeling and Simulation in Physics
5 credits42h
Statistical physics
6 credits49,5hM1 PhIMV internship
10 creditsMicroscopies and spectroscopies for biology
Surfaces, Interfaces, Colloids
5 credits42hData acquisition and processing 1
3 credits24hSensors and Image Processing
3 credits42h
M2 - Physics of Living Matter Engineering (PhIMV)
Structural Biochemistry
2 creditsBiomimetics
3 credits18hPhysical modeling of living systems
6 credits36hPolymer Physics
4 credits24hEnglish M2 PFA
2 credits21hCorporate knowledge
2 credits16hPhysical Biology
Complex fluids and active matter
6 credits36h
M2 PhIMV internship
30 credits
Admission
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
International students from outside the EU: for M1, follow the "Études en France" procedure: https: //pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Target audience
Open to students with 3-year higher education diplomas: Physics, Chemistry-Physics.
Necessary prerequisites
The PhIMV pathway is a master's program in fundamental and applied physics. The prerequisites are those of a bachelor's degree in physics (or chemistry-physics) such as that awarded in French universities: solid knowledge of mechanics, thermodynamics and electrical phenomena.
A mastery of mathematics at calculus level (integral, differential and vector calculus, matrices, etc.) is imperative.
No prior knowledge of biological systems is required. The rudiments of cell biology will be provided during the first semester of M1.
Recommended prerequisites
- Mathematical methods for physics
- Statistical physics
- Physics of the condensed state of matter
- Simulation and numerical calculation
And then
Further studies
The course is designed to lead to employment in
- fundamental research: research laboratories in physics, biology, biophysics, biochemistry, biotechnologies, engineering schools, bio-inspired sciences;
- diagnostic and biomedical industries, imaging and high-tech platforms;
- innovative biotechnologies: bio-materials, new diagnostics, data analysis, personalized medicine.
Studying abroad
In the past, some students, after successfully completing our Master's program, have gone on to study for doctorates at research institutions abroad. These include EPFL (Switzerland) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA), to name but a few.
We also benefit from the IPOLS (International Physics of Living Systems) network, which supports the mobility of researchers and students whose research focuses on the physics of living matter.
Bridges and reorientation
Other courses in the Fundamental Physics and Applications Masters, Teaching Masters.
Professional integration
In total, over 60% of students have completed a doctoral thesis (in France or abroad) and 95% have had their first job within 1 year of completing their Master's degree.