Medical Natural Sciences

Specializations

The Master’s in Medical Natural Sciences is a two-year programme. During this time, you will take compulsory modules in your chosen specialization, plus a number of optional subjects. These may be general topics or courses drawn from another specialization. Writing an essay on a subject not directly related to your field of specialization is also part of the programme. In the second year you will join one of the participating research groups. Your research will culminate in a Master’s thesis and a final presentation.

You will select one of the following specializations:

• Medical Physics
  This specialization directly addresses the need for academics with clinical-physical or medical-physical expertise and are capable of contributing towards technological developments aimed at improving the quality of life. The research is devoted to clarifying the physical principles which form the basis of human functioning from cellular level to the level of the whole human being, and to the development of new techniques and methods to assess function parameters in humans, both in normal and pathological situations.
• Molecular Clinical Diagnostics
  This specialization deals mainly with biomarkers and their use in clinical chemistry. The study is directed to the search for new biomarkers that can be used for the prevention, diagnostics en therapeutics of diseases, and uses a combination of hyphenated state-of-the-art bio-analytical, immunological, medical, pharmacogenetic, pharmacokinetic, etc., procedures and methodologies.
• Physics of Life
  This specialization deals with the challenging technological developments in areas such as biochemical-biophysical studies of the activity of protein molecules in the living cell and medical imaging. The interdisciplinary character of this specialization means that you will gain experience in (medical) biophysics as well as in biochemistry.
• Medical Physiology
  Medical physiology entails close collaboration between clinical researchers and basic scientists. This specialization aims to provide the general background for clinically oriented research and focuses on research to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular complications. It offers a number of specialized courses in preparation of and to complement the practical training in the cardiovascular major and minor research projects.

Profiles

For each track you can choose one of the following profiles:

• The research profile;
• The public administration and business profile, which enables you to combine a sound background in medical natural sciences with applications or management in industry or business;
• The communication profile, which provides you with special training for work in science communication (most courses taught in English);
• The education profile, which trains you as a teacher of physics or chemistry at Dutch pre-university (VWO) level or for other positions in the education sector (taught only in Dutch).

Any unanswered questions about the programme? Please contact: Ms. Tabitha Dreef, +31 (0)20 - 5987881, e-mail: tabitha.dreef@vu.nl