BIOLOGIA

Professional status.
Biologist - Biologists can work in various fields: as laboratory biologists in microbiological and clinical chemical analysis laboratories in hospital facilities, in immunotransfusion centers, in private laboratories, in zooprophylactic institutes, in the biotoxicological sections of the Regional Environmental Prevention Agencies (ARPA), in companies and private entities for the management and the quality control of liquid and solid waste; as research biologists in public and private research centers, in regional and national nature parks, in the pharmaceutical industry, both human and animal, in the food and cosmetics industries; - as forensic biologists, i.e. biologists with "special technical knowledge" who can perform, with quality, the delicate work of the forensic biologist, as stipulated in the recent agreement signed between the National Order of Biologists, the High Council of the Judiciary and the National Forensic Council (12 March 2019). Those registered in the professional register may also work as official and/or consultant biologists in public and private research centers and in the public health sector of local health authorities, regional health departments, ecological and environmental protection sectors of regional and provincial administrations. To work as a freelance biologist, it is necessary to pass the state examination and be listed in the Register of Biologists-Section A. Graduates registered in Section A are entitled to the professional title of biologist.

Language(s) of instruction/examination.
ITALIAN

Skills associated with the function
Biologist 
The skills acquired will enable the graduate to work as a freelance biologist, consultant or entrepreneur in numerous fields, many of which require new professional skills more suited to the current needs of the world of work, both as a laboratory biologist and as a research biologist. Postgraduate training and specialisation courses in Italy and abroad, or the awarding of a research doctorate, facilitate professional integration. Graduates with sufficient credits in the appropriate fields may participate in the admission tests for secondary school teaching, as provided by current legislation.

Function in a work context
Biologist 
The profession of biologist, being characterised by specific transversal competencies, finds a place in various work areas, ranging from biomedicine to the environment, from nutritional studies to microbiological and biomolecular studies, in the context of work activities related to health protection, the environment and forensic science.

Specific learning outcomes

The course consists of 8 core curriculum courses (54 ECTS) and 2 supplementary curriculum courses (12 ECTS), for a total of 66 ECTS, plus 6 ECTS for English language skills (level B2), 2 ECTS dedicated to the acquisition of social skills, 9 ECTS for activities chosen by the student, 33 ECTS for other training activities (work placements and training activities for the attainment of the degree, for a total of 825 hours of internships). 4 ECTS are devoted to the final thesis and dissertation. The total number of exams, including the final exam, is 11. The specific educational objectives of the new Master's degree, regardless of the possibility of following a particular curriculum, are 1) to provide a solid and integrated cultural preparation in basic biology and in the various fields of applied biology, in order to consolidate the knowledge necessary to understand the man-environment interaction; 2) to provide a high level of preparation in the biological disciplines that characterise the course and in their most recent developments; 3) to provide the theoretical and practical tools necessary to become experts in the techniques of data acquisition and analysis and in the methodology of investigation and research in the biological field; 4) to make the students familiar with statistical methods and analysis for the presentation of scientific data; 5) to make the students capable to develop experimental strategies for the study and/or solution of biological problems, knowing how to assess their potential and limitations; 6) to enable students to use English fluently, in written and oral form, with reference to the disciplinary dictionaries; 7) to enable students to read scientific literature critically; 7) to acquire transversal skills, which allow one to translate a competence into a behaviour by responding to a need in the organisational and working environment; 8) to acquire a high degree of operational and project autonomy, which can enable the Master's degree graduate to take on managerial roles, with full responsibility for projects,facilities and personnel . In addition, depending on the chosen curriculum, the following specific objectives may be achieved 9a) acquisition of skills in scientific approaches to biomedical research and mastery of research methodology, management of existing technologies, and those resulting from scientific innovation in biomedicine. 9b) acquisition of a solid epistemological and cultural background in biology applied to forensic science and basic knowledge of the methods for collecting and preserving biological samples in the case of judicial seizure, quality control, and analytical procedures with evidentiary value. Concerning specific objectives, students can carry out training outside the University at Companies, Public Administration structures and Laboratories, local Health Authorities, and take advantage of study visits at other Italian and foreign Universities within the framework of international agreements.