University of Helsinki

Master in Life Science Informatics

The Life Science Informatics Master’s Programme has four specialisation areas, so-called study tracks. During the first autumn semester, each study track gives you an introductory course. At the beginning of the spring semester, you are assumed to have decided on your field of specialisation (study track).

• Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine
• Biomathematics
• Biostatistics
• Eco-evolutionary Informatics

The Master's degree comprises 120 credits and it is possible to complete the programme in two years. The degree includes min 85 credits of advanced studies in life science informatics and can include up to 35 credits from other studies.

1. At least 85 cr of advanced studies, including:

• introductory core courses, min 15 cr
• study track-specific courses, min 35 cr, which include
  • min 15 cr from a list of courses specified by the student's study track
  • other advanced courses from the student's study track, from other study tracks or from other programmes as approved by the student's academic mentor
• Master’s thesis, 30 cr
• Master's seminar, 5 cr

2. Other studies 0-35 cr, which may be

• a study module of a minor subject
  • A study module is an approved package of courses. A student of LSI may, for example, wish to take a study module in computer science or mathematics. These modules are provided by the corresponding Master's programmes.
• courses chosen freely from other Master's programmes
• courses from other disciplines (these may be BSc level courses)
• a study module of exchange studies
  • Students can include 15-30 cr of studies completed at an exchange destination of the University of Helsinki in their degree as an optional study module.
• language courses
• work experience
• a course organised by the Faculty of Science on sustainability
• BSc-level courses in mathematics, statistics and computer science can be approved if necessary (this depends on the content of the BSc degree of the student)

The courses of the Master’s Programme in Life Science Informatics include lectures, exercise classes, and the study of the literature. Most courses award credits based on exams or project assignments. Some courses are completed by independent study and literature-based exams.

The courses are organised into four study tracks: Biomathematics, Biostatistics, Ecological Informatics, and Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine. All study tracks are taught by internationally highly recognised research groups and give a strong basis for pursuing a PhD:

Bio­mathem­at­ics

This study track focuses on mathematical modelling with an emphasis on ecology. The introductory courses on mathematical biology and mathematical modelling are of wide relevance as models are at the heart of theory and also of modern Bayesian statistics. Further courses include the mathematics of infectious diseases, spatial ecology, stochastic population models, game theory, and adaptive dynamics; these assume a background in mathematics and are offered also through the Master's Programme in Mathematics and Statistics. The courses are given only every other year but in a reliable cycle so that every student can take any course in the 2 years of Master studies. Taken together, this study track offers exceptionally deep knowledge in mathematical ecology with transferable skills in modelling.

Bio­s­tat­ist­ics

This study track studies how to make principled statistical inferences in real-life situations. The breadth of biostatistics is demonstrated by the introductory course 'Topics in biostatistics'. Specialised courses include statistical epidemiology, population genetics, genome-wide association studies and design of experiments. The applied courses are complemented by advanced courses in mathematics and statistics, such as computational statistics, high-dimensional statistics and event-history analysis. The courses in the biostatistics track turn you into an expert in data analysis using software for statistical computing, which is a highly regarded skill across quantitative fields.

Ecological In­form­at­ics

In this study track, you specialise in mathematical, statistical and machine learning methods in ecology. In a nutshell, ecology studies the distribution and abundance of species and their interactions with other species and the environment. As a scientific field, it has a key role in our ability to respond to the challenges posed by global change. In turn, mathematical and statistical modelling as well as machine learning are essential for analyzing large ecological data sets. In the ecological informatics study track, you will be trained in the latest methods and techniques of analysis in the field. In addition to courses provided by the Master's Programme in Life Science Informatics, your methodological skills will be strengthened by courses from the Master's Programme in Mathematics and Statistics and your ecological understanding will be strengthened by courses from the Master's Programme in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Bioin­form­at­ics and Systems Medicine

This study track combines expertise from all three Faculties involved in the Master's Programme, the Faculties of Science, Medicine and Biological and Environmental Sciences. After introductory courses on bioinformatics and systems biology, we offer courses on genome analysis, machine learning, clinical data mining, and systems medicine. For example, we offer biology-tailored algorithm and machine learning studies for analysing molecular biology data as well as computational approaches that allow the interpretation of high-throughput biomedical data obtained from patients. Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine prepare you for a post as a bioinformatics expert in a biology or biomedical research lab, working with processing, analysing and interpreting big molecular or clinical data.

Mas­ter's thesis

The program includes a mandatory Master´s thesis and a scientific research project. The project can be theoretical or practical, including biological or medical data analysis from an ongoing research project. The resulting thesis is a written work that demonstrates your ability for scientific reasoning and your familiarity with the relevant scientific literature.

You will be appointed a supervisor who will hold regular meetings with you to ensure that your thesis work is proceeding smoothly and on schedule. The thesis is worth 30 credits (ECTS), corresponding to full-time studies during one semester. Although the thesis is an independent work, it is often done as part of a research group.

Why Life Si­ence In­form­at­ics?

As a graduate of the Life Science Informatics programme you will:

• Have first-class knowledge and capabilities for a career in life science research and in expert duties in the public and private sectors
• Competence to work as a member of a group of experts
• Have an understanding of the regulatory and ethical aspects of scientific research
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills for employment in an international and interdisciplinary professional setting
• Understand the general principles of mathematical modelling, computational, probabilistic and statistical analysis of biological data, and be an expert in one specific specialisation area of the LSI programme
• Understand the logical reasoning behind experimental sciences and be able to critically assess research-based information
• Have mastered scientific research, making systematic use of investigation or experimentation to discover new knowledge
• Have the ability to report results in a clear and understandable manner for different target groups
• Have good opportunities to continue your studies for a doctoral degree

After completing the Master Programme in Life Science Informatics (LSI), you have excellent opportunities to apply and perform postgraduate studies either at the University of Helsinki, at other universities in Finland, or abroad. As a graduate, you can also find employment, for example, in health sector enterprises, such as bioindustry.