Programme overview

Genomics in Society

“ Talk with people, instead of about people.”

What does the curriculum entail?

In year one you will learn in-depth about genomics, about impact research and about ethics, governance and the psychological impact of genetics. In addition, the Genomics & the City assignment will provide you with the knowledge and competences to bridge the gap between genomics and society. As such, the Genomics & the City assignment leads to attainment of the ‘in society’ end term of the curriculum. You will identify and work on concrete societal issues in the field of genomics in teams of about 5 students guided by a mentor and in co-creation with societal stakeholders. You will learn to employ a variety of research skills to identify and analyze genomic issues in society. Also, you will learn to employ research methods to innovate and design empirically underpinned solutions to improve the issue. As such, you will learn how genomics can contribute to society and what is needed to build bridges between the different perspectives of research and societal stakeholders. The Genomics & the City assignment requires you to integrate knowledge and skills of research, genomics, psychology, ethics, science communication, governance, and innovation. 

In year two you will enroll in deepening courses on genomics in society, while you will bring impact research to one of our existing research groups of which you will be a full-fledged member.  You will learn from faculty members with international experience whose research groups have international contacts and will yourself collaborate with (inter)national research groups while building bridges to societal stakeholders. Your supervisors will offer access to the working field and offer their insights into the power dynamics* of the field as part of your impact plan approach. Going through the research cycle, you will work towards a thesis that has the format of a paper suitable for publication in an international, peer-reviewed journal, and you will plan for societal impact through both the process of your research and utilization of its results. You will be free to enroll in electives for broadening or deepening your knowledge and we have exchange opportunities with the other research masters of the Erasmus MC Graduate School as well as research master programs outside of the EUR.  

Year two ends with the course ‘Innovation’ which aims to bring all your learnings and products to the level of entrepreneurship. You will analyze what is needed for implementation in terms of infrastructure, scalability, policy and regulation and societal support. Also you will gain awareness of the value of your intellectual property.  

Leaning objectives

The newly graduated Master of Science in Genomics in Society will have met intended learning outcomes in the following four areas. The student: 

Genomics: 

• is equipped with the biomedical scientific and social-scientific research methods that are part of the interdisciplinary research field Genomics in Society;  
• can apply knowledge of Genomics as an interdisciplinary discipline focusing on structure, function, evolution, and of practical application with current and latest genetic techniques, tests and methods such as mapping and editing of genomes;  
• is able to analyze (big) genomic data and translate them to personal -, family and population level, to investigate and to reflect on their impact;  
• is able to use ethical reference frameworks for the design, implementation, and assessment of research into genomics in society. 

Research: 

• is equipped to identify societal issues related to genomics and translate them into innovative research proposals with the potential to achieve positive societal impact;  
• can align with stakeholders throughout the research cycle in order to investigate issues of genomics in society in a process of divergence and convergence;  
• can design, conduct, and report interdisciplinary research in the field of Genomics in Society;  
• is able to analyze, discuss, and reflect on moral ethical issues related to research and the application of genomics in society.  

Society: 

• is equipped to employ appealing and appropriate forms of written and oral communication within the academic- and within the societal context;  
• has developed the competencies to collaborate with stakeholders from science, government, business, and society and participate in dialogue about the impact of implementation of genomics in society. 

Professional identity: 

• can represent themselves in a professional manner as an interdisciplinary researcher in different contexts using a standard of professional behavior (bridge-building, open-minded and ethical orientation) which will allow them to effectively navigate the domain of Genomics in Society and its various stakeholders; 
• has developed an open, curious and entrepreneurial attitude to transforming societal issues into genomic research; 
• has developed the attitude and skills to keep up their own expertise in a complex and rapidly developing field of research.  
   

Curriculum Overview

*Students must complete 13.5 EC of electives. We offer one elective ourselves.