Introduction
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Biomedical Imaging - More Than You Can Imagine!
The Master's Degree Programme in Biomedical Sciences — Biomedical Imaging specialization track trains professionals with thorough theoretical understanding and practical skills in diverse imaging methods and technologies.
The studies in Biomedical Imaging provide you with strong knowledge on either cellular biology, anatomy and physiology, nanomedicine, or biophysics, depending on the area of your specialization. You will study in a highly international environment and gain excellent theoretical and practical skills in a wide range of imaging techniques and applications as well as in image analysis.
In addition, the courses cover light microscopy, advanced fluorescence techniques, super-resolution imaging techniques, PET, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. An understanding of the use of multimedia in a scientific context and excellent academic writing skills are emphasized. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides you with a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art knowledge in biomedical imaging related to many different areas in cell biology and biomedicine.
The graduates have the possibility to continue their studies as doctoral candidates in order to pursue a career as a scientist, in industry or science administration, and in an imaging core facility or a hospital research laboratory.
Academic Excellence & Experience
The strong imaging expertise of Turku universities is a great environment for studying Biomedical Imaging. Imaging is one of the strongholds of the two universities in Turku, Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku. Both universities also maintain the Turku BioImaging, which is a broad-based, interdisciplinary science and infrastructure umbrella that unites bioimaging expertise in Turku, and elsewhere in Finland. Turku is especially known for its PET Centre and the development of super-resolution microscopy.
Winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Stefan Hell did his original discoveries on STED microscopy at the University of Turku. Turku is also a leader of the Euro-BioImaging infrastructure network which provides imaging services for European researchers.
Turku has a unique, compact campus area, where two universities and a university hospital operate to create an interdisciplinary and innovative study and research environment.
Research facilities include a wide array of state-of-the-art imaging technologies ranging from atomic-level molecular and cellular imaging to whole animal imaging, clinical imaging (e.g. PET), and image analysis.
Studies in BioImaging are highly research-oriented and the courses are tailored to train future imaging experts in various life science areas.
PET
TCDM
Nobel
The Biomedical Imaging specialization track is very interdisciplinary with a unique atmosphere where people from different countries and educational backgrounds interact and co-operate. Students are motivated to join courses, workshops, and internship projects also elsewhere in Finland, in Europe, and all around the world. The programme has Erasmus+ exchange agreements with the University of Pecs in Hungary, L’Institut Supérieur de BioSciences in Paris, France and Université de Rouen Normandie in Rouen, France.
Master's Thesis & Topics
Master’s thesis in biomedical imaging consists of two parts: an experimental laboratory project, thesis plan, and seminar presentation, and the written thesis.
The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate that the student masters their field of science, understands the research methodology as well as the relevant literature, and is capable of scientific thinking and presenting the obtained data to the scientific community.
Usually, the Master’s thesis is conducted in a research group as an independent sub-project among the group’s research projects. Experimental research work will be conducted under the guidance of a supervisor.
Examples of thesis topics:
Exercise and brown adipose tissue activation in humans (EXEBAT).
Stimulated emission depletion microscopy of sub-diffraction polymerized structures.
Optimization of immunofluorescence protocols for detection of biomarkers in cancer tissues.
Exploring the feasibility of a new PET tracer for assessment of atherosclerotic plaques in mice.
Morphology of the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Accuracy and precision of advanced T2 mapping in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Prevalence of perfusion-diffusion mismatch in acute stroke patients.
Biomedical Sciences At Turku Universities
Turku has longstanding research traditions in the field of biomedicine. Especially the fields of drug discovery, diagnostics, and biological and medical imaging represent the top-level expertise of the University of Turku.
The Biomedical Imaging specialization track is part of the MSc Degree Programme in Biomedical Sciences, which is a collaboration of two universities, the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University. The close cooperation of four biomedical programmes forms a unique educational combination of biomedical sciences in Finland and worldwide.
The programme in Biomedical Sciences is managed together by the Faculties of Medicine, and Science and Engineering at the University of Turku.
The offered education is based on the true research strengths of the participating units:
Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Turku
Department of Biochemistry at the University of Turku
Department of Chemistry at the University of Turku
Department of Biosciences at the Åbo Akademi University
Other specialization tracks of the Master´s Degree Programme in Biomedical Sciences are
Drug Discovery and Development
Molecular Biotechnology and Diagnostics
Medicinal and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry.
Major subject studies in each are track-specific but can be offered as selectable studies for all the study tracks. Each student makes a personal study plan which helps to select the courses, which best suit for personal interests and background.
