Students of the Master in Integrative Synthetic Biology MISB (UIMP-CSIC) have visited the institute as part of the integrated laboratories module. The objective is to know first-hand the research lines as possible destinations for their master's thesis. During their stay in Valencia, they have enjoyed a series of complementary activities.
The nine students of the first edition of the MISB have visited some research groups of I2SysBio in the week of May 16-20, 2022. After being received by the director of the institute, Emilia Matallana, and by the coordinator of this visit, Juli Peretó, the seminar 'How to give a talk' was held by Manuel Porcar. Except for Wednesday, the rest of the time was spent working in various laboratories, as well as getting to know two biotechnology companies at the UV Science Park: Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence and ADM-Biopolis. The lunchtime seminars were given by Santiago Elena, José Luis García, Christina Toft and Emilia Matallana and covered topics such as experimental evolution and genomic evolution of yeasts and their biotechnological applications. The last session of the week was the students' presentation of their experiences and impressions with a debate animated by Javier Buceta. On Wednesday May 18, International Day for Plant Fascination, MISB students attended a seminar by José Pío Beltrán (IBMCP, UPV-CSIC) on the domestication of plants with paella as a common thread, prelude to the visit to Mercat Central. In the afternoon, a seminar on 'biofoundries' was held at the Casa de la Ciència del CSIC, by Irene Otero-Muras (I2SysBio) and Pablo Carbonell (UPV), as well as a presentation of plants as biofactories by Diego Orzáez (IBMCP). The day was completed with the presentation of the book 'Algo nuevo en los cielos' by Antonio Martínez Ron by the author and Anna Mateu, editor of the journal Mètode.
The MISB, dependent on the Menéndez Pelayo International University UIMP and the CSIC, is organized by three CSIC research centers: the National Center for Biotechnology CNB, the Margarita Salas Biological Research Center CIB and the Institute for Integrative Systems Biology I2SysBio (joint center with the University of Valencia). The MISB is a pioneering postgraduate program that combines advanced teaching and research in CSIC centers. The aim of MISB, which can be considered the first graduate school on synthetic biology in Spain, is to prepare the next generation of researchers in synthetic biology, familiar with new ways of exploring living systems. The integrated program of training, research and innovation in synthetic biology includes a module of integrated laboratories in which participants are integrated into a research group to learn about its activity from the inside.
The duration of the MISB is two years (120 credits) and the deadline for the second edition (2022-2024) is still open until May 31, 2022. It is recommended both for students of life sciences or physico-chemistry and for those more oriented to technology, computer science or engineering.
