About the Master

Hands-on laboratory research supervised by outstanding scientists

Essential to confronting some of the greatest challenges we face today, a strong education in multidisciplinary research is among the most powerful and effective ways to kick off a successful and fulfilling career in the sciences.  

The Master of Multidisciplinary Research in Experimental Sciences (MMRES) was established in 2017, the first of its kind in Spain and one of the only master’s degrees in Europe to place such high importance on hands-on laboratory research, scientific excellence, and innovative experiential learning. MMRES students learn the skills and knowledge needed to carry out advanced and interdisciplinary research, gain practical skills to thrive in an open and complex scientific environment, build a network valuable contacts, and make lifelong friendships.

The MMRES is a full-time, one-year academic programme (60 ECTS credits) delivered in English by the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). It is part of the BIST Dolors Aleu Graduate Centre, a post-graduate teaching centre affiliated to Pompeu Fabra University (UPF). MMRES graduates receive an official master’s degree issued by the UPF.

Students in the programme benefit from outstanding training to prepare them for a PhD at the most competitive institutions around in the world. Graduates have been accepted into renowned doctoral programmes both at the BIST Community Centres and at international institutions such as  Harvard Medical School (USA) or ETH Zürich (Switzerland), among others. Some have also been hired into highly sought-after positions in industrial research and consulting.

The strength of the MMRES lays on the excellence of its faculty team and the highly relevant research projects offered, encompassing areas such as genomics, molecular imaging, precision medicine, bioengineering, nanotechnology, photonics, chemistry, green energy, catalysis, quantum physics, observational cosmology, bioinformatics, chemical biology, cancer biology, and more

MMRES students choose among the offered research projects, and the majority of the programme is spent immersed in research groups at scientific centres of excellence in Barcelona or surrounding area, working alongside leading and internationally renowned experts. The participating research centres are all highly international, focused on producing excellent science, and have their sights set on addressing the biggest challenges facing our world today. They are:

  • Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)
  • Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
  • Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
  • Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ)
  • Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
  • Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE)
  • Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)
  • Medicine and Life Sciences Academic Coordination Unit, Pompeu Fabra University (MELIS-UPF)

In addition to the autonomy students have in choosing their projects and the expert guidance they receive, as well as the networking and oftentimes future work opportunities that come along with this, MMRES students benefit from training in transversal skills such as statistics and data analysis, responsible research, and science communication. These provide a holistic view of the scientific research career, setting students apart from other master’s graduates.