2018_08_17_CIE_master_investigacion_biomedica

Irene González Burgos ( Biochemistry 17) and Leyre Basurco Gogorcena (Biochemistry 17) are already in the final stretch of the Master's Degree in research Biomedical of the University of Navarra. The finishing touch to a year of specialized training at the highest level is being provided by internships at Hoffmann-La Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, in Bordeaux, to complete the work Fin de Master's Degree .

In the case of Irene -who is researching biomarkers of cognitive functioning to test the efficacy of drugs against neurological and psychiatric pathologies- the TFM experience had also been her motivation to do the Master's Degree of the School of Sciences of the University of Navarra: "I chose the Master's Degree thinking about the TFM. I was attracted by the opportunity to develop a project and the experience is exceeding my expectations. Of course, the classes have prepared me to be able to face the challenge -the amount of subject taught in the first six months of the MIB, in my specialization program which was Neurosciences and Cognition, has been impressive...-, and I am sure that at the end of the postgraduate program I will be able to investigate new topics within this field".

Irene carries out her internship under the supervision of tutors from both the University and her internship center in Basel (Switzerland): "My work takes place in a pharmaceutical company, but it also allows me to become position aware of the differences between academia and business," she adds.

Six months of work full-time

Leyre -who is doing her TFM at the high school of neurodegenerative diseases of the CNRS(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), in Bordeaux- underlines the "plus" of living this experience in another country: "I think that going abroad, seeing how they work in other places or meeting people from other cultures is very enriching. And so is the opportunity to develop the project during six months of work full-time, without classes or exams...".

In his case, the team in which he has been integrated is part of a European project (IMPRiND) whose goal is the identification of critical points that can lead to the propagation of tau and α-synuclein proteins, involved in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, respectively. "Specifically, my work during these months consists of the production of human recombinant α-synuclein to later use it for the development of a technique called Protein Misfolded Cyclic Amplification (PMCA)," details the future postgraduate, who is also doing the specialization program of the MIB at Neuroscience and Cognition."In it, we take subjects ranging from the most basic to the most specialized, from the most molecular to the most clinical neuroscience. I think it gives you a very complete and up-to-date base," she explains.

In his opinion, the Master's Degree in research Biomedical "provides a very good and complete base. It is especially aimed at the professional world of research, and I think it includes all the necessary tools to build a professional future as researcher", he concludes. Irene, for her part, also agrees that the MIB is for "people who are passionate about research":"The neuroscience classes are intense but exciting. To prospective students I would recommend that you choose a project TFM that excites you and, if you have the opportunity, take it outside," she advises.