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Going through Advanced Experimental and Computational Biosciences is a long journey that pays off in the end. Having graduated from the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, biological research was a field close to my studies and personal interests. However, I was uncertain about doing research at a PhD level. AEC is a demanding full-time program that can inspire the candidate to follow a research career by making it part of his/her everyday life. Through this process, I familiarized myself with different fields of biological research, became more self-acting and independent, explored my limits, and built new collaborations.

During the first year, weekly presentations got me involved in studying the current literature from different fields of biological research, advanced my already existing knowledge, and helped me highlight the current research trends. Additionally, being introduced to a variety of different scientific subjects assisted to follow the one that intrigued me the most. The limited time provided to prepare each presentation helped me run through the literature more efficiently, while I got trained in taking decisions and being more self-acting. The practical involvement in experimental projects is also highly present, with two laboratory rotations of two months each. During this, I had the chance to practice both my laboratory and computational skills while I was also introduced to new collaborators with which I still continue to work with. Another major part of the AEC program is the one-year-long thesis, which gives the candidate the opportunity to start a project of his own. This process got me involved in a scientific project that inspired me to follow up to the PhD level while writing a research proposal on this topic was a novel experience and essential knowledge for anyone intending to follow a research career. Currently, I’m in the first PhD year working on a field of my interest with the confidence that AEC provided me with the motivation, skills, and mindset to reach that peak.

In September 2020, I was accepted to the Master’s program “Advanced experimental and computational Biosciences” of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, a PhD-oriented program considered one of the most interesting and demanding ones in our department. It is a remarkable program and during those two years, due to the rigorous training we obtained from our professors and all the knowledge they happily transferred to us, I was able to develop new skills and a newfound passion for science, which proved important tools for my PhD studies.

The primary factors motivating my decision to apply for registration in the Master’s program entitled “Advanced Experimental and Computational Biosciences” are two. Firstly, the program is conducted in English, which is universally recognized as the language of science. Secondly, the program offers a demanding and high-quality curriculum that aligned with my academic goals and aspirations. My undergraduate studies provided me with a comprehensive foundation of scientific knowledge, but it was my postgraduate studies at the Master’s level that allowed me to specialize and sharpen my theoretical and practical skills in academic research. For example, the laboratory visiting rotation scheme, which is part of the Master’s program, enabled me to acquire a plethora of experimental technical skills and add them to my portfolio. Moreover, the process of composing a grant proposal for research funding as part of my academic studies served as a means to stimulate and sharpen my critical thinking skills. The aforementioned factors played a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition from my postgraduate studies at the Master’s level to my doctoral studies.

The skills I obtained from the Master program: “Advanced Experimental and Computational Biosciences” include:

1. Learning to work under pressure, completing assignments in short time periods.
2. Exploring different scientific subjects in depth.
3. Learning new scientific approaches and methodologies in practice due to the one-year lab experience.
4. Introduced to multiple bioinformatic tools useful in scientific research.
5. Learning to present specific scientific subjects with English terminology and write research proposals.

This postgraduate program is mainly research-oriented while providing extensive laboratory experience. Specifically, it prepares the students for an academic and scientific career. It provides them with the foundations to start an international career and staff education and research institutions.

Being an AEBC student was a key decision I made when I graduated Biochemistry-Biotechnology, a decision that helped me start my first solid steps in post-graduate research. During my candidature, I was exposed to an in-depth learning of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry techniques. The learning schedule was tough but very effective. Critical thinking and comprehensive understanding were needed for a successful candidature. From learning tasks and journal clubs to rotations and my MSc thesis, all were extremely important. Being exposed to different tasks I managed to collect a range of skills that made me confident enough to apply to one of the world’s most competitive Universities for my PhD, the University of Melbourne. Based on my personal experience I would say that AEBC is great for anyone interested in doing a career in research, academia, or in industry, while it is a great preparation for people that want to do a PhD degree next.

I had a great experience attending the lessons in Advanced Experimental and Computational Biosciences. I was challenged to stay focused, comprehend new concepts, and follow deadlines, thus I was sufficiently prepared for a career in the demanding research field.

I attended the MSc program “Advanced Experimental and Computation Biosciences” during 2019-2021. My experience with this MSc was both challenging and exciting. This program is of a high standard and I especially liked its organization which incorporated lectures, presentations by students, and active discussions on many scientific topics. It also helped me to develop my soft and hard skills and get state-of-the-art knowledge. Overall I felt that the MSc program supported me in my professional career and has given me the tools to be more competitive in my field. I believe that it is a great choice for someone who wants to be involved in research.

During my studies at the University of Thessaly, I was really lucky to be selected for the MSc program “Advanced Experimental and Computational Biosciences” in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. It is an exceptional and intensive 2-year program, focused on people who would like to continue their academic trajectory to a PhD. It comprised a detailed overview of cutting-edge tools in biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, as well as training on oral presentations and literature review (through weekly oral presentations and bi-weekly journal clubs). The two-month experimental rotations provided an excellent opportunity to explore different experimental projects, before deciding on the 1-year master thesis project. Also, the grant writing module at the end of the program served as a great primer to grant writing and evaluation, to which I was not exposed previously. As a student who continued for a PhD, I found all the tools, knowledge, and advice from my professors during this program extremely useful for my PhD studies.