After more than seven years of reflection, UQAM launched a brand new DESS program in life sciences and biopharmaceuticals this fall. This second cycle training focuses on bioethics, drug manufacturing, marketing, regulation, clinical studies, management and advanced data processing. Overview.
Posted yesterday at 11:00 a.m.
Since the creation of the program was confirmed late in the winter of 2022, only four students started the session this fall. “More students were registered, but the delays in obtaining study visas caused problems and several of them chose to postpone their studies until winter 2023, explains Marc Lussier, director of the program. Ultimately, we would like to have 25 students per year, or even more. »
PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Marc Lussier, director of the DESS program in life sciences and biopharmaceuticals
The establishment wishes to attract registrations by putting forward the possibility of better positioning itself on the labor market. “Several companies in the metropolitan area, grouped under the name of Montréal In Vivo, have begun discussions on the axes to be developed to improve their positioning with certain professors from UQAM, including Benoit Barbeau, summarizes the director. He came back to us to find out what we could do to meet the needs of the industry. »
On the menu: courses covering, among other things, the processing of biological data, human resources, ethics, drug development and big data.
Part of the curriculum allows a certain flexibility, so that each student chooses a path oriented towards therapeutic chemistry or genomics, for example.
Marc Lussier, director of the DESS program in life sciences and biopharmaceuticals
Everything is in place to allow them to better break into the industry or to reach positions that are difficult to access. The program is aimed at baccalaureate holders from multiple backgrounds (chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, immunology, physiology, medical biology, life sciences, biological sciences, etc.). As well as to people already present in the labor market.
“We are looking for people with a wide variety of backgrounds to give them additional tools and improve what they can offer in business. »
Two paths are available to students interested in the 30 credits offered for the DESS in life sciences and biopharmaceuticals: a one-year full-time path with two consecutive sessions or a part-time path over a period of two years in a ideal world.
“We want to offer them a bit of flexibility, because we understand that some students have families,” emphasizes Marc Lussier. The pandemic has taught us to adjust a little more than before. Nevertheless, we advise them to follow at least three courses per session, in order to respect the sequence of courses allowing them to have the necessary skills to understand the rest. »
Both options are followed by a paid internship of 12 weeks in a company, at the rate of 35 hours per week. “The whole process will lead our students to take their first steps in business or to gain significant experience that will potentially allow them to stay there afterwards. »