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master s programme in chemistry msc faculty of science international master s programme molecules and materials as a chemist you juggle with matter dissecting analysing and building it our master s programme in chemistry which provides you with an exceptional tool box for your future career is closely associated with the institute for molecules and materials imm at this research institute chemists and physicists work together to explore the properties of functional molecules and materials unique equipment on the one hand there is a strong research focus on molecular chemistry ranging from the synthesis of small molecules to the construction of bio polymers nano-sized materials and molecular assemblies on the other hand ultra fast processes in small structures and molecules are being studied using new technologies molecular self assembly and controlled material growth are being devised and a deeper insight in bio-molecular processes and interactions is gained the groups that make up the imm cover both experimental and theoretical physics and chemistry and use state-of-the-art analytical and synthetic techniques the faculty of science has unique facilities and equipment for these investigations modern bio organic synthesis labs the nano-lab spm stm an extensive nmr-research lab as well as a centre for advanced spectroscopy with ultramodern lasers as a master s student you will be able to use these facilities and in doing so you will work at the cutting edge of science top scientists research is carried out by leading scientists who participate in international research projects within the master s programme you will select one of the research groups to major in for example organic chemistry solid state chemistry or biophysical chemistry and have one of the scientists as your personal tutor you will follow lectures attend seminars and take part in the group s research taking responsibility for your own project the programme the two-year programme is structured as follows · majorresearchproject60ec · basicandadvancedcoursesrelatedtothemajorsubject 27ec · philosophy3ecandelectivecourses6ec · minorsubject:thiscanbeaninternshipwithinanother research institute in nijmegen or anywhere in the world oraninternshipinthecommercialsector24ec once you ve graduated you ll be awarded a master of science degree career prospects most of our graduates take up a phd position either in nijmegen or elsewhere our research institutes have many vacancies for phd projects every year furthermore many of our graduates become researchers and managers in industry the commercial sector or research organizations.

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i chose the science communication track of my master s in chemistry so i have to do two internships in the science communication internship i investigate online discussions between scientists and laypeople on tracing genetic ancestry i do this for the centre for society and genomics located at our faculty i did my research internship was at department of organic chemistry where i worked together with marta after her degree in chemistry at the university of barcelona marta came to nijmegen as an exchange student and stayed on to do a phd on the potentialuseofvirusesinnanotechnology lifeisverydifferenthere in spain most students live with their families here i had to live alone getusedtodifferentlanguagesenglishanddutchandadifferent culture the educational system is very different too and as a phd student i have to supervise students give marks for their work etc this made me learn quickly after i finish i will move on to california as a master s student anne already carried the responsibility for her part of the research we perform fundamental research investigating a particular virus that infects bean plants this virus has the special property that under certain conditions its protein cage completely disassembles and allows us to remove the rna that is contained inside our project consists of attaching polymers to the protein surface of the virus we can then remove the rna and reassemble the virus into the same spherical shape it had before but with the inside is now empty and the outside with the polymers attached to it it took several attempts but we proudly succeeded marta continues this research will be part of my thesis and i am sure we will also be able to publish an article on the subject with both of us as main authors anne did a large part of the work in the end many of the new ideas and solutions came from her it was a pleasure to work with her we work with top class equipment anne adds i even had my own desk and fume hood ­ the large cupboard we work in to prevent inhalation of the fumes we frequently used the electron microscope and other equipment all the chemicals we needed were always readily available according to marta anne would make a good researcher one professor has already offered her a phd position it really is right up my street says anne i am sure i will enjoy training and supervising students but especially i am delighted that i am able to stay in scientific research anne van der ham master s student in chemistry marta comellas post-doc in organic chemistry admission requirements · theequivalentofadutchbachelor sdegreeinchemistry asevaluatedbytheexaminationboard · fluencyinbothwrittenandspokenenglish.atoeflscore ofatleast550orielts6.0fornon-nativespeakersofenglish admission to the programme takes place once a year in september.registrationforstudentsfromoutsideeeacountries closeson1marchandforthosefromwithintheeeaon1may more information faculty of science international office e:io@science.ru.nl i www.internationalmasters.eu www.internationalmasters.eu publication date september 2010

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