The Master's Degree Program in “Biotechnologies and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health” aims to train polyvalent and distinctive professional figures in comparison with other graduates of the class, while adhering to the educational objectives of the LM-09 graduating class, capable of filling roles that require an in-depth knowledge of the technological potential of Artificial Intelligence in the applied context of Biotechnology with particular reference to human health.

PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES
Graduates in Biotechnologies and Applied AI for Health will be prepared for both academic and industrial research, particularly in biotechnology and bioinformatics industries. They will be able to understand and elaborate complex biological phenomena, to design innovative experimental models and instruments (such as biosensors, biochip), to analyze, process, store and extract big data by means of machine learning approaches. Other professional prospects include the dissemination of scientific knowledge, institutional communication (for instance, within European political institutions), or a role in the developing field of AI in Health (for instance, in private or public consulting agencies).
The master's degree is aimed at providing participating students with skills both in understanding complex biological phenomena and in using artificial intelligence and bioengineering systems in the fields of health biotechnology. Thus, a course of study is proposed that includes activities aimed at acquiring:

• knowledge of the principles of development and application of artificial intelligence;
• in-depth knowledge of biochemical processes and mechanisms including with reference to signal transduction pathways in cellular systems that can be exploited from a biotechnological point of view;
• in-depth knowledge of pathophysiology and sensory processes;
• knowledge of the principles of organizing, accessing and managing big data with particular reference to biological data; in-depth knowledge of omics sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, microbiomics, imaging);
• knowledge and use of bio-informatics methodologies for the purposes of organizing, building and accessing databases, with particular reference to those concerning omics sciences; advanced knowledge of methods of producing and analyzing a wide range of experimental models, from in silico to in vitro modeling to the development and application of in vivo models.

In order to acquire the described skills, the master's degree program includes lectures, tutorials and laboratory activities embedded in the different courses.
The Master's degree course in “Biotechnologies and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health” is delivered entirely in English, both to facilitate the access of foreign students, thus implementing the multi-cultural and interdisciplinary nature that characterizes in content the degree course, and to encourage professional outlets in public or private research or business fields characterized by a necessary openness on an international scale. In addition to these advantages for students in the Master's degree program, delivery in English acknowledges the University's strategies of strong focus on internationalization. In addition, the master's degree project in “Biotechnologies and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health” takes its cue from interactions with a number of European universities with which programs of interchange and mutual recognition of educational activities, in the field of artificial intelligence and health, are being designed, with the ultimate aim of realizing, also culturally, projects of European universities.

The curriculum of the master's degree program in “Biotechnologies and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health,” which is open to both students from the life sciences area and students from the informatics-technology area, is structured into a common pathway and two separate educational pathways. The two curricula consist of teachings aimed at integrating and completing the knowledge of the different profiles admitted to the Master's degree program. The “Biology” curriculum, aimed at students coming from a previous educational background in the Life Sciences area, will mainly deal with disciplines from the bioengineering and computer science areas, while the “Engineering” curriculum, aimed at students coming from a previous educational background in the computer-technology area, will mainly deal with disciplines from the biological and biotechnology areas. The two curricula are associated with a common training path that is developed between the first and second year of the course and characterized by teachings aimed at deepening the application aspects of artificial intelligence in biotechnology for health through the acquisition of interdisciplinary skills, teachings that can also be followed abroad in other European universities.

The second semester of the second year is mainly devoted to activities inherent in the conduct of the internship and residency for the preparation of the experimental thesis. The Master's thesis constitutes an original paper related to the experimental work experience carried out by the student at University facilities, or in companies, laboratories or affiliated research centers.
The achievement of the formative objectives of each teaching activity will be verified by oral and/or written examination tests. The achievement of the formative objectives of the thesis work will be monitored during the preparation of the thesis by the thesis supervisor, and at the end of the course with the final examination by the jury, which will also allow, also, to verify the ability to illustrate the results of one's research activity.

The University of Pisa (UNIPI) and Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) have agreed to collaborate on the 120-ECTS Master’s degree programme named “Master Degree in AI and Health” starting from the academic year 2023/2024. 
Students participating in the double-degree programme will attend their first and second semester in their home university and third and fourth semester in the host institution. A full overview on the double degree programme and admission procedure is available on this link.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE AND OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES
Graduates will have a multidisciplinary knowledge of both complex biological systems and methodologies for designing innovative biotechnological strategies in human health, while complying with bioethics and biosafety regulations.
Relevant skills inherent to various areas, including “omics” methodologies, advanced techniques for setting up multicellular in vitro systems, artificial intelligence applied to health, management of systems for extracting, storing and processing large amounts of data, data mining in the fields of genomics, transcriptomics, microbiomics, cell signaling and imaging. Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary working groups dedicated to the development of multifunctional and innovative biotechnological investigation platforms.

This professional figure will be able to carry out activities of high responsibility in areas related to the application in the biotechnological field of knowledge of artificial intelligence, cellular technologies for setting up innovative experimental models, big-data processing.

Graduates in “Biotechnologies and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health” will be able to find employment in universities, public and private research organizations and laboratories (companies, pharmaceutical firms, data centers, biotech companies), where they will carry out activities inherent to the design, implementation, control and analysis of innovative procedures and products in biotechnological fields related to human health. Graduates will be able to take the state exam for qualification to practice as a senior biologist, obtain registration in the National Order of Biologists (Section A) and enter the world of work as freelance consultants expert in biotechnological-applied procedures.
Graduates, in addition to the outlets provided for master's graduates of the LM-9 class, will have the opportunity to profitably pursue higher-level studies by participating in national and international doctoral programs or master's degrees, thanks to the multidisciplinary preparation and propensity for research activity developed during their training.