Welcome to the website of Molecular Biotechnology (MBT) Programme of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Biotechnology is widely regarded as the technology of the 21st century, as a result of the profound advancements in molecular biology and associated technologies in the later half of the 20th century, and the power and promises of its application in health, food and the environment. In view of the future prospects of biotechnology, the Departments of Biochemistry and Biology at the CUHK jointly established the undergraduate MBT programme in 1998 and postgraduate programmes that lead to Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy in MBT in 2001.
For the undergraduate programme, its curriculum design first allows students to learn the basic knowledge and experimental skills in the life processes of microbes, plants and animals at the molecular, cellular and organismal levels. In the senior year, students focus on microbial, animal and plant biotechnology and the business and social aspects of biotechnology. In addition, they gain hands-on training and experience in the methods and techniques in biotechnology through laboratory courses. The highlight of training is a year long Senior Experimental Project which is individually supervised and the research results are presented in a symposium-type seminar. Summer internship locally or abroad and site visits to biotechnology companies are organized to further broaden the scope and experience of students.
Because of its joint nature, the MBT programme teaching staff represents a combined effort of over 20 faculty members from Biochemistry, Biology, and Medical School, covering 21 research fields such as animal biotechnology, bioinformatics, genomics, metabolomics, molecular therapeutics, proteomics, to transgenic technology, and the access to excellent facilities and state-of-the-art equipment in DNA, protein and metabolite analyses. Together with its well designed curriculum and personal training opportunity, the MBT Programme thus offers students the best training in biotechnology.
In the past eight years, the programme has attracted and graduated very high quality students. While many joining the work force in Hong Kong/China, the major of them continue their postgraduate studies in Hong Kong or overseas. As the application of biotechnologies to agricultural, biological, biomedical, pharmaceutical, and other bio-industrial and health-related industry continues to advance and more beneficial products are produced, the demand of this area of expertise and manpower is increasing. The future research, development and employment prospects and opportunities for the graduates in biotechnology are good.