A new angle of attack

Many diseases such as cancer, AIDS, psychiatric and neurodegenerative disease continue to reveal their formidable complexity. To understand the mechanisms that govern them, scientists are increasingly using quantitative approaches that require high-level knowledge in physics and mathematics. And technological progress - particularly in the area of miniaturization, computer power and automation - open new perspectives, for research tools as well as therapeutic possibilities.

The increasing importance of technology

Understanding the communication taking place between the billions of neurons in the nervous system, or the mechanical forces involved in the migration of cancerous cells through tissues, requires not only knowledge of the biological phenomena in question but also a deep understanding of physics and mathematics, to be able to analyze and model these processes.

Lab equipment uses sophisticated technology. Today's labs need scientists who understand optics, electronics, programming techniques. They have to know how to change the design of an instrument depending on the experiment being done or even how to develop new prototypes that might be commercialized.

Computer science also takes a central role: not just to handle the accumulated data from an experiment and extract the pertinent results, but also to modify complex algorithms that allow the reconstruction of an image from microscope data. 

Knowing how to model phenomena is essential for making predictions and defining the design of experiments that will be done to test them.

An educational program at the interface between biology, engineering and medicine

The face of modern biology has changed. Now, progress in the field implies the mastery of technical tools and, reciprocally, the needs of research will lead to the development of new technologies.

EPFL's educational program in life sciences and technology embraces this evolution. As a life sciences engineer, you will have this double competency: a background in biology associated with solid engineering skills, as well as a critical sense and an understanding of the ethical dimension.

Career opportunities

Your employers will be most likely public or private research centers, big pharmaceutical companies, and biomedical technology companies.


We hope also that the most enterprising among you will launch start-up companies, thus creating jobs in an area where Switzerland is one of the world's leaders in research. The complementary program in Management of technology is designed to help you acheive this goal.

The study program

The Life Sciences and Technology section offers two Master's degrees. One in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and the other in Life Sciences and Technology. The courses in the last year of the Bachelor's degree will help you decide which of these Master's options best suits your interests.