Parasite Control (Taught)

The Parasite Control course at Aberystwyth University leads to an internationally recognised MRes qualification that will provide training in transferable skills essential for those wishing to pursue a PhD or commercial or industrial research opportunities. Specifically focusing on parasites and the diseases that they cause, you will gain expert knowledge in the detection, prevention and control of protozoan as well as metazoan animal and human pathogens. You will be trained in specialisms including biochemistry, molecular biology, whole organism/cell culture and manipulation, bioinformatics, proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics, functional genomics, drug discovery, vaccinology, biomarker discovery, genetics/epigenetics, epidemiology, vector/intermediate host biology and ecology.

At the end of the course you will understand how interdisciplinary methods can be brought to bear on controlling some of the deadliest infectious organisms on the planet and be ready to pursue your career in parasitology.

Parasitism is the most successful lifestyle on the planet and leads to diverse and highly-damaging infectious diseases of agricultural, veterinary and biomedical significance. Therefore, a greater understanding of the parasite species responsible for these conditions and the means by which they are controlled remain a priority for scientists, health care professionals and farmers in the 21st century. The development of novel, creative and integrated control strategies are urgently needed to combat the growing threat of changing parasite distributions due to climate change, human migration, animal transportation and farming practices. This MRes course will provide you with a range of vocational skills and prepare you for professional employment or further postgraduate PhD studies in Parasitology or related disciplines (such as infectious diseases, public health and epidemiology).

The MRes Parasite Control has a substantial component of independent supervised research (120 of 180 credits) and structured learning opportunities via 60 credits of taught modules, through which you will gain in-depth knowledge and an understanding of current issues of parasite control. The further development of generic attributes of decision-making, independent learning and communicating effectively to a range of audiences and in a variety of media will be developed in all modules.