Bioinformatics

Degree programme choice orientation

SOrT is Sapienza's integrated guidance service. The service has a central office in the Città Universitaria and help desks located at the various Faculties. At SOrT, students can find more specific information regarding the Faculties and degree programs, as well as support for navigating their choices. The central office and Faculty professors coordinate incoming orientation and tutoring projects, manage relationships with high schools and their designated guidance counselors, propose support actions during the delicate transition phase from school to university, provide support to current students, offer information on the educational offerings and administrative procedures for accessing courses.
Initiatives and Guidance Projects:

1. “Open Doors at Sapienza” (Porte aperte alla Sapienza)
   This initiative, held annually at the Città Universitaria, is the most important event dedicated primarily to new freshmen: during the three orientation days, participants can meet professors and other students, receive information, and attend presentations in the Aula Magna introducing the educational offerings of all the University's Faculties. The event is aimed at all those intending to enroll in Bachelor's, Single-Cycle Master's, and Master's Degree programs at Sapienza, with particular attention to students in their final years of secondary school. The event is an opportunity for every stakeholder to get to know Sapienza, its educational offerings, study spaces, cultural and social venues, and the multiple services available to students (libraries and study rooms, museums, university residences, sports facilities, the University theater). Beyond information on academics, during the meetings and at Faculty stands along the university avenues, as well as in virtual stands, it's possible to get details on administrative procedures, both general and more specific to enrollment procedures for various degree programs, and acquire specific information on calls for participation in entrance exams for programs.
   Furthermore, to promote the development of inclusive contexts and access to university education, the Sector for Relations with Students with Disabilities and SLDs promotes spaces for discussion for managing academic careers through personalized and individualized study plans, activating available educational, economic, and/or logistical support for vulnerable students. Finally, the Sector guides students through the procedures to follow for requesting support, indicating the required clinical certifications.
2. “Sapienza Orientation” Portal (Portale “Orientamento Sapienza”)
   To accompany the study program choice process, the University has created an online portal (https://orientamento.uniroma1.it/index.html) that allows for an immersive and preliminary experience of university life: enter with navigable images and videos into the campus, classrooms and labs, libraries, the theater, and spaces dedicated to music and sports; access online teaching modules on the main topics covered in the courses; evaluate and enhance your preparation for access tests or knowledge assessments.
   Furthermore, the portal is the main point of contact for information on orientation events that the various Faculties and Departments schedule throughout the year and hosts presentation videos of the Faculties, Bachelor's, Single-Cycle Master's, and Master's Degree programs, particularly newly established courses. All orientation initiatives are promoted on the University's social channels to capture the attention of potentially interested students.
   The portal also includes an English version to promote orientation among international students.
3. Project “A Bridge between School and University” (Progetto “Un Ponte tra Scuola e Università”)
   This Project was created with the goal of facilitating a better transition for students leaving high school to the university world and easing their subsequent integration into the new environment.
   The project is divided into two initiatives:
   a) Sapienza Introduces Itself - Faculty presentation meetings and sample lessons conducted by Sapienza professors for high school students on topics relevant to each academic area;
   b) The Students' Sapienza - Interventions in schools aimed at presenting the services offered by Sapienza and sharing the university experience by specially trained "mentor" and "senior" students.
4. Self-Assessment Tools (developed by Sapienza experts and scientifically tested)
   a. “Know Yourself” (“Conosci te stesso”): Effective in accompanying the decision-making process aimed at choosing an educational path. Once completed, the tool returns a personality profile, an academic profile, and a professional profile.
   b. “Me, Myself, and Others” (“Io, me e gli altri”): Allows for the measurement of soft skills, i.e., the aptitudes relevant for integrating into society and the world of work.
5. Project “Online Orientation” (Progetto “Orientamento in rete”)
   This is an orientation and realignment project on the minimum knowledge required to best tackle entrance exams for biomedical and psychological area courses. The initiative involves a preparation course, characterized by a first phase with distance learning and a second phase conducted through intensive in-person courses, for access to limited-enrollment Faculties in the biomedical, health, and psychological areas, intended for students in their final years of secondary school.
6. “Paths for Transversal Skills and Orientation – PCTO” (formerly school-work alternation)
   This is a teaching method that, through practical experience, helps high school students consolidate knowledge acquired in school and test their aptitudes in the field while enriching their education and guiding their study path.
7. “Next Generation Orientation (ONG)” (“Orientamento Next Generation - ONG”)
   This is a common project of all universities in the Lazio Region, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, designed to help students in our Region consciously choose their educational path following their school cycle, as well as define their personal and professional trajectory.
   The project involves the delivery, by Sapienza professors, of a 15-hour total training path, available in person and in curricular mode, structured into 5 modules of 3 hours each delivered over 5 preferably consecutive days (subject to different agreements with schools), covering the following exemplary content:
   • Module A - Why study? / What is the point of studying?
   • Module B - How does one study at university?
   • Module C - How can I best prepare for the university study path?
   • Module D - Who am I and who will I be when I grow up?
   • Module E - What professions can I aspire to?
8. Preparation for Access Tests
   Sapienza uses the CISIA Online Entrance Tests (TOLC) which can be taken by high school students through the CISIA portal, which allows practice for the tests through the Student Placement Tests (PPS - Prove di Posizionamento per Studenti). The PPS are real tests, which allow students to get immediate feedback on their preparation level, based on a comparison with the answers given and the score achieved on the same questions by participants in the same TOLC in past years.
9. “Minimum Knowledge” (“Saperi Minimi”)
   The project dedicated to realigning minimum knowledge, i.e., the basic knowledge necessary to best attend the chosen degree program, involves accessing recorded lessons by university professors with the specific goal of strengthening incoming knowledge and allowing for a more conscious and motivated university career.
10. “Of@Sapienza”
    To increase the level of preparation for entrance tests and prevent the assignment OFA (Additional Learning Requirements - Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi) in Italian and Mathematics, the e-learning channel Of@Sapienza is present: students find useful tools here for independent practice and strengthening the minimum knowledge required by degree programs in the humanities, engineering, and architecture areas.
11. “Orientation Events”
    The page https://www.uniroma1.it/it/node/347362 collects all orientation events organized by the University, Faculties, Departments, and Course Boards/CdS in chronological order.

Furthermore, to support the choice of study path and illustrate the active services for students with disabilities and SLDs, Sapienza organizes meetings with schools and individual orientation meetings with high schools.
The University subsequently supports students with disabilities and SLDs in the delicate and very important process of orientation, assessment, and selection upon entry.
The 'Sector for Students with Disabilities and SLDs' evaluates which individualized methods for taking entrance exams are necessary based on the certifications presented by the students.
For enrollment in degree programs with a locally or nationally programmed number of places that require a selective test for access, people with disabilities can request a series of compensatory measures (e.g.: dedicated room; extra time; Reader Tutor; Accompanying Tutor; LIS Interpreter; calculator) by following the request methods indicated in the admission notices for the degree programs. Likewise, for enrollment in degree programs that require TOLC-type access tests managed by the CISIA Consortium, both in-person and remotely in the TOLC@HOME mode, people with disabilities and/or SLDs can request support measures in compliance with the methods and deadlines set by the administrative procedures for test registration.
Finally, the 'Sector for Students with Disabilities and SLDs' handles welcoming new freshmen who are in a vulnerable condition with the support of specialized tutors, peer tutors, and LIS interpreters.
Degree Program (CdS) Activities
The professors of the Bioinformatics program actively collaborate with high schools, organizing dedicated meetings for students in the phase of selecting their university path. These meetings aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics and the professional profile of the Bioinformatician, involving students in informative and illustrative sessions aimed at clarifying and stimulating their interest in this multidisciplinary discipline.
All interested students can also contact the SOrT office, using the contacts listed on the CdS website and on the Faculty and SOrT pages.
The use of the CISIA TOLC-F can be done by high school students through the CISIA portal; it is also possible to practice for the test through the Student Placement Tests (PPS - Prove di Posizionamento per Studenti).
With the ''Minimum Knowledge'' (Saperi minimi) project, the University also makes recorded lessons by university professors available to future freshmen with the specific goal of strengthening incoming knowledge. The Mathematics lessons represent a useful tool for strengthening incoming knowledge.
The Sapienza Orientation Portal (also in English) allows for an immersive and preliminary experience of university life through videos and photos of the facilities, including the CdS presentation video: https://youtu.be/lOWMOFLXBqk.

After completing the Bioinformatics degree at Sapienza University of Rome, graduates can choose from a wealth of two-years specialized Master’s programs across three broad fields, —Medical Biotechnology, Biological Area, and Information Technologies & Engineering—depending on which optional program exams they have selected during their three-years studies. Below is an overview of each option, grouped by area of study:
1. Medical Biotechnology

• Medical Biotechnology
  Focuses on the application of molecular and cellular technologies to human health. Topics include advanced diagnostics, therapeutic protein engineering, and translational research methods. Graduates acquire skills to work in hospital labs, biopharma R&D, and clinical trial design.
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
  Emphasizes drug discovery and development, from target identification to biopharmaceutical production. Coursework covers pharmacogenomics, regulatory affairs, bioprocessing, and GMP-compliant manufacturing. Ideal for careers in pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies.
• Biochemistry (taught in English)
  Provides a rigorous foundation in protein structure and function, metabolic regulation, and enzymology. Laboratory modules emphasize structural biology techniques (e.g., X‑ray crystallography, NMR) alongside computational studies.

2. Biological Area

• Genetics and Molecular Biology (taught in English)
  Delivers an in-depth understanding of gene regulation, epigenetics, and molecular mechanisms of disease. Combines laboratory practice in next‑generation sequencing with bioinformatics analysis. Prepares students for research positions in academia or industry.
• Biology and Cellular Technologies
  Explores advanced cell culture, tissue engineering, and stem‑cell techniques. Students learn to design experiments using cutting‑edge microscopy and flow cytometry, with applications in regenerative medicine and diagnostics.
• Genomic, Industrial and Environmental Biotechnologies
  Covers large‑scale genomic analysis, microbial engineering for bioremediation, and bio‑based production processes. Students gain expertise in bioinformatics pipelines, microbial fermentation, and environmental monitoring.
• Neurobiology
  Focuses on the cellular and molecular basis of nervous system function and dysfunction. Key topics include neural development, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegenerative disease models. Combines wet‑lab work with computational modeling of neural networks.

3. Information Technologies and Engineering Area

• Data Science (taught in English)
  Trains students in statistical inference, machine learning, and big‑data management with applications to biomedical datasets. Core courses include advanced algorithms, neural networks, and cloud computing for health analytics.
• Engineering in Computer Science (taught in English)
  Focuses on software development, systems engineering, and computational methods tailored to bioinformatics challenges. Students master algorithm design, high‑performance computing, and database systems for large‑scale biological data.
• Biomedical Engineering
  Combines engineering principles with life‑science applications: medical device design, imaging techniques, and rehabilitation technologies. Coursework integrates biomechanics, biomaterials, and instrumentation, preparing students for roles in hospital engineering departments and medtech companies.

Pursuing any of these Master’s programs allows Bioinformatics graduates to deepen their expertise, develop cutting‑edge technical skills, and tailor their career paths toward research, industry, or clinical applications within the vibrant scientific community at Sapienza.