M1 Boris Ephrussi Track

The Boris Ephrussi track is a selective master’s program within the “Molecular and Cellular Biology,” “Microbiology,” and “Neuroscience” tracks. This track is open to students at ENS Paris-Saclay who have been admitted through competitive examination or based on their application materials to the first or second year of the ENS Paris-Saclay degree program in the Department of Biology Education and Research. This track leads to a dual degree, requiring students to concurrently pursue an M1 degree from the Graduate School of Life Sciences and Health at Paris-Saclay University (specialization in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Microbiology, or Neuroscience) and the ENS Paris-Saclay degree.

The Graduate School of Life Sciences and Health offers three master’s specializations (Molecular and Cellular Biology, Microbiology, or Neuroscience) that take a mechanistic approach to biological processes, ranging from the molecular and cellular levels to those of organisms and populations, in both basic research and fields applied to health and biotechnology.

The ENS Paris-Saclay degree is a master’s degree program completed in 4 years (or 3 years for students admitted directly to the first year of the master’s program [M1] in the Boris Ephrussi track). It offers an outstanding education “in” and “through” research that prepares students for careers in higher education and research, the civil service, and, more broadly, in all sectors requiring a very high level of scientific expertise. This degree program defines a core curriculum of fundamental skills; mastery of these skills enables students to excel in their discipline: conducting and presenting research, mastering scientific English, imparting knowledge, and engaging in dialogue and collaboration with scientists from various fields… 

Learn more about the degree.

Students enrolled in the Boris Ephrussi track have access to the three Master’s specializations—“Molecular and Cellular Biology,” “Microbiology,” and “Neurosciences”; within each of these tracks, they choose their course units and design a personalized program. Depending on the course units they select, students may apply for various Master’s 2 specializations at Paris-Saclay University and throughout France.

To earn the ENS Paris-Saclay degree, students must, in addition to the M1, complete 10 additional ECTS credits (computer tools for biology, disciplinary reinforcement) as well as a summer research internship.

Classes are held primarily in Gif-sur-Yvette and Orsay, but they may also take place in Evry and Versailles, depending on the course units (UE) selected.

The ENS Paris-Saclay degree requires students to complete an additional year of study known as the “specialized track year.” Thus, after completing the M1 year and before beginning the M2R, students may pursue:

• A year of Pre-doctoral Research Abroad (ARPE)
• A year of Training in Higher Education (M2FESup): preparation for the “Biochemistry and Biological Engineering” agrégation or the “Life Sciences, Earth and Universe Sciences” agrégation
• A year of thematic research (in artificial intelligence, research and creation, or sciences for ecological transitions)
• A one-year interdisciplinary “interface” track (followed by a third-year undergraduate or first-year master’s program in another discipline: chemistry, social sciences, philosophy, physics, etc.)
• A dual-degree program (with AgroParisTech, ESPCI, Medicine, etc.)

After earning their degree from ENS Paris-Saclay, graduates typically continue their studies by pursuing a doctoral program (over 80% go on to pursue a Ph.D.).

Career opportunities are varied:

• Academic research (CNRS, INSERM, CEA, INRAe)
• Teaching (high school, universities, grandes écoles)
• Teaching and research (universities, grandes écoles)
• Scientific publishing/communication
• Senior civil service
• University hospital careers
• Research and development in private companies, startups, etc.

The master’s program is developed in partnership with other member institutions of Paris-Saclay University: AgroParisTech, ENS-Paris-Saclay, University of Evry Val d’Essonne, the Orsay Faculty of Sciences at the University of Paris-Saclay, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Paris-Saclay, the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Paris-Saclay, and the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

Furthermore, regardless of the field of biology, all French and international laboratories can host students from ENS Paris-Saclay for internships in basic research (internships lasting 2 to 10 months, depending on the year of graduation).