This course trains Master’s students in scientific reasoning and research proposal writing in cell biology, biochemistry, and life sciences. With a supervisor, students develop a research overview, identify testable questions, and design an experimental strategy. Workshops cover critical reasoning, generative AI, writing, and presentation skills, culminating in proposal submission and defense.

The course will introduce students to a selected set of laboratory techniques that are foundational to modern biological research.

Introduction to the organizational principles of the nucleus using budding yeast, drosophila and vertebrate cells as model systems.

The cell interior is densely packed with macromolecules that self-organize through liquid-liquid phase separation and polymerization. In this interdisciplinary block course, we look at different experimental and theoretical approaches that investigate the fundamental principles of these interactions, how they are regulated and how they influence cell functions and properties of the cell interior.

Concepts and molecular mechanisms underlying the biochemistry of the cell, providing advanced insights into structure, function and regulation of individual cell components. Particular emphasis will be put on the spatial and temporal integration of different molecules and signaling pathways into global cellular processes such as intracellular transport, cell division & growth, and cell migration.

This course will focus on molecular mechanisms and concepts underlying cellular biochemistry, providing advanced insights into the structural and functional details of individual cell components, and the complex regulation of their interactions. Particular emphasis will be on the spatial and temporal integration of different molecules and signaling pathways into global cellular processes.

The course can be taken alone or in combination with the spring course “A Problem Based Approach to Cellular Biochemistry”. During this seminar style course, students will explore research topics in cellular biochemistry focused on the structure, function and regulation of selected cell components. In the best case, student efforts can be aligned with an ongoing or future research project.

This Master level course delves into the emerging field of biomolecular condensates - membrane-less organelles in cells. Using interdisciplinary concepts from biology, chemistry, biophysics, and soft matter, we will explore the biological properties of these condensates, their functions in health and disease, and their potentiol as new biomimetic materials for various applications.

The lecture provides an introduction to the function and regulations of cells.

Genetics and epigenetics form the blueprints for all life. Understanding genetics is critical to understanding everything from evolution to cancer. This course covers the fundamentals of modern genetics, with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms, and the use of genetic tools to understand biological biological processes in bacteria, model organisms and humans.

The course provides the basis of modern genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. A special focus is placed on the use of these tools for the understanding of biological processes in bacteria, model organisms and humans. The unit uses the principle of blended learning consisting of self-study modules in Moodle, tasks and input lectures by experts from the department.

The course will teach the basis and typical applications of methods for the analysis of nucleic acid sequences, mass spectrometric analysis of proteins and proteomes and advanced light and fluorescent imaging methods.

Application of current experimental strategies to study the dynamics of complex and highly regulated cellular processes.

Introduction to the diversity of current RNA-research at all levels from structural biology to systems biology using mainly model systems like S. cerevisiae (yeast), mammalian cells.

Introduction to the diversity of current RNA-research at all levels from structural biology to systems biology using mainly model systems like S. cerevisiae (yeast), mammalian cells.