Master of Science in Biochemistry

Building upon their existing knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology, students in the MSc Biochemistry programme will learn advanced concepts of molecular biology and biochemistry. They will also apply methodical approaches to the analysis of biomolecules and cellular functions on molecular levels within a broad range of scientific fields. The programme is coordinated by the Center for Molecular Biomedicine in Jena and involves contributions from the Fritz Lipman Institute on Aging, the Hans Knöll Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. All of these institutions are located on the primary science campus in Jena, the "Beutenberg". In three mandatory basic modules in the first semester, students learn about 1) modern techniques in spectroscopy and bioimaging, including a lecture, a seminar, and a practical course; 2) regulatory aspects of biochemistry, including a lecture on regulatory aspects of biochemistry,  a lecture on basic methods of analytical biochemistry; and a seminar on genome structure and changes, and 3) cell biology, including a lecture on molecular cell biology, a lecture on signal transduction, a lecture on hormones and their actions, and a seminar in molecular pharmacology. In the second semester, students may presently choose three out of 14 advanced modules. These include 1) Biochemistry of Natural Products, 2) Organic Chemistry, 3) Chemical Ecology, 4) Genetic Instability, Tumour Biology, and Ageing, 5) Molecular Medicine of Ion Transport, 6) Proteomics, 7) Systems Biology, 8) Epigenetics and Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes, 9) Cellular Plasticity, including Neuronal Plasticity, Stem Cells and Immunology of Ageing, 10) Pharmacological Cell Biology, 12) Immunobiology, 13) Infection Biology, 14) Virology. Each of these modules contains a lecture and/or seminar plus a practical course to learn advanced techniques, often in a lab of choice in Jena. It is possible to choose one additional advanced module and/or to choose one advanced module from another Master's programme in Jena. The second year is completely dedicated to practical work, learning techniques, and planning projects as well as to doing a Master's thesis in a lab of choice in Jena. Counselling and advice for a choice that best fits the interest of each student are offered.