Curriculum of the MSc Microbiology and Infection Biology

The Master of Science Microbiology and Infection Biology is a two years program with a total 120 ECTS credits. All modules except for the Elective Modules and the courses of the Interdisciplinary Module are graded and will contributed to the overall grade of the Master´s degree.

The first year will euqip you with broad foundation in microbiology and you will learn state-of-the-art molecular biology and biochemistry methods and bioinformatics. In addition, you can sharpen your profile by freely choosing modules from different research areas.

In the second year, experimental work in our laboratories is planned, as well as training in scientific communication.

The table below shows a typical course of study. Depending on the selected courses, it may look different. The module handbook (draft version) specifies content, teaching methods, prerequisites, and examination procedures for each module. The examination rules contain detailed information about the calculation of the final grade of the Master´s degree.

The first part of this module covers the basics of cell biology and metabolism in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and is taught together with the Master of Science Cellular and Immunological Biosciences. Topics covered in the lectures and the accompanying tutorials of the first part include genome and gene expression, protein structure and function, cell structure and compartmentalization, and metabolism. The second part of the module is specific to bacteria and includes the following topics in the lectures and the accompanying tutorial: bacterial growth, physiology and control, bacterial acclimation and signaling, bacterial evolution and diversity, bacterial ecology, human microbiota and symbionts, mucosal microbiota and immunity, infection biology and antimicrobial therapy.

In the lecture of this module, basic methods of molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology are taught. These methods are then consolidated in exercises and potential sources of error are discussed. In the lab practical, the basic methods are carried out independently by the students. In addition, students can choose between different advanced methods which are demonstrated in the research groups specialized in these methods.

In the lecture of this module, students get a glimpse of the current research topics of the different research groups in the field of Microbiology and Infection Biology in Tübingen. The lecture will be complemented with two full-day seminars or activities. A visit to a company is planned.

Students can select from different specialized courses in the areas of Microbiology and Infection Biology.

The following 6 CP-courses are offered by our labs:

• Advanced Infection Biology
• Antibiotics - Modes of Action and Resistance
• Applied Biotechnology
• Bacterial Adaptation Mechanisms
• Genome Mining and Natural Product Biosynthesis
• Microbe-Host-Interactions
• Microbial Glycobiology
• Microbial Pathogenicity
• Microbiome Study - Hands on experience
• Molecular Physiology of Cyanobacteria
• Molecular Structures and Interactions

Additionally the following courses can be credited (with the designated CP) in the Advanced Elective Module:

• Environmental Microbiology and Geomicrobiology
• Lab Course Geomicrobiology
• thematically suitable courses that are completed during your study abroad

Courses offered within this module will teach and deepen selected topics from and relevant to the computational life sciences. Individual courses focus on sequence bioinformatics, structural bioinformatics, integrative bioinformatics, systems biology, data handling and analysis, statistics, or other relevant topics in the area of computational biology and bioinformatics. The focus of accompanying tutorials is to learn to implement algorithms of theoretical models and to analyze large life science datasets.

In this Module students can choose any course offered by the University of Tübingen to extend their studies in the direction of other disciplines. Of course, it is also possible to choose the microbiology and infection biology courses from the Advanced Elective Module as they are also part of the courses offered by the University of Tübingen.

In these Modules students will be given the opportunity to work in the labs of their choice to develop their preferences. Students learn how to work independently on a scientific project in a research group and to design, implement and evaluate experiments in preparation for their Master´s thesis. In one of the Research Modules students present the progress and background of their experimental work in a scientific poster and in the other one they will prepare a protocol and report on their experimental work in an oral presentation.
One of the Research Modules can also be completed in a lab outside the University of Tübingen. We offer two places at the University of Aix-Marseille every year (More infomation can be found in the Studying abroad section).

Students strengthen their scientific communication skills with a focus on writing skills in preparation for their master's thesis. The structure, content, and style of scientific manuscripts are addressed. Core concepts are taught using a combination of lectures, small-group exercises, and written essays, for which students receive extensive personalized feedback. In the journal club, primary scientific articles are discussed.

In the Master´s thesis, the students work independently on a research project in a research group. They acquire new data, exploit and interpret their results, design clear and informative figures and write a clear and concise thesis. The results should contribute to the gain of knowledge of the scientific community. Students participate in lab meetings and present the results of their thesis orally.