Master of Science in Molecular Biology & Evolution (MAMBE)

The Master of Science in Molecular Biology & Evolution (MAMBE) is an international programme taught entirely in English. It is based on the fruitful collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany. It specifically combines the areas of evolution and molecular biology – a combination which has emerged as an extremely successful interdisciplinary research field in recent years but has not yet been available in academic education. The programme enables an extended research term in diverse research groups within the Kiel University and MPI Plön (see our website for additional details). The MAMBE curriculum is founded on the idea that interdisciplinary thinking enhances in-depth understanding of biological phenomena. For example, the complexity that is characteristic for many molecular processes can often only be understood by taking into account their evolutionary origins. Similarly, the evolution of particular trait functions may also often depend on the underlying molecular mechanisms. MAMBE will foster such interdisciplinary connections. In the first two semesters, you will learn advanced topics in molecular and evolutionary biology. Additionally, you will enhance your skill set in data analysis, evaluation and visualisation, as well as scientific communication. During the third and fourth semesters, the acquired competences will be applied to real research in the laboratory and field. This includes preparatory short-term research modules in the third semester followed by research on the topic of your Master's thesis in the fourth semester.