Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources

With more than one million scientifically described species, insects are the largest group of organisms on Earth. As an emerging interdisciplinary research area, insect biotechnology explores insects as well as insect-associated micro- and macro-organisms as emerging bioresources in the fields of medicine, crop protection, pharmaceuticals, industrial food and biotechnology. During your studies, you will deal intensively with the systematics and ecology of insects and acquire specific scientific and technical knowledge. You will also learn about various methodical research approaches to investigate insects and their associated organisms as a new resource for food and luxury food, enzymes and bioactive natural products and finally to refine fully developed products. The study programme is characterised by a strong emphasis on research and practical relevance as well as a high level of interdisciplinary approaches and projects. The English Master‘s programme in Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources is offered by the Faculty 09 Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management in cooperation with the Faculty 08 Biology and Chemistry and the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen – University of Applied Sciences. The study programme is organised in modules (courses). Each module comprises four semester hours per week and is completed with a final examination. The final grade of the study programme is calculated from the achieved module grades. The programme consists of eight mandatory modules (core modules), six optional modules (profile modules), a work placement (or two more profile modules) and the Master's thesis. Having completed the core modules, the students are well equipped with a solid scientific education and ready to deepen their knowledge in specific research areas. By individually choosing their profile modules from a diverse range of study areas, students shape their individual competence profiles. Core Modules (mandatory): Applied Statistics Principles of Scientific Practice Entomology I Entomology II Food Technology Insect Biotechnology and Integrated Pest Management Bioresources for Natural Product Discovery Natural Product Chemistry Profile Modules Students tailor their individual profile by selecting six modules and the internship or eight modules from the entire profile module catalogue of the faculty.  For example, you can choose profile modules from the following subject areas: Plant Breeding Phytopathology General and Soil Microbiology Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection Microbiology of Recycling Processes Agricultural and Food Market Analysis Insect Biotechnology Natural Product Research Landscape, Water and Biogeochemical Cycles Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Agronomy and Crop Physiology Biometry and Population Genetics Crop Biomass and Bioresources Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology Political Science Recommended programme schedule: PDF Download