Molecular Biosciences and Productive Biosystems (MBioPro)

White biotechnology – harnessing the physiological prowess of microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi) for the production of chemicals, enzymes and energy – holds great potential for developing bioeconomy towards a sustainable future. It is an interdisciplinary effort that encompasses knowledge of and approaches from biochemistry, molecular genetics, microbial physiology, functional biodiversity, bioprocess engineering and synthetic biology. The Master’s programme in Molecular Biosciences and Productive Biosystems (MBioPro) aims at providing a comprehensive and research-oriented knowledge base in molecular biology, applied microbial physiology, and product development. This two-year full-time international Master’s programme rests on three scientific pillars. “Functional Tools” will provide the students with theoretical and practical knowledge on modern methods of enzymology, genetic engineering, systems and synthetic biology, as well as bioinformatics and functional biodiversity. “Productive Pathways” teaches the fundamentals in microbial physiology, metabolism and bioenergetics that can be harnessed for applied purposes. Both pillars culminate in “Application Technologies”, where tools and pathways are fused into fields such as biocatalysis, biotransformation, metabolic engineering and environmental monitoring. As a result of this highly focused programme, MBioPro graduates are ideally prepared for solving future challenges in biotechnological research and development. The courses of the MBioPro Master's programme are organised in a modular fashion throughout the first three semesters. The first semester represents a levelling and qualification phase to ensure that all students within the programme have the required knowledge base for the specialised courses of the following two semesters. It encompasses the following courses: “Physiological Concepts of Microbial Cultivation” “Microbial Expression Hosts and Protein Production” “Microbial Ecology of Fungi and Protists” In the second and third semesters, topics within the three scientific pillars of this Master's programme are taught. The third semester also provides the possibility for studies abroad, research stays in the biotech industry or participation in the iGEM competition. “Functional Tools” encompasses two modules: “From Genes to Enzymes” and “Systems Biology and Genomics” “Productive Pathways” “Application Technologies” Moreover, an extended lab rotation in each semester provides hands-on experience in independent lab routine and will help choosing the research group for the Master's thesis project. In the fourth semester, MBioPro students work on the Master's thesis project.