Semester	Basic and elective courses	Methods courses	Lab rotations
1	Lecture “Advanced Biochemistry” (5 CP)	Structural Biology (5 CP)	Structural Biology (15 CP)
2	Lecture “Advanced Biochemistry” (5 CP) Elective course in the area of Biochemistry (10 CP)	Molecular Biology (5 CP)	Molecular Biology (15 CP)
3	Elective course of choice (10 CP)	Molecular Medicine (5 CP)	Molecular Medicine (15 CP)
4	Master thesis including presentation and defense

Lecture series “Advanced Biochemistry” (10 credit points)

The major categories of the lecture series (RNA biochemistry, Protein biochemistry, Membrane biochemistry, Signal transduction) are represented by the members of the biochemistry faculty of Freie Universität Berlin and several associated members from major research hubs in Berlin such as the Leibniz institute of Molecular Pharmacology, the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine or the Charité. The curriculum comprises areas of ongoing research such as protein dynamics, post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA expression, membrane remodeling with a focus on neurobiology and signal transduction in the field of chronobiology, immunobiology or bone morphogenesis.

In addition to the mandatory basic lecture, a number of specialized lecture series are offered as elective courses (see below).

Methods courses (5 credit points for per 2 week course; 3 courses required)

These courses are designed as hands-on practical experience for gaining advanced technical skills. These courses are full-time assignments with a high supervisor to student ratio (typically 1-3 tutors for 6 students). Practical work is flanked by 45-90 minutes/day seminars that provide further aspects of the technology and also require the active participation of students, typically in form of a journal club or discussion of results at the end of the respective course. The following courses are currently being offered:

• Biomolecular X-ray Crystallography
• Quantitative Fluorescence Microscopy
• Biological NMR Spectroscopy
• Biophysical Methods
• Struct. Characterisation of Supramolecular Architectures by EM Techniques
• Nucleic Acids (Synthesis, Ribozymes, in-vitro Selection)
• Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry / Proteomic Analysis
• Mechanisms of Alternative Splicing Regulation
• Gene editing with CRISPR/Cas 9 for cell biology
• Membrane Protein Expression in Cell-free Systems
• Production and Biophysical Analysis of Selected Membrane Proteins
• Molecular Virology
• Molecular Immunology
• Membrane Traffic and Signaling / Intracellular Membrane Transport in Signal Transduction
• Chemical Biology: Protein Synthesis, Labeling and Function
• Analyzing Musculoskeletal Development in vivo
• Advanced Light Microscopy and Cell-based Assays in Biomedical Research and Neuroscience
• Quantitative Transcriptomics
• Molecular Pharmacology and Cellular Signal Transduction
• Functional Genomics with CRISPR

Lab rotations with examination (15 credit points, 3 appointments required)

Here, students are offered the unique opportunity to perform extended projects in a laboratory of their choice amongst the FU-affiliated and approved institutions in Berlin, Germany or internationally. At the end of these rotations the results are presented in a 15 minute talk followed by an oral examination of 30 minutes.

Lab rotations without examination (5-10 credit points)

These are individual research projects of varying length. They can be performed in preparation of a master thesis, as industry projects or in the form of an elective course.

Elective courses (20 credit points)

This part of the curriculum can be filled with methods modules, lab rotations or practical work in a research institute of the student’s choice. Half of the credit points require to be performed in the area of biochemistry while the other half can be obtained in other areas (soft skill courses, scientific writing, teaching etc.).

Master thesis

Six month research projects that complete the master studies and should prove the ability of students to independently perform and defend a research project.