Master's in Biology – Specialisation in Molecular and Medical Neuroscience (Neuro)

Brain disorders like neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric diseases present major health problems with limited treatment options available. What are the molecular mechanisms underlying disease and how do they translate into brain dysfunction causing neurological and psychiatric symptoms? This Master's programme at the RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau provides fundamental background knowledge as well as practical training in state-of-the-art techniques for addressing the challenges of molecular and medical neuroscience. It is a programme with a familiar atmosphere and an exceptional student-to-faculty ratio, which allows for close interactions. Early on students start experimenting in the faculty labs with access to advanced approaches in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, electrophysiology, optogenetics, behavioural neurobiology, super-resolution microscopy and in vivo 2-photon imaging. Participants will have the possibility to become familiar with diverse model systems ranging from primary neuron cultures to Drosophila, rodents and human iPSC derived cellular models. The two-year programme, which can be started in April or October, comprises a series of interactive reading courses to provide students with in-depth theoretical background and the ability to analyse and discuss current research, three extended lab rotations to acquire technical and analytical skills, and a Master's thesis to develop the students' ability to conduct independent scientific research and to write up and present their scientific results.