Studies for an M.Sc. in ‘Infection Biology and Immunology’ commence in winter semester. During the degree course, students gain practical and theoretical knowledge of infection biology, immunology, modern OMICs technologies and clinical research. At the beginning of their studies, all students visit core modules, which aim to consolidate basic knowledge of infection biology and immunology. Furthermore, they are taught the fundamental principles of OMICs technologies, data science and key competences.  Based on these introductory modules, students individually select compulsory elective modules. They can choose from 13 advanced modules. The range of advanced modules should provide an appropriate scope of content to enable students to specialise in the various subject disciplines of infection biology and immunology linked to biomedical or clinical practice and realise their own interests. The students acquire both theoretical and methodological knowledge and competences and will be in a position to transfer principles of infection biology, immunology and biomedicine to specific problems.

The research practical introduces students to current research topics in preparation for independent scientific work. During the work placement, students gain insights into possible areas of future work and job profiles. The master’s degree course ‘Infection Biology and Immunology’ is completed after passing the master’s dissertation module.

Master’s modules (6-12 ECTS):

• Core modules:
• Basics in Infection Biology (8 ETCS)
• Immunology (8 ETCS)
• Introduction to OMICS Technologies (8 ETCS)
• Applied Data Science (6 ETCS)
• Key Competences (6 ETCS)

• Advanced modules:
• Molecular Infection Biology (12 ETCS)
• Host Genetics in Infectious Diseases (12 ETCS)
• Molecular Virology and Cell Biology (12 ETCS)
• One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance (6 ETCS)
• Infection Immunology (12 ETCS)
• Clinical Module (12 ETCS)
• Pathophysiology and Molecular Adaptation of Microbes (12 ETCS)
• Microbial Pathoproteomics (12 ETCS)
• Functional Genomics (12 ETCS)
• Biotechnology and Biophysics (12 ETCS)
• Metabolomics in Infection Research (6 ETCS)
• Microbiome in the One Health context (12 ETCS)
• Applied Bioinformatics (6 ETCS)

The methods on offer vary according to the selected modules; examples are:

• Molecular biology methods (cloning techniques, PCR, transformation, heterologous protein expression, etc.)
• Procedures related to reverse genetics (e.g. gene replacement, targeted mutagenesis)
• Protein biochemistry analyses, immunohistochemistry
• Protein expression and protein-protein interactions, structural analyses of proteins
• Metabolomics, transcriptomics and proteomics using NMR, (single-cell) RNAseq, mass spectrometry
• Immunoproteomics
• Microbiome analyses
• Flow cytometry for analysing the immune response using FACS (Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting e.g. FACS Aria III)
• Experimental infection models (C. elegans & mouse)
• in vitro and ex vivo infections in the cell culture with immortalised host cells or primary host / immune cells from humans or animals
• Cell physiological analysis methods
• High resolution modern imaging procedures (e.g. fluorescence microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), super resolution microscopy, electron microscopy, real-time bioimaging of infections in infection models using IVIS Spectrum)

By focusing on scientific theory and practice and fostering independence and solution-oriented thinking, graduates receive the best possible preparation for careers at scientific and industrial institutions. Having gained the degree of Master of Science, graduates have access to managerial positions on the international job market or also in the public service sector. Jobs can be found at higher education institutions, research institutions, authorities and in the industrial sector, for example, in the pharmaceutical industry, at clinical laboratories or in medical technology. Furthermore, graduates are able to commence a doctorate and thus pursue a scientific career in research inside or outside of higher education.

• Functional Genomics Department
• Department of Internal Medicine - Cardiology
• Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology
• Department of Molecular Vector-Pathogen Interaction
• Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
• Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology
• Institute of Biochemistry
• Institute of Immunology
• Institute of Immunology und Transfusion Medicine
• Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science
• Institute of Medical Microbiology
• Institute of Microbiology
• Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology
• Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Institute of Pharmacy
• Institute of Infectology
• Medical Microbiology/Virology

Projects in the field of infection biology and immunology, including clinical and patient-oriented questions, constitute a key field of research at the University and University Medicine Greifswald. The combination of university facilities and external research institutions such as the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut - Federal Research Institute for Animal Health - and the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (founded in 2022), provides Greifswald with an infrastructure unique to Germany in the field of infection biology and immunology of humans and animals in viral, bacterial or parasitic infections. The excellent infrastructure provided by the research institutions with laboratories up to biosafety level 3 and 4, as well as state-of-the-art technological equipment in the field of proteogenomics and high resolution microscopy enable teaching and research at a high and internationally competitive level.