Teaching

Course organiser

The following courses are held by the group as part of the standard study programs at Freie Universität Berlin.

Teaching at the Molecular Ecology and Genomics Research Group is organised through the Institute of Biology and the Institute of Computer Science at Freie Universität Berlin, where the group's courses are embedded directly in the standard Biology Bachelor and Bioinformatics Master study programs. Rather than isolated workshops, the curriculum sits within the regular examination and credit structure, so students encounter molecular ecology and genomics techniques as integral parts of a recognised degree. Courses span the range from data analysis and evolutionary theory to environmental metagenomics, giving undergraduates a foundation in molecular methods and giving master's students the computational background needed to handle large sequencing datasets.

Course organisation reflects the group's dual institutional home. Scientific content draws on the freshwater biodiversity and ecological research conducted at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, while the bioinformatics component is taught in close cooperation with the Institute of Computer Science. This combination means that laboratory and field perspectives on DNA, genes, and environmental samples are paired with the statistical and computational frameworks required to make sense of them, and that students learn to move between sample collection in aquatic systems and the analysis of resulting molecular data.

Because the group works on questions ranging from global freshwater biodiversity agendas to climate-induced forest dieback and the composition of aquatic communities, the teaching material is continuously refreshed with current research. Students are exposed to topics such as mitochondrial and genomic variation, reference collections, and the use of molecular markers in species identification and conservation contexts. Seminar-style sessions complement the practical and theoretical parts of each course, encouraging discussion of published findings and of the methodological choices that shape ecological and genomic conclusions.

For students considering a thesis or a career in molecular ecology, the teaching courses provide a natural route into the group's ongoing projects. Working with eel and parasite systems, insect and fungal assemblages, and riverine metabarcoding datasets offers practical experience with real sampling designs, data quality considerations, and analytical pipelines. Supervision is provided within a research environment that spans both a Leibniz institute and a university institute, so that coursework can be linked to active research outputs, collaborative publications, and the open discussion of results typical of an academic working group.

Prospective participants can learn about currently offered courses, seminar schedules, and further study opportunities directly from the group's teaching pages, which include the complete course listing and information on how the group contributes to the Biology and Bioinformatics degree programs. The teaching overview is maintained alongside the group's publication record, press activities, and contact details, making it straightforward to see where teaching content originates and how it connects to the wider research programme of the Molecular Ecology and Genomics Research Group.