Lectures

Seminars

Lab courses

other modules

*5 or 10 CP depending on duration of excursion

Individual and External Free Choice Modules. FREE1, FREE3 and FREE4 modules can be selected up to a maximum of 10 CP each. FREE2 modules ("Internships) can be arranged for up to a maximum of 20 CP. Only one FREE2 internship can be carried out at an institution that is not involved in the degree programme (external internship).

Lectures are structured, theory-based courses that provide foundational knowledge in plant sciences. They are designed to build a strong academic basis for subsequent modules and to bring all students to a comparable scientific level. Depending on the course, you will have one to three sessions per week, each lasting between 60 and 90 minutes.

What to expect: core concepts, fundamental principles, and essential background knowledge from research group leaders.

Examination: written exam (e.g. free-text and/or multiple-choice questions).

Laboratory modules are research-oriented, hands-on courses and form the core of the program. You will work on practical experiments in small groups within the facilities of different research groups. These modules are designed to give you direct insight into ongoing scientific projects and day-to-day research practice.

What to expect: guided supervision by PhD students and postdocs, experimental work, and data analysis.

Examination: may include a written lab report, oral presentation, poster presentation, and/or a written exam, depending on the module.

Seminars are interactive, discussion-based courses focused on scientific topics. They are designed to develop your ability to read, understand, and present scientific literature. Seminars typically take place once per week and may run throughout the entire lecture period, with presentations given by participating students.

What to expect: preparing and presenting a topic, participating in discussions, and engaging with current research.

Examination: oral presentation

Free choice modules offer flexible, research-oriented learning opportunities that may include internal research projects, external internships or interdisciplinary experiences. These modules allow students to tailor part of their studies according to their scientific interests and career goals.

What to expect: supervised project work within a research group or external institution, practical experience in experimental or applied research environments.

Examination: typically requires a written report documenting the work carried out. In addition, students must arrange for an internal reviewer to evaluate the module. All relevant documents are available below.

Prof. Dr. Peter Dörmann
Plant Molecular Biology & Lipid Biochemistry - IMBIO

His group studies plant lipids, including galactolipid and phospholipid metabolism, tocopherol biosynthesis, and lipid-mediated plant-microbe interactions, with the aim of improving oil content and stress resilience in crops.

 
Prof. Dr. Veronica Maurino
Plant Molecular Physiology & Biotechnology - IZMB

Her group studies cellular metabolite damage control systems in land plants and algae, combining plant physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to understand how plants manage metabolic byproducts and improve resource efficiency.

 
Prof. Dr. Boas Pucker
Plant Bioinformatics & Genomics - IZMB

His group uses genomics, transcriptomics, and AI-based bioinformatics tools to uncover biosynthetic pathways in plants, with a focus on the genetic basis of specialised metabolism, particularly flavonoid biosynthesis, and engineering these pathways in microorganisms.

 
Prof. Dr. Dietmar Quandt
Bryology, Phylogenomics & Biodiversity - BIOB Abt. I

His group investigates biodiversity, molecular evolution, and the phylogenomics of early diverging land plants, with particular expertise in mosses and liverworts and their adaptations to extreme environments

 
Prof. Dr. Juliano Sarmento Cabral
Aquatic & Mechanistic Ecology - BIOB Abt. I

His group develops process-based computational models to understand how species distributions shift across space and time, focusing on the ecological and evolutionary drivers of biodiversity change under climate and land-use pressures.

 
Prof. Dr. Lukas Schreiber
Plant Ecophysiology & Transport Physiology - IZMB

His group studies the structure, chemical composition, biosynthesis, and transport barrier properties of plant surface interfaces, primarily the cutin layer in leaves and the suberin layer in roots.

 
Prof. Dr. Ute Vothknecht
Plant Cell Biology & Organelles - IZMB

Her group investigates Ca²⁺-dependent signalling pathways in plant organelles and the role of calcium, reactive oxygen species, and hormones in drought stress responses, working comparatively across Arabidopsis thaliana, barley, and potato.

 
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Weigend 
Plant Systematics & Biodiversity - BIOB Abt. I 

His group works on plant systematics, taxonomy, biogeography, and pollination ecology, with a geographical focus on South American flora and close ties to the University of Bonn Botanical Gardens.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Meyer 
Plant Redox Homeostasis & Signalling - INRES

His group investigates the dynamics of glutathione transport and thiol-based redox switches that regulate plant stress responses and control plant performance, using Arabidopsis thaliana as the primary model organism.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Litt  
Paleobotany & Palynology - IfP

His group covers Neogene and Quaternary palaeobotany and palynology, focusing on geo-biosphere responses to climate and human impact, using long continental lake records as palaeoclimate archives.

 
Prof. Dr. Annaliese Mason  
Plant Breeding & Genome Analysis - INRES

Her group focuses on polyploidy and interspecific hybridisation in Brassica crops, developing improved oilseed and vegetable varieties by harnessing chromosome doubling and interspecific gene exchange.