Profile

In the past decades the work in biological and biomedical sciences has become more exciting and challenging. To the same extent it has become more complex and demanding. The successful scientist today can no longer rely on her/his expertise in only one area or one technique, but must be able to make use of the constantly increasing amount of information, technologies, and experimental strategies beyond the boundaries defined by traditional university departments. In the future, opportunities for research and scientific discovery in academia, industry, education, or any of the many other career pathways in this broad field will be greater than ever before! The foundation for a career in science is laid with high quality training in graduate school and will advance further with practical and personal experience. Interdisciplinary interaction of all specialists involved in this field will play a keyrole to a better insight.

To help meet these modern expectations, the faculty members of the MBML have redefined their approach to postgraduate education and have formed an interdisciplinary International Graduate Program including the schools of agricultural sciences, biology and microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacological sciences, medicine and veterinary medicine. Emphasizing the interface between clinical pulmonary medicine and research in basic sciences students receive the opportunity to study in the thriving environment of the Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany supported by a full or partial fellowship.

Over the period of 3 years these students engage in cutting edge research projects investigating the physiology and pathophysiology of the lung in the interface of basic sciences and clinical medicine. Particular emphasis of the entailed projects is put on the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying diseases of the respiratory system potentially applicable to the development of new therapeutic strategies. The Program understands itself as a modern scientific career center preparing its successful graduates for competitive careers in biomedical research in academia, industry, or related businesses. The educational foundation of this program offers a broad scheme of theoretical knowledge and transferable methodical skills. At a very early stage of their scientific career the students become independent in planning and conducting their research work. They are confident to present their findings in spoken and written reports (talks, publications, grant applications). The philosophy of the Program highly values interdisciplinary cooperations within the scientific community; it introduces research management strategies and transports teamwork skills in academic medicine.

In detail, the postgraduate students join weekly seminars organized in a modular coursework. During the first two years the emphasis of the curriculum is focussed mainly on the acquisition of a strong theoretical background and practical laboratory experience. In the third year the students concentrate on the termination of their research project and prepare a written dissertation in their field.

The MBML has high quality standards. Both, the performance of the students and lecturers, will continuously be evaluated! The students have to pass a written examination at the end of every term consisting of Multiple Choice and open questions. In return, the lecturers get a feedback about their presentation from the students by filing evaluation forms...