In this 6 week Master’s module offered by the Institute for Molecular Physiology at Heinrich-Heine-Universität, students will learn the principles that underpin fluorescent biosensors and techniques for acquiring and analyzing fluorescence data.  

Working in pairs, each student will participate in the development of novel biosensor prototypes and thereby gain skills in computational and molecular biology. Course instructors prepare materials and suggest ideas for each pair of students to engineer a set of novel biosensors.  

Week 1 features a series of lectures to introduce students to the topic, with an exam at the end of Week 1.  Week 2 begins with selection of partners and student projects.  Students then perform in silicocloning and design materials required for the molecular cloning stages of their projects. Students are trained to use fluorometers in order to characterize their sensor prototypes and are given exposure to microscopy. Students present progress on their projects in Week 5 in the form of oral presentations.  Upon completion of Week 6, students are given 1 week to write term papers (protocols) summarizing their projects.