MASTER IN BIOMEDICINE

MEDICAL LIFESCIENCES

Kiel University, Germany

... you don‘t get it anywhere else

welcome to the Master’s programme Medical Life Sciences at Kiel University!

www.medlife.uni-kiel.de

Biomedicine is an exciting work field and needs experts. We train students for a career in biomedical research.

excellent teachingresearch training in state-of-

the-art labsgood job perspectives no tuition fees

low cost of livingstudent jobs

real research projectsgreat outdoor life and sports

... we supply

you want ...

Excellent teaching insmall groups

Research projects instate-of-the-art labs

Good job perspectives for academia, biotech & pharmaceutical companies

No tuition fees, free public transport

Low cost of living, good quality of life

Student jobs at institutes

Great outdoor life and sports

WHAT IS MEDICAL LIFE SCIENCES? Medical Life Sciences is a Master’s programme to train Bachelors of Science in molecular disease research. Translational medicine is at the core of what we teach: Without basic research in the labs and data analysis at the computer, there is no progress in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of diseases. But results from lab work and data analysis have to be translated into medical applications, a sophisticated process that needs specialists who understand both the clinical and the lab world: Medical Life Sciences is especially designed to train you for this.

HOW DO WE DO THIS?We included basics of medicine tailored to your needs and contact with patients to experience the clinical importance of research. Focus areas on major disease indications and cutting-edge research approaches provide opportunities for project work, and you top up your arsenal of knowledge with more skills in the electives. Medical Life Sciences is the only Master’s programme in Germany and one of very few worldwide that are designed and equipped to train students like this. Soft skills don’t go unattended: Training in scientific writing, project management and study & career orientation prepare you for a professional life in research.

THE LABSIn Medical Life Sciences, many research institutes work together to provide you with access to different projects in state-of-the art labs. High-throughput sequencing platforms analyse microbiomes, genomes or exomes; proteomics labs use MALDI-TOF for protein research, molecular experimental imaging exploits the latest technologies and develops applications for patients. Huge amounts of data are processed on big university computer clusters. We created lots of room for exposure to high-profile scientists as experts on curriculartopics. These geneticists, bioinformaticians, cell biologists, clinicians and biochemists publish in journals like Nature, Science, Blood, Cell, The Lancet or PNAS regularly and generate several million EURO worth of research funding annually, so you learn from the best.

exciting curriculumand renownedresearchers

INFLAMMATIONHow do molecular processes trigger the onsetof disease, influence its course and therapeutic success in chronic inflammatory diseases? Which role do genetic factors play in the susceptibility to civilisation diseases such as Crohn’s disease, atopic dermatitis or obesity? Inflammation teaches cutting-edge omics-approaches and involves you in international research projects. You learn much more than just the ins and outs of inflammation research: teamwork, lab routines, clinical-applications training are all part of the parcel.

ONCOLOGYCancer is one of the leadingcauses of death world-wide. Initiated by genetic and environmental factors and often promoted by inflammatory mechanisms (e.g. obesity, infections), cancer cells develop over long time periods from non-malignant cells and may be inhibited by immunological defense mechanisms. Oncology trains you in molecular, cellular, genetic and epigenetic state-of-the-art approaches in cancer research and how our current knowledge can be translated into diagnostics and therapy.

EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE... looks at the interrelations between environmental factors and the human genetic make-up that influence the development of and susceptibility to diseases. Why do we suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart diseaseor obesity? Why are certain genetic variants maintained within populations despite their disease risk? Evolutionary Medicine considers the evolutionary origins of medical conditions to help

improve research in biomedicine.

LONGEVITYWhy do some people stay “young and healthy” and get as old as the hills?

Molecular pathways are

key to understanding why some people escape the typical age-related decline

in health and survive several decades longer than the

average person. But what exactly works differently in people

who enjoy more than 90 or even 100 years of well-being? We look at those

people and their extraordinary condition, which is called longevity and may be influenced by mechanisms counteracting biological ageing. If we understand the molecular processes responsible for longevity, we are a huge step closer to knowing what governs life-long health.

focus areas / hot topics inresearchYou choose your focus area after the first semester. All are hot topics that play a major role in disease research. It does not mean you have to specialize on them for the rest of your life, on the contrary. You concentrate on one topic, gain knowledge and solve scientific problems – that’s how you learn the ropes of molecular disease research.

As epidemiological studies use clinical and molecular phenotyping, standardized examination protocols and large-scale biobanking are important, too. Cardiovascular epidemiology is in the spotlight because heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. To understand the complex structure of factors that lead to heart conditions in epidemiological terms also shows you how important epidemiology is for investigating diseases.

DIAGNOSTIC + EXPERIMENTAL MOLECULAR IMAGINGVisualising biochemical and physical properties of the human body along with the function of cells and organs provides insights into disease and treatment effects. With severe conditions such as malignant or chronic inflammatory diseases, imaging delivers a huge advantage in prevention, diagnosis and individualised treatment. X-rays and computed tomography are well-known, but to investigate tumours, disperse inflammatory processes, the accumulation of specific cell types you need to descend into the molecular realm using sophisticated technology. Molecular and functional imaging using optical or magnetic resonance approaches takes imaging technologies to another level.

TRACING DISEASE THROUGH TIME – BIOMOLECULAR PALEOPATHOLOGYHave humans always suffered from the same diseases? Can we trace the factors contributing to people falling ill? How can this information help us in disease research today? Molecular science is essential, but with a twist: Sequencing a 21st-century genome may be routine, but how do you sequence DNA that is centuries or even millennia old? Take infectious diseases that were - and still have the potential to be - pandemics: A few years ago, the 1918 Spanish flu genome could finally be sequenced after decades of research. This makes all the difference to WHO influenza vaccine development, which is a race against time with every newly mutated flu virus that could kill great numbers of people. Investigating where, when and how diseases first emerged, you look back in time to move forward in research.

CARDIOVASCULAR EPIDEMIOLOGYEpidemiology investigates how diseases are distributed in a population, what the risk factors for disease development and spreading are. It analyses the factors that influence disease manifestation including environmental factors, genetic predisposition, physical condition, age of onset.

electives To complement the focus areas and provide you with knowledge and skills you can use well in medical research, you also choose electives. They are very different from and yet equivalent to each other when it comes to relevance for a career in medical research.

M A S T E R ' S T H E S I S 4 SEM

ESTER

3 SEM

ESTER

Epidemi-ology + elective*

Tracing disease through time + elective*

Imaging+elective*

Lab project

Seminar

Lab project

Seminar

Lab project

Seminar

Lab project

Seminar

Scientific studies

Human genetics

English scientific writing

New technologiesin biomedicine

*Electives (choose one) = Pharmacology, Animal Models, Bioanalytics, Epithelial Barrier Functions

CONTINUE FOCUS AREA CONTINUE COMPULSORY-ELECTIVE COMPULSORY

SEM

ESTER

2

Inflammation

LectureSeminar

Lab practical

Clinical practical

Oncology

LectureSeminar

Lab practical

Clinical practical

Longevity

LectureSeminar

Lab practical

Clinical practical

Evolutionarymedicine

LectureSeminar

Lab practical

Clinical practical

Epidemi-ology

Tracing disease through time

Imaging Molecular pathology

Bioinformatics

Molecular immunology

Engl. proficiency 2

Project planning

Physiology

COMPULSORY-ELECTIVES /choose one COMPULSORYFOCUS AREA /choose one

1 SEM

ESTER

Human biology

Basics of molecular research

Molecular pathology

Clinical disease manifestations

Medical statistics Orientation: Studies & career

Immunology Clinical cell biology

English proficiency 1

COMPULSORY MODULES

what’s on the menuLECTURES, SEMINARS, LAB AND CLINICAL PRACTICALS,TUTORIALS, EXCURSIONS

FORMALITIESMedlife is a Master’s programme of the Medical Faculty of Kiel University. We have 25 places annually, with the programme STARTING IN APRIL. Applications are evaluated in a two-stage ability assessment. There are no study fees apart from the semester administration fee of 120 EUR that include a semester pass for public transport in Kiel. The one-time university registration fee is 55 EUR. Medical Life Sciences comprises four study semesters, in each you need to acquire 30 credit points. The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master’s thesis. The degree earned is a MASTER OF SCIENCE.

“When I started Medical Life Sciences, I was overwhelmedby the volume of facts I had to absorb. Where to start, what to learn? It helped a lot that the group was small, so we got to know each other quite well and started working together for presentations we had to give or revising for exams. Now I enjoy the diversity of topics and I know how to handle them.”

“I was accepted for MedicalLife Sciences and had only 2 months to organize moving from overseas to Kiel. I contacted the coordination office, they helped me find accommodation and get the necessary documentsI needed to enroll.”

“MedLife provides an education with focus on state-of-the-art technologies, e.g. next-generation sequencing, and close connections to active researchers.

The small size of the program allowsus to establish a close contact to the teaching staff and

leads to a very personalatmosphere in the lectures and seminars.”

“We participated in an international “Inflammation atInterfaces” symposium, which was a great platform to catch up on the latest findings of scientific research in the fieldof inflammation and to establishscientific contacts and expand your professional network.”

“The curriculum makes total sense. Although I did not see all the connections between the different modules at first, it’s amazing to realize how much things are related to each other: Molecular pathology helps you understand Oncology, without Scientific Writing I would not be able to do my Master’s thesis, Inflammation without Immunologywould be half the fun. I’mglad I came here.”

Small study groups: maximum 25 Masterstudents per year, 5-7 students per focus area

Young faculty of high-ranking researchers (examples for cumulated impact factors 2013: Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology: 920, 1st Medical Department: 704)

Practicals in research labs with cutting-edge technologies

Focus on big research topics of interdisciplinary medical research

Master’s thesis in a lab of your choice within research projects

No tuition fees, research-related student jobs at institutes available

Taught in English

Green city of Kiel: bike-friendly environment with parks and sea promenade, uni sports centre, cafés and nightlife for a good work-life balance

Opportunities for internships in the pharmaceutical industry at Abbvie Deutschland GmbH & CoKG

excellentstudy

conditions

how studentsfeel about MedLife

good job perspectivesWHAT CAN YOU DOAFTER GRADUATING?

Members research group Molecular Cell Biology, IKMB

The demand for graduates of biomedical studies who are well trained is growing fast. If you want to go on with research, you can apply for a PhD position/grant. But maybe pure research is not what you have in mind. Diagnostic labs and science management in the public sector offer interesting jobs. You can also think about positions in pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Designing and monitoring clinical studies, product and project management are only a few potential work fields.

University admin fees

Lunch student canteen Public transport

Rooms

Flatrate internet/ phone

Health insurance

Liability insurance

Accident insurance

Online bank account

120 EUR/semester (covers study-related accident insurance)

1.60 – 4.50 EUR/lunch depending on choice of food

for free (public transport semester pass paid with uni admin fees)

200-400 EUR/month (depending on flat share, dorm or own flat)

from 35 EUR/month

ca. 80 EUR/month (for students under 30; mandatory)

ca. 40 EUR/year (advisable, but not mandatory)

from 90 EUR/year (covers activities outside university; advisable, but not mandatory)

often for free, check banks for student rebates

HERE’S AN EXAMPLE BREAKDOWN OF COSTS:*

* Of course costs vary depending on your personal circumstances and requirements. The numbers given are a current average for 2014.

Studying Medical Life Sciences in Kiel makes also sense financially. In many of Germany’s federal states, studying at university is for free. That applies to Kiel, too: No Study Fees! At the same time, life in Kiel is relatively cheap.

student jobs and no study fees

studentjobsAt many of the institutes that are involved in Medical Life Sciences, there are student jobs (scientific assistants) you can apply for. Of course it also depends on current research projects at

the institutes, personal skills and interest of the applicants, but many of our current students work in research institutes. Apart from that, a lot of cafés, restaurants, pubs and event agencies

employ students on a part-time basis.

SUPERMARKET1 l pure orange juice 1 .40 EUR500 g ground coffee fair trade 7.00 EUR250 g black tea 2.00 EUR1 l semi-skimmed milk 0.70 EUR500 ml unsweetened yoghurt 0.50 EUR500 g premium muesli 3.50 EUR500 g cereals 2.00 EUR1 loaf of toast 1.00 EUR250 g butter 1.00 EUR200 g pre-packaged sliced cheese 1.90 EUR800 g jar premium chocolate spread 3.70 EUR 2 kg apples 2.70 EUR1 kg bananas fair trade 2,00 EUR500 g fresh peaches 1.20 EUR1 kg carrots 0.80 EUR1 kg tomatoes 1.20 EUR750 g frozen vegetables 1.80 EUR425 g tinned corn/ beans/peas 0.60 EUR1 deep-freeze pizza 2.50 EUR1 six-pack premium- brand beer 4.50 EUR500 g rice 0.90 EUR500 g wholemeal pasta 1.00 EUR0.75 l extra-virgin olive oil 3.00 EUR

BAKERY500g-loaf bio wholemeal bread 2.80 EUR4 crunchy bread roles 1.60 EUR

FARMERS MARKET 1 head of lettuce 1.00 EUR500 g minced meat (beef, bio, local) 5.50 EUR500 g fresh pumpkin 1.50 EUR500 g fresh local rainbow trout 6.00 EUR

WHAT ELSE3-monthgym pass at uni 60 EUR2 loads at launderette 8 EUR

*Prices depend on brands, season and type of shop. This is a current

average for good quality; fair-trade and bio products are indicated.

your shopping list could look like

this:*

Kiel by bike is easy, too; most students use it as their daily means of transport. If you can’t bring a bike, you can buy one second-hand in Kiel in bicycle shops from 100 EUR or less.

Kiel is laid-back, spacious and convenient for studying: no time-consuming commuting, many parks, reasonably priced accommodation, lots of bars, pubs and cafés. If you speak

English and no German, that is okay, people are used to students from abroad.

The university has gyms, a sports club for workouts, indoor/outdoor playing fields, an Olympic-size indoor pool and offers a wealth

of courses. If you want to go crazy in sports, go ahead!

The weather is okay, too. It tends to be cooler than in southern Germany, but summer temperatures still rise to 30°C

occasionally. Winters can be anything from crisp and sunny to

wet and warmish. Because we are at 54° north in Kiel, you have a few extra hours to be outside in summer with June daylight lasting until 11:00 p.m.

seaside location Kiel is located at the Baltic Sea. Kiel Fjord reaches right into the city, giving Kiel its west-side/east-side layout. The Baltic Sea brings lots of fresh air, there’s always a breeze. On the promenade, you have cafés, deck chairs, skateboarders, joggers, a brilliant view across the water and you can watch the big cruise liners and ferries to Scandinavia, sailing boats and commuter shuttles crossing the fjord. If you want to explore the Baltic Sea further, you can take a ferry to Lithuania, Sweden or Norway,

GREAT OUTDOOR LIFE, STUDENT SCENE AND SPORTS

Water sports is a big topic and Kiel Universty has its own sailing centre: Students can learn how to sail, rent boats, join teams for regatta sailing. Kite and wind surfing are on offer as well, you can take up rowing and canoeing with boat sheds lining the fjord 10 minutes from the medical campus. The beaches around Kiel are ideal for surfing and swimming in the summer or a long walk in the autumn.

BRING YOUR BIKE!From anywhere in Kiel, you are in the open countryside in less than 15 minutes. The landscape is ideal for cycling, gently sloping hills are the most you have to tackle. You can tour the whole of Schleswig-Holstein right into Denmark on well-maintained bike routes that take you through picturesque villages, forest or fields, along Schleswig-Holstein’s coast or its many lakes.

Read www.medlife.uni-kiel.de carefully, especially the APPLICATION

PAGES. If you have questions not answered on the webpage or the

linked pages, contact the coordination office:

medlife@ikmb.uni-kiel.de

DOWNLOAD the application form and fill it in, either electronically or manually.

SCAN all required certificates (transcript of records, Bachelor’s certificate or preliminary certificate

language certificates if applicable)

PREPARE A CV in data sheet format, include study-relevant activities/qualifications (e.g. additional internships,

professional training, stays abroad for study purposes or language training, relevant

job experience).

WRITE YOUR MOTIVATION LETTER. This letter is an important part of your application, take time to compose it. The letter needs to explain why you

want to study MedLife, why you think you are suitable, what you expect of MedLife and what you can contribute to the group of students studying here.

Combine ALL PDF FILES INTO ONE PDF

FILE, DO NOT ZIP it. Send it to medlife@ikmb.uni-kiel.de. Please attach the file

to an email that states its purpose in the

text. We will confirm having received your application as soon as we get it.

Be prepared to TAKE PART IN AN INTERVIEW shortly after the application deadline if your application reaches

stage 2 of the ability assessment. If you reside outside Germany, it will be a

telephone interview. If you reside in Germany, the interview will take place in Kiel*. It is a good idea to prepare yourself for the interview carefully because we need to be able to assess your suitability for MedLife and ask questions accordingly.

*Travel costs cannot be reimbursed, you have to carry the expense yourself.

4.

5.

6.

7.

APPLICATION PERIOD 1:1 Sept. – 15 Oct.

APPLICATION PERIOD 2:16 Nov. – 31 Dec.

how to apply

If you have a good knowledge of the basics of molecular biology and biochemistry, Bachelor-level lab skills and are interested in biomedical research as a career, we welcome your application!

For detailed information on requirements and procedures please go to our webpage:

www.medlife.uni-kiel.de

2.

1.

3.

we are looking forward to seeing you in Kiel

CONTACT DETAILS:

Master’s programme Medical Life SciencesCoordination Office

Institut f. Klinische MolekularbiologieSchittenhelmstr. 12, Haus 5

24105 KielGermany

Phone: +49 431 597 2140Email: medlife@ikmb.uni-kiel.de

www.medlife.uni-kiel.de

PHOTOGRAPHY:Institut f. Klinische Molekularbiologie (IKMB)

Oliver FrankeJürgen Haacks/ Kiel University

Czeslaw Martysz/ Kiel UniversityCarola Heneweer/

Radiology + Neuroradiology Department UKSHBen Krause-Kyora/ IKMB

Andreas Labes Ann-Kathrin Wenke/ Kiel University

Cluster of Excellence Inflammation at InterfacesKerstin Rohde/ Biomedical Imaging Unit,

Radiology + Neuroradiology Department UKSH

DESIGN:Renate Nikolaus

medlife.uni-kiel.de