In addition to our regular courses covering commonly used measuring methods, we have been organizing the so-called Summer Schools since 2013, a regular series of lectures and practical demonstrations covering various key topics of analysis.
A compilation of the past Summer Schools is collated below.
Kevin Pagel, Mario Schubert, Andreas Springer
Instrumentelle Analytik zur Strukturaufklärung in der Organischen Chemie (Lecture/Exercise)
(in total 4 SWS, VLVZ no.: 21432 a/b). The course is offered regularly in the winter semester, optionally in German or English.
Further material is available from Blackboard.
Anja Wiesner and lecturers of anorganische Chemie
Moderne Methoden der Strukturbestimmung (Lecture/Exercise)
(in total 4 SWS, VLVZ no.: 21123 a/b). This course offers an overview over several analytical methods for structure determination (mostly inorganic samples, relevant for MS, NMR, and XRD). The course is offered regularly in the winter semester, optionally in German or English.
Further material is available from Blackboard.
Dr. Benno Kuropka
Bioanalytische Massenspektrometrie (Seminar/Lab Course)
(in total 5 SWS, VLVZ-Nr: 216404 a/b). Introduction to different methods for the analysis of proteins and peptides using mass spectrometry. The 2-week course consists of a seminar and a practical course and is offered every semester. The course will be held in German or English, as needed.
Christian Freund, Petra Knaus, Markus Wahl, Helge Ewers, Florian Heyd, Bernhard Loll, Benno Kuropka
BC IV Vorlesung - Methoden der Biochemie (Lecture/Practice seminar)
(in total 4 SWS, VLVZ-Nr: 21604 a/b). Introduction and consolidation of different methods of biochemistry by different lecturers. Includes lectures/exercises on the topic of protein analysis by using mass spectrometry (proteomics).
Dr. Kai Ludwig, Dr. Tarek Hilal
Structural investigations of supramolecular architectures and proteins with electron microscopic methods (Lecture and Lab course)
(in total 4 SWS, VLVZ-No: 216302 a/b) The methods module is aimed at students with an interest in research-relevant questions of structure elucidation on synthetic supramolecular architectures as well as biological macromolecules and introduces in particular transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in cryogenic mode. In the first part, questions of preparation, in particular cryofixation, basics of equipment design and function, imaging and evaluation, principles of digital image processing, and handling of transmission electron microscopes are covered theoretically and practically. The second part covers theoretical and practical aspects of modern structure elucidation by means of single particle analysis and enables the students to understand the formation of a high-resolution 3D reconstruction of a protein structure. The 2-week course is offered every semester.
Kevin Pagel, Mario Schubert, Andreas Springer
Instrumentelle Analytik zur Strukturaufklärung in der Organischen Chemie (Lecture/Practice seminar)
(in total 4 SWS, VLVZ no.: 21432 a/b). The course is offered regularly in the winter semester, optionally in German or English.
Further material is available from Blackboard.
Anja Wiesner and lecturers of anorganische Chemie
Moderne Methoden der Strukturbestimmung (Lecture/Exercise, in total 4 SWS, VLVZ no.: 21123 a/b).
This course offers an overview over several analytical methods for structure determination (mostly inorganic samples, relevant for MS, NMR, and XRD). The course is offered regularly in the winter semester, optionally in German or English.
Further material is available from Blackboard.
Since its foundation in 2013, the Core Facility BioSupraMol has organized "Summer Schools" on various topics at the Freie Universität Berlin with the support of the DFG. They are conducted to promote the scientific exchange of scientific informations and experiences, the continuing education of students, doctoral candidates, and interested scientists, as well as a networking platform within the Berlin research community. Thereby, our Summer Schools has become an inherent part of the department's event calendar.
Since 2022, the Summer Schools are continued with support from the Berlin University Alliance (BUA). The BUA connects Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, as well as Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin into a common integrated research space in Berlin with the goal of establishing more innovative research and teaching.
The first Summer School that was held in the context of BUA was in 2022 on the topic "Mass spectrometry". 18 renowned speakers from the BUA area and national as well as international experts in MS presented their know-how in protein analytics, clinical- and supramolecular-MS, and imaging techniques. The program of the two-day event was led by Prof. Dr. Christian Freund, Prof. Dr. Kevin Pagel, and the respective unit heads Dr. Andreas Springer (Supra-MS), Dr. Benno Kuropka (Bio-MS), Dr. Fabian Schumacher, and Dr. Felix Bredendiek (Pharma-MS). Methods, techniques and equipment of the research area were presented to the more than 100 participants during the poster sessions and during laboratory tours through the three FU mass spectrometry centers and the new SupraFAB research building.
The Summer School in 2020 was named „Microfluidics, DLS/ELS, ITC“ and organised by Stephan Block. Participants were provided with introductions on micro analytical techniques, especially on micro fluidics which became a very important method at the interface of ingeneering science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. Therefore, experts from both sides, science and industry, gave overviews on state-of-the-art research and technical developments. Moreover, they conveyed insights into other microanalytical techniques like dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering or isothermal titration calorimetry.
On the topic "X-ray Chrystallography", Prof. Chritian Müller organised the five day Summer School in 2019. The participants got an overview of present research and cutting edge technological developments in the field of X-ray structure analysis. In accompanying detailed workshops with applicatory trainings the participants were able to test the most recent techniques and got guidance in data analysis and software usage. A whole day of individual problem solving on structures brought by the attendees, was a highlight of this event.
The first summer school (of the 2nd funding period of BioSupraMol) was organized in 2018 by Prof. Stephan Sigrist on the topic of "Advanced Optical Microscopy". On this two-days meeting, four internal and five external experts provided an introduction on methods in optical microscopy and presented modern techniques of in vivo imaging as well as practices of high resolution microscopy. In addition, different devices were introduced in live demos and could be tested in practice in afternoon hands-on sessions by more than one hundred internal and external participants.
Titled "Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy of Biological and Synthetic Supramolecular Architectures“, the 2017 Summer School was created by PD Dr. Christoph Böttcher as a one-day minisymposium. The event took place on the occasion of the commissioning of the new 200 kV transmission electron microscope, which was acquired by BioSupraMol with the funds granted by the DFG in 2015 (amounting to €2.3 million). Seven lecturers, including Yeshayahu Talmon and Marin van Heel, communicated a detailed survey on electron microscopy and shed light on recent developments and future trends in this resaerch area. Many of the participants made use of the opportunity to inspect the new microscope at the FZEM.
In 2015, Prof. Rainer Haag set up the third Summer School targeted at „Biointerfaces and Surface Characterization“. The 72 participants got introductions into the characterisation of biolocal relvant interfaces. Experimental methods like XPS, AFM, surface IR, SPR, MALDI-Imaging, TOF-SIMS, high-resolution light microscopy, X-ray and neutron diffraction at interfaces were presented together with modern theoretical concepts. Special emphasis was placed on the application of the methods and discussions on this.
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The second summer school was organized in 2014 on the topic of "NMR Spectroscopy in Chemistry and Biochemistry" by Prof. Christian Freund and Dr. Jana Sticht. Three internal and eight, partly international, external experts, including a manufacturer representative, offered the 24 participants introductions to NMR methodology and modern techniques from solution to solid-state NMR. In addition, they explained special applications from the field of biochemistry.
In 2013, the first Summer School at the Department BCP took place. Prof. Christoph Schalley organised the event on the topic "Mass Spectrometry in Supramolecular Chemistry and Biochemistry“. Nine internal and external experts, including two representatives from manufacturers of mass spectrometres, provided the 28 participants with methodical introductions into the principles of ionisation and mass analysis, as well as to specialised measuring techniques. Several external participants used the opportunity to present their own results in short talks. The offered labaratory tour was gladly used and a public evening presentation completed the program.