Your frist weeks
Welcome to Free University Berlin and congratulations on joining our Master of Science program! We are excited to have you with us for the upcoming Winter Semester 2026/27.
To help you get started and plan your first few weeks, we have structured the complete schedule for your introductory module, "Introduction to Advanced Biology," into a clean, easy-to-read format. Please make sure to pay close attention to the irregular time slots highlighted below, as well as the crucial poster milestones at the end of October and November.
Have a wonderful start to your studies at FU Berlin!
General Information
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Location: Elisabeth-Schiemann lecture hall, Königin-Luise-Str. 12-16
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Hybrid Attendance via Webex: FU Berlin Webex Link
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Contact E-mail: msc-bio-intro@biologie.fu-berlin.de
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Welcome Days: Mon 28.09.2026, Tue 29.09.2026, Wed 30.09.2026 (held in the same lecture hall)
Week 1 (12.10. – 16.10.2026)
| Time | Monday (12.10.) | Tuesday (13.10.) | Wednesday (14.10.) | Thursday (15.10.) | Friday (16.10.) |
| 10:00 – 11:00 |
Lecture Nowick: Human Molecular Evolution |
Lecture Maaß / Rillig: Plants and soils in the face of global change |
Lecture May: Theoretical Ecology: How Models Help to Understand Ecosystem Processes |
Lecture Schubert: Epigenetics & Molecular memory |
(No lecture scheduled) |
| 11:00 – 12:00 |
Lecture Rolff / Zanchi: Natural Selection Irregular: 12:00 – 13:00 |
Lecture Armitage: Host and parasite evolution |
Lecture Czaczkes: Behavioural Ecology and Cognition |
Lecture Borsch: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution of Flowering Plants |
Lecture Wiermer: Biochemistry and Plant-Microbe Interactions |
| Lunch Break | |||||
| 14:00 – 16:00 |
Seminar Scheunemann: Principles of Memory Formation and Consolidation (Lecture & Seminar) |
Seminar Rolff, Zanchi, Nowick, Armitage: Evolution |
Seminar Baier: Plant physiology (Lecture & Seminar) |
Seminar May / Rillig: Ecology I |
Seminar Wiermer: Molecular Plant Biology Irregular: 14:00 – 15:00 |
Week 2 (19.10. – 23.10.2026)
| Time | Monday (19.10.) | Tuesday (20.10.) | Wednesday (21.10.) | Thursday (22.10.) | Friday (23.10.) |
| 10:00 – 11:00 |
Lecture Jeschke: Ecological novelty |
Lecture Bachelier: Plant structure, evolution, and systematics |
Lecture Antelmann: Microbial infection biology (Lecture & Seminar) |
Lecture Hechevarria: Behavioural biology |
Lecture Koch: Good scientific practice |
| 11:00 – 12:00 |
Lecture Wolinska: Evolutionary and Ecological Role of Parasites |
Lecture Lücking: Integrative taxonomy to catalog global biodiversity |
Lecture Koch: Mammalian brain function and dysfunction |
Lecture Koch & Hechevarria: Animal testing – current ethical & legal considerations |
(No lecture scheduled) |
| Lunch Break | |||||
| 14:00 – 16:00 |
Seminar Wolinska, Jeschke: Ecology II Irregular: 13:00 – 15:00 |
Seminar Bachelier: Plant structure, evolution, and systematics |
Seminar Lücking: Integrative taxonomy to catalog global biodiversity |
Seminar Remus-Emsermann: Studying microbial communities (Lecture & Seminar) |
Seminar Koch, Hechevarria: Behavioural Biology Seminar Faivre / Guerra: Career Development |
Week 3 (26.10. – 30.10.2026)
| Time | Monday (26.10.) | Tuesday (27.10.) | Wednesday (28.10.) | Thursday (29.10.) | Friday (30.10.) |
| 10:00 – 11:00 |
Lecture Sigrist: Synaptic transmission in higher functions of the nervous system |
Lecture Linneweber: Animal Personality |
Lecture Hiesinger: Brain Wiring |
Lecture Mahler: Nature of Science |
Lecture Diefenbach / Dürr: Immunology Part I |
| 11:00 – 12:00 |
Lecture Petzoldt: How to design a good experiment |
Lecture Wernet: The Structure and Function of Neural Circuits |
Lecture Caio Andreeta Figueiredo / Semtner: Neuroimmunology and Biology of Glia |
Lecture Caio Andreeta Figueiredo / Semtner: Neuroimmunology and Microglia in health and disease |
(No lecture scheduled) |
| Lunch Break | |||||
| 14:00 – 16:00 |
Seminar Sigrist: Synaptic transmission in higher functions of the nervous system |
Seminar Petzoldt: How to design a good experiment II |
Seminar Hiesinger, Wernet, Linneweber: Neurobiology II |
Seminar Hiesinger: How to give a good talk? |
Seminar Cabral-Calderin: Scientific literature (Reading, evaluating and writing) Seminar Dürr: Overview Immunology |
Important Deadlines & Events
| Date | Deadline / Event |
| 04.10.2026 | Selection of poster topics |
| 16.10.2026 | Preliminary discussions with lecturer/supervisor |
| 30.10.2026 | Submission of poster to lecturers (followed by potential revisions) |
| 08.11.2026 | Submission of final posters for print |
| 12.11.2026 (15:00 – 19:00) | Poster Presentation Session |