Welcome to the Institute for Biology

The faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitat Kassel is composed of four institutes: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.  With approximately 800 students, the Institute of Biology is the largest institute.  Currently, the diploma program is being phased out and is being replaced with BSc and MSc programs as well as degree programs in Education. Mathematics and Natural Sciences offers PhD-level training to students in Biology, Nanostructure Sciences, Physics and Mathematics.

The Institute has 11 full professorships and a scientific staff of approximately 25 PhD-level scientists. The Institute of Biology is responsible for about 25% of the teaching in the interdisciplinary BSc MSc Nanostructure Sciences program. National rankings clearly demonstrate very efficient mentoring of students at all levels. Multiple outreach programs are in place for high school mentoring under the scientific network Science Bridge. This includes lectures, courses as well as wet lab molecular biology training using a mobile training laboratory.  

Within the Institute of Biology alone, the entire spectrum of biology is covered. This includes Animal Physiology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Botany, Cell Biology, Ecology, Biology for Teachers, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Microbiology, Plant Physiology and Zoology. This is complemented with lectures in Evolution and Human Biology. For advanced coursework, students can choose between four fields including Molecular Sciences, Physiology, Biodiversity and Nanobiology. Students are required to participate in internships outside of the university at other institutes such as the Max Planck Institutes, Fraunhofer Institutes and other research institutions or companies. In addition, advanced studies can also be performed in foreign universities or research institutions.

Research areas are quite diverse and can focus, for example, on molecular methods including state of the art equipment in molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology.  In addition, other research areas can focus on green land biology and ecology with facilities including animal facilities and a botanical station. Central facilities include confocal microscopy, isotope laboratory, NMRs, REM and EM.

The Nanostructure Sciences Center is a collaborative interdisciplinary effort between multiple institutes including Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Material Sciences. In 2002, the Center of interdisciplinary Nano Science and Technology (CINSaT) was founded. Members of CINSaT from the Institute of Biology investigate the interaction of biomolecules on a molecular level, develop advanced biosensors and apply biophysical methods to diverse research areas at both the cellular and subcellular levels.