Microbial communities play a vital role in the functioning of complex ecological systems, the global environment, and human health. The goal of the Master's program in Microbiome Science at the University of Vienna is to train a new generation of experts in the interconnected fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genomics of microorganisms, microbial ecology, microbial symbiosis and pathogenesis, as well as environmental biosciences.

Students will deepen their knowledge in the research areas represented at the University of Vienna, such as molecular microbiology, microbiome, evolution of microorganisms and viruses, environmental microbiology, and microbial ecology. They will be equipped to independently tackle complex molecular, biomedical, and environmental scientific questions and present their findings at an international scientific level. Furthermore, students will develop advanced skills in conceptual understanding of microbiology and microbiome research, practical work in molecular microbiological laboratories, experimental design, quantitative data analysis, as well as written and oral scientific communication.

Graduates of the Master's program in Microbiome Science at the University of Vienna, building on their bachelor's degree, will be capable of independently addressing complex questions in these subfields using cutting-edge techniques. They will acquire all the necessary qualifications to conduct successful research in an international environment. This also includes the ability to competently present research results to a specialized audience and contribute to the preparation of scientific publications.

Study Programme

The program consists of six compulsory modules: Fundamentals of Microbiome Science, Advanced Primary Literature and Project Planning in Microbiome Science, Advanced Laboratory Skills in Microbiome Science, Advanced Topics in Microbiome Science, Interdisciplinary and Complementary Skills for Microbiome Scientists, and Scientific Practice. Students complete the degree programme with the master’s thesis and its public defence.

In the courses, students engage with content and methods aligned with the current state of research in the respective field. The focus is on scientifically grounded reflection, guided by the latest scientific developments.