Studies Molecular Biosciences master students celebrate their graduation
On Friday, 27 September, students of the international Master’s degree programme Molecular Biosciences gathered at Heidelberg University’s Great Hall to celebrate the successful completion of their studies. The festive occasion marked the academic highlight of the master classes of 2021 and 2022, who graduated from one of the seven Majors: Cancer Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Infectious Diseases, Neuroscience, Molecular and Applied Plant Sciences, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, and Systems Biology.
The event, organised by the students themselves with support by the faculty, was held in the beautiful Great Hall at the Old University building, the historic auditorium designed for the university’s 500th anniversary in 1886. For the occasion, the auditorium was packed with graduates, family, friends and members of the faculty. The ceremony opened with classical music by Alexander Borodin, the Russian composer who worked as a scientist at Heidelberg University in the 19th century. A string quartet consisting of David M. Lubotsky, Huan Jin, Sophie Wöhrle, and the renowned cellist Olga Dowbusch-Lubotsky, performed the third movement, a Nocturne, from the String Quartet Nr. 2.
Addressing the eager graduates, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hell, shared his well wishes for their next steps in life and highlighted Heidelberg University’s long tradition of training the next generation of researchers in the life sciences. “Studying for a Master of Science in Molecular Biosciences at the Faculty of Biosciences is a unique experience”, the Dean emphasised. “The concentration of world-class university and non-university research institutions in the Heidelberg-Mannheim region provides an excellent environment for young researchers to kick-start their career at Germany’s oldest university”, Hell noted. “Our graduates are sought after by research labs and employers around the world. As Master graduates, you are well equipped for the future, wherever it may take you!”
Excited family and friends cheered as the students walked down the aisle of the auditorium to collect their certificates, handed over by the coordinators of their respective Major programmes. Following the formal ceremony, the new graduates and their guests moved to the Bel Etage, the historic reception rooms of the University, to enjoy some drinks and snacks.
Reflecting on the event, Victor Paton and Eric Bormann, the two main organisers of the ceremony and recent graduates of the Master’s programme themselves, expressed their satisfaction with the outcome. “We’ve received amazing feedback from our fellow students, their families, and the faculty,” Eric notes. Sharing his motivation for organising the event, Victor added, “Our time in Heidelberg over the past few years has been unforgettable, so we wanted to create a closing ceremony that matched that experience. This was a wonderful opportunity to bring all students together one last time before we embark on our new adventures around the globe. This memory will stay with us forever!”
The Molecular Biosciences programme is an international Master’s degree programme introduced by the Faculty of Biosciences in 2007. It welcomes around 130 new students from around the world each year. Students can choose from seven different Majors, each focusing on a specific area of advanced molecular biosciences. The programme is taught in English and typically lasts for two years, comprising formal coursework as well as extensive laboratory research experience, including a master’s thesis in a research group.
