Botanical Garden

Welcome to the Faculty of Biological Sciences

Botanical Garden
Image: Anne Günther/FSU

The Faculty of Biological Sciences represents a broad variety of biological disciplines as well as the nutritional sciences and pharmacy. Famous scholars such as the botanist Matthias Jacob Schleiden (1804-1881) and the zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) worked here with their sunny and dark sides.

The Faculty of Biological Sciences cooperates with other faculties of the Friedrich Schiller University and non-university research institutes of the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz Association in several coordinated research projects. These projects are part the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse" External linkfunded by the German Research Foundation.  

Image: Anna Schroll
Exzellence cluster Balance of the Microverse
Research Cluster Balance of the MicroverseExternal link
The Research Cluster investigates the complex interactions of microorganisms with other organisms and with their environment, which are of great significance for the functioning of ecosystems, our climate and the well-being of plants, animals and humans.

Latest News

    • Life
    Taking root on land An international research team is examining the molecular mechanisms that enabled plants to colonize the surface of the Earth
    Dr Lydia Gramzow presents Charophysceae (Chara foetida) in a glass jar.
    Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)
    • Life
    One in three cardiovascular deaths is due to an unbalanced diet Study by the "nutriCARD" Competence Cluster on the connection of malnutrition and cardiovascular disease
    Wholegrain products and legumes.
    Image: Nicole Nerger/Universität Jena
    • Life
    Environmental changes influence microbial diversity Adaptation as a strategy for survival: A new study from Jena University shows how microorganisms deal with environmental changes
    Head of the study, Prof. Dr Gianni Panagiotou is Professor of Microbiome Dynamics in the "Balance of the Microverse" Cluster of Excellence at the University of Jena.
    Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)
    • Life
    An enzyme makes mushrooms “magical” New study sheds light on the structure and evolution of an enzyme in psychoactive fungi
    Prof. Dr Dirk Hoffmeister at the Institute of Pharmacy at Friedrich Schiller University Jena.
    Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)
    • Life
    Attack and defence in the microverse How small RNA molecules regulate viral infections of bacteria
    View of a petri dish with cholera bacteria (Vibrio cholerae).
    Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)
    • Life
    How green algae and bacteria together contribute to climate protection Jena research team has found a bacterium that forms a team with a green alga that supports each other's growth
    Wild-type strains of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in liquid culture.
    Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)
All short news