Student Courses

C1 – Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater

This course offers a hands-on introduction to wastewater analysis, European water regulations, key analytical methods, and the assessment of pharmaceutical pollutants in surface waters.

Registration deadline: 9.3. 2026

Begins: 23.3. 2026

C2 – Ecotoxicological Methods

This course presents European water legislation, principles and guidelines of biotesting, effect-based methods, sample preparation techniques, and the assessment of emerging contaminants and ecotoxicological effects in water and rivers.

Registration deadline: 17.8. 2026

Begins: 31.8. 2026

C3 – Wastewater Treatment

This course covers the fundamentals of wastewater treatment with a focus on microbial activity in activated sludge and the evaluation of aeration system parameters to estimate energy demands, using laboratory experiments and assessment tools.

Registration deadline: To be announced

Begins: 26.5. 2026

C4 – Ecological Status of Water Bodies

An introduction to the assessment of the chemical, biological, and hydromorphological status of water bodies. Basic skills in macrozoobenthos identification and hydrochemical sample analysis.

Registration deadline: To be announced

Begins: 22.5. 2026

C5 – Invasive Plant Species

An introduction to the assessment of the chemical, biological, and hydromorphological status of water bodies. Monitoring of invasive plant species along watercourses and hydrochemical sample analysis.

Registration deadline: To be announced

Begins: 21.9. 2026

C6 – Sediment Analysis

This course introduces sediment analysis in aquatic ecosystems, including sampling, physical, chemical, and biological characterization, and linking results to water quality and environmental assessment.

Registration deadline: To be announced

Begins: 7.4. 2026

C7 – Geographic Analysis / GIS

In this course, you will learn to use GIS tools for water resource monitoring and environmental assessment, analyze geospatial and hydrological data, and present results through clear maps and outputs.

Registration deadline: To be announced

Begins: 14.9. 2026

C8 – Biosensors For Environmental Monitoring

Students will gain an overview of biosensors for environmental monitoring with a focus on biosensors using bioreporter microorganisms. They will gain knowledge of the design, use, history, advantages, and disadvantages of environmental biosensors.

Registration deadline: 13.3. 2026

Begins: 16.3. 2026

Basic Information

Duration: 3 days
Number of participants: max. 16 students

The course will be taught in English. Study materials will also be available in Czech and German.

Program

Course Aim

Students will gain an overview of trace analysis in aquatic environments with a focus on assessing wastewater pollution and will become familiar with the following topics:

• relevant legal frameworks at the European level (WFD, UWWTD)
• general structure of sample analysis procedures
• overview of laboratory guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• basic principles of SPE, LC-MS, and data analysis using Excel or R
• origin and biochemical background of pharmaceutical pollutants
• assessment of pharmaceutical pollutant removal in wastewater treatment plants
• identification of river sections polluted by wastewater

Requirements / Previous Knowledge

• mandatory participation in safety training on the first day of the course
• basic knowledge of laboratory procedures (e.g. pipetting) and disposal rules for commonly used substances and solutions
• experience with sterile work and working with GMOs is an advantage
• the course can be taken independently and does not build on any other course within the module

Participants are asked to bring their own laptop with R and RStudio or Excel installed.

Course Schedule

Day 1 – at TUD / in Dresden

approx. 3–4 hours; Monday 13:00–17:30
23 March 2026

• Introduction (participants’ background and expectations)
• Division into 4 groups + assignment of seminar topics
• Introduction to the IDEAL project
• Basic lectures on chemical analytics, micropollutants, and monitoring
• General laboratory and safety instructions

Day 2 – at TUD / in Dresden

Tuesday 09:30–16:30
24 March 2026

• Specific laboratory and safety instructions, lab coats
• Preparation of wastewater samples (filtration, SPE) in parallel groups (10:00–12:30 / 13:30–16:00)
• Demonstration measurements using LC-MS/MS and data analysis in parallel groups (10:00–12:30 / 13:30–16:00)
• Lunch break (finger food, drinks)
• Optional accompanying activity: city tour / boat trip / wine bar (17:30–20:00, self-paid)

Day 3 – online

approx. 1.5–2 hours; Thursday 13:00–15:00

• Optional consultations on seminar topics and data analysis

Day 4 – online

approx. 3–4 hours; Friday
27 March 2026

• Seminar topic presentations
• Data evaluation, calculation of removal efficiency in wastewater treatment plants
• Discussion of results and conclusion
• Short questionnaire, course evaluation

Basic Information

Duration: 3 days
23. 2. 2025 (online) + 24. 2. 2025 or 25. 2. 2025 (laboratory day) + 27. 2. 2025 (online)

Participants: max. 16 students, divided into 4 groups (for Day 2)

Course Aim

Students will gain insight into aquatic ecotoxicology with a focus on assessing wastewater pollution and will become familiar with:

• relevant legal frameworks at the European level (WFD – Water Framework Directive, UWWTD – Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive)
• general structure of biotests
• overview of key biotest guidelines and methodologies (in vivo and in vitro, OECD, ISO)
• assessment of the reduction of (eco)toxic effects during wastewater treatment
• identification of river sites polluted by wastewater using in vitro biotests
• application of effect-based methods with a focus on mutagenicity, hormonal potential, and herbicide toxicity

Requirements / Previous Knowledge

• mandatory participation in safety training on Day 1
• basic knowledge of laboratory procedures such as pipetting, handling, and regulations for commonly used substances and solutions
• experience with sterile working practices and working with GMOs is an advantage
• the course can be taken independently and does not build on any other course within this module

Course Schedule

Day 1 – online

(approx. 3–4 hours, 09:00–13:00) – 23. 2. 2025

• Introduction (students’ professional background and expectations of the course)
• Division into 4 groups
• Introduction to the IDEAL project
• Basic lectures on ecotoxicology / effect-based methods / biomonitoring
• Safety training

Day 2 – at TUD / in Dresden

(09:30–17:00) – groups 1 and 2 (24. 2. 2025)

• Ames test (09:30–11:45 and 12:45–14:15) – in parallel groups
• Combined algae test (14:30–16:30) – in parallel groups
• Laboratory tour
• Optional additional offer: guided tour of Dresden’s historic city center (17:30–20:00)

Day 2 – at TUD / in Dresden

(09:30–17:00) – groups 3 and 4 (25. 2. 2025)

• Ames test (09:30–11:45 and 12:45–14:15) – in parallel groups
• Combined algae test (14:30–16:30) – in parallel groups
• Laboratory tour
• Optional additional offer: guided tour of Dresden’s historic city center (17:30–20:00)

Day 3 – online

(approx. 5–6 hours, 09:00–15:00) – 27. 2. 2025

• Review of biotesting methods used in the laboratory
• Evaluation of the tests
• Assessment of results and conclusions
• What do these results mean?
• Use of effect-based methods in research, public authorities, and water management
• Short questionnaire, course evaluation

Program

Date: 22–24 May 2026

Day 1

Morning

• Introduction of participants
• Introductory lectures (45 minutes each):
  1. Water Framework Directive (WFD) and ecological and chemical status of water bodies
  2. Hydrobiology and bioindication in freshwater ecosystems
  3. Principles of hydrochemical monitoring of water bodies

​

Afternoon

• Field trip to a local stream
• Demonstration of monitoring methods used for assessment of:
  • chemical status
  • biological status
  • hydromorphological conditions

​

Students will:

• collect water samples for hydrochemical analysis
• collect benthic macroinvertebrates for biological assessment

​

Students will be divided into three groups, each responsible for one section of the stream.

​

Evening

• Discussion about the fieldwork
• Short campus tour

​

Day 2

Students remain divided into three groups, rotating between activities (approx. 3 hours each).

1. Hydrobiology

• identification of benthic macroinvertebrates collected during field sampling
• introduction to bioindication methods

​

2. Hydrochemistry

• laboratory analysis of collected water samples
• demonstration of chemical indicators used in water quality assessment
• analysis of grey water samples from different treatment stages

​

3. Hydromorphological Assessment

• evaluation of stream habitat structure
• field protocol used in WFD monitoring

​

Evening

• Walk in Prague

​

Day 3 – Student Challenge

Morning

Students evaluate the ecological status of their stream section using:

• hydrochemical results
• biological indicators (macroinvertebrates)
• hydromorphological assessment

​

Afternoon

• Students’ presentations of results
• Discussion of ecological status classification

​

Evaluation and farewell

Program

Datum: 22.–23. September 2026

Day 1

Morning

• Introduction of participants
• Introductory lectures:
  1. Invasive alien plants and their ecological impacts
  2. Risk assessment and management of invasive species
  3. Monitoring and identification methods

​

Afternoon

• Field excursion focused on invasive plant species in riparian ecosystems

​

Students will learn:

• field identification of major invasive plants
• mapping and monitoring methods
• evaluation of ecological impacts

​

Students will work in small groups and record occurrences of invasive species along selected transects.

​

Evening

• Discussion of field observations
• Campus walk

​

Day 2

Morning

• Laboratory session:
  • identification of collected plant material
  • use of identification keys and monitoring protocols
  • discussion of management strategies

​

Afternoon

• Student group presentations:
  • invasive species recorded during field survey
  • ecological risk and possible management measures

​

Final discussion and farewell

Course Description

Basic Information

Duration: 3 days (1 online, 1 self-study, 1 in-person)

Number of participants: max. 10 students

The course will be taught in English.

Program

Course Objective

Students will gain an overview of biosensors for environmental monitoring with a focus on biosensors using bioreporter microorganisms. They will gain knowledge of the design, use, history, advantages, and disadvantages of environmental biosensors.

Theoretical Part

• Introduction to biosensors, basic principles, history
• Bioluminescence, fluorescence, bioreporters, biosensors based on bioreporters
• Immobilization of biological material for the preparation of biosensors

Laboratory Part

• Estimation of BTEX in water using the Pseudomonas putida TVA8 bioreporter

Requirements / Prior Knowledge

• Mandatory participation in GMO laboratory safety training on the first day of the course (online)
• Basic knowledge of laboratory procedures (e.g., pipetting) and rules for the disposal of common substances and solutions
• Experience with sterile work and working with GMOs is an advantage
• The course can be taken independently and does not follow on from any other course within the module

It is advisable to have your own laptop for data evaluation.

Course Schedule

Monday, March 16, 2026 – online

9:00 – approx. 12:00 Theoretical part

Followed by self-study

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – CPTO building on the UJEP campus, Pasteurova 15, Ústí nad Labem

10:00 – approx. 15:00

• Introduction to the laboratory
• Preparation of bioreporter microorganisms for determination
• Calculation of experiment setup (standards, real water, controls)
• Pipetting the experiment into a microtiter plate
• Measurement of bioluminescence response

Followed by self-study – data evaluation and protocol writing with individual online consultation.

Link to webinar

Access code: 709727