Practical skills acquired through bench work in the individual research projects will be supplemented by practical courses on topics covered by the RTG research program. All students have to attend the introductory course on biostatistical analysis and experimental design as well as the introductory course on bioinformatics (offered by Knut Reinert, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, FU Berlin). Optional courses, of which each student has to choose at least two during their PhD period, offered by the RTG Faculty provide hands-on experience to modern methodologies in parasitology that are not necessarily employed in the individual research projects. A particular highlight is the field training course at Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre offered by Hofer and East. Doctoral students in their second year will have the opportunity to include the host population perspective in their specific research project by collecting data in a natural environment. Although not a member of the Faculty, a course on "Parasites in animal farming and aquaculture" is offered by Klaus Knopf, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin. Attending these courses will motivate students to collaborate closely across the three research areas.       
  
To promote the general scientific development, doctoral students are welcome to attend practical courses offered by the Dahlem Research School, e.g., advanced flow cytometry and en passant mutagenesis (more information available here), and the ZIBI Graduate School, e.g., murine transgenesis and imaging pathogen-host interactions (more information available here). Finally, exchanges with international research groups may be organized in order to acquire new skills beneficial for the individual research project.