Mycelium-Based Sensors
How mycelium responds to light, chemicals, touch and moisture, and how those responses are being explored as sensing signals.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Mycelium-Based Sensors
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Fungal Computing, Bioelectronics & Space Mycology. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
This course explores how mycelium responds to light, chemicals, touch and moisture, and how those responses are being investigated as sensing signals. You will review the biology of fungal stimulus responses, learn how biological changes are transduced into measurable electrical quantities, and compare impedance, resistance and potential-based sensing. The course covers mycelium skins for tactile sensing and the practical issues of calibration, drift and sensor lifetime.
Mycelium sensors are an emerging area with intriguing laboratory prototypes but few deployed products; living sensors bring sensitivity and self-repair, but also variability and short lifespans. The course is candid about these trade-offs. It suits sensor engineers, designers and bioengineers who want hands-on experience with biological sensing. The final project, developed across the last module, is a simple working mycelium sensor: you grow the sample, build the read-out circuit, run a stimulus test and report calibration, drift and reproducibility across at least two samples.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in fungal computing, useful in areas such as Biosensing and bioelectronics R&D, Design research, Academic research, Education and outreach.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
How mycelium responds to light, chemicals, touch and moisture, and how those responses are being explored as sensing signals.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: Fungal responses to environmental stimuli; Transduction: from biology to measurable signal.
- Put them into practice: Impedance, resistance and potential-based sensing; Mycelium skins and tactile sensing.
- Apply everything to a real case: Calibration, drift and lifetime; Prototype project: a simple mycelium sensor.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your professor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Describe how mycelium responds to physical and chemical stimuli.
- Select a suitable transduction method for a given stimulus.
- Build a simple read-out circuit for impedance or potential.
- Calibrate a living sensor and quantify drift over time.
- Report sensor performance with appropriate uncertainty.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Sensor engineers, designers and bioengineers.
4.2Entry requirements
Basic electronics or sensor experience is recommended; materials for growing small mycelium samples are needed for the project.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Research assistant in biosensor development
- Prototype engineer in biohybrid design
- R&D designer exploring living interfaces
- Laboratory technician in bioelectronics
- Educator running biosensing workshops
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Fungal responses to environmental stimuli | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | Transduction: from biology to measurable signal | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Impedance, resistance and potential-based sensing | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Mycelium skins and tactile sensing | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Calibration, drift and lifetime | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Prototype project: a simple mycelium sensor | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- Responses to light and humidity
- Chemical and nutrient responses
- Mechanical stimulation and touch
- Principles of transduction
- Biological versus electrochemical effects
- Choosing a measurable quantity
- Impedance spectroscopy basics
- Resistance and conductance sensing
- Potential-based measurements
- Growing thin mycelium skins
- Pressure and touch response
- Integration with soft materials
- Calibration curves
- Drift and baseline correction
- Keeping sensors viable
- Specifying the sensor
- Building and testing
- Reporting performance honestly
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A working mycelium sensor prototype with calibration, drift and reproducibility data from at least two samples.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your professor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions, practical exercises in each module and a final project reviewed by the professor.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your professor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
The Fungal Computing at Fungaris coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The professor of each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Mycelium-Based Sensors?
Basic electronics or sensor experience is recommended; materials for growing small mycelium samples are needed for the project.
How is Mycelium-Based Sensors taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions, practical exercises in each module and a final project reviewed by the professor.
What is the final project?
A working mycelium sensor prototype with calibration, drift and reproducibility data from at least two samples.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.
What can I study after Mycelium-Based Sensors?
The natural next step is Diploma in Fungal Electrophysiology and Bioelectronics.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Keep branching.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).