International PhD Programme in Germany 2017 (APPLY NOW!)

Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (MPI-bpc)

English

Any time

Open

Three years (two extensions of six months possible)

Application is possible independent of deadlines.

The scientific focus of the programme is primarily on microbial model systems, ranging from prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) to eukaryotic microbes, including the interactions between microorganisms and multicellular organisms. These interactions can be beneficial, as between plants and some bacteria, or harmful, as between human cells and pathogenic bacteria. In the research groups participating in the PhD programme, platforms are available in various participating groups for the analysis of genomes, transcription signatures, large-scale protein identification, metabolomics, and imaging.
The research programme includes the analysis of gene regulation and cell differentiation of microorganisms, the identification and functional characterisation of protein complexes, and the elucidation of the relation between pathogenic bacteria and their host cells. Moreover, we try to find novel enzymes using metagenomic approaches together with the exploitation of genomes of biotechnologically relevant microorganisms.

Microbiology and Biochemistry is a doctoral programme of the Faculty of Biology, offered by the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB). It is funded by the DFG within the framework of the German Federal and State Governments’ Excellence Initiative to promote science and research at German universities. The graduate school offers a joint modular training programme to which all doctoral programmes of the GGNB contribute, and which is open to all GGNB students. In addition to a lecture and seminar programme, training consists of (1) individual counselling by thesis committees, (2) intensive methods teaching courses of one to three weeks in special training labs, (3) two- or three-day methods courses in the laboratories of the participating faculty, (4) professional skills courses such as scientific writing, presentation skills, intercultural communication, project management, team leadership skills, conflict resolution, ethics and career development, and (5) student-organised scientific meetings, industry excursions and intercultural events. Students are able to tailor their individual curriculum by choosing from a large number of courses and events.

Participation in international scientific meetings, time-limited research projects and methods courses abroad are encouraged.

Option of research collaboration with other research institutions

Evaluation of doctoral thesis by two referees; public defence of doctoral thesis

ECTS credits

General promotion / funding

Course-related German language courses

Course-related English language courses

Enrolment fees are approx. 300 EUR per semester. Fees include a pre-paid semester ticket which entitles students to use regional trains free of charge within the federal states of Lower Saxony and Bremen, as well as city buses. Students of the University of Göttingen receive discounts for cultural events. Meals and drinks are also available at reduced prices at all university canteens.
http://www.uni-goettingen.de/fee

Postal address for hard-copy application documents:
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
GGNB Office
Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11
37077 Göttingen
Germany