Network, exchange, and training program to understand fundamental principles in biology

The iGRADbio Graduate Program offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary PhD training program in the fields of molecular sciences, biochemistry, genetics, synthetic and quantitative biology, and computer sciences. Future PhD students will join courses in transferable and scientific skills, regular seminars and retreats and practical courses in state-of-the-art laboratory methods. Selected candidates can start their PhD projects in January 2021.

The iGRADbio program offers

• Supervision of your research project by a thesis advisory committee
• Interdisciplinary scientific training: lecture series, seminar courses and practical workshops
• Active participation in institute seminars and international conferences
• Training in “Transferable Skills”: scientific writing and presentation, grant writing, project management, career planning, etc …

Fellowships and Support   PhD students receive a position as doctoral researcher (50% EG13 TV-L, German civil service pay scale) for three years. The program will assist in all formal and legal affairs, such as visas, housing, health insurance and enrollment.

Research Projects

1. #taken# Regulation of intracellular Na+ concentrations – Christine Rose, Christoph Fahlke
2. #taken# The association of lichenous fungi and cyanobacteria through lectins – Markus Pauly, Björn Usadel
3. Controlling and monitoring signalling processes in plants – Rüdiger Simon, Wolf B. Frommer
4. Plant-plant interactions and allelochemical responses in Arabidopsis – Petra Bauer, Jürgen Zeier
5. #taken#Structure and conformational dynamics of plant receptor-histidine kinases responding to their molecular stimuli – Henrike Heise, Georg Groth
6. #taken#Towards a structural mechanism of Drosophila ESCRT-III membrane remodeling: a multiscale imaging approach – Thomas Klein, Carsten Sachse
7. #taken#Establishing the cyanobacterium Synechocystis as model for synthetic symbiosis and endosymbiosis – Andreas Weber, Michael Feldbrügge
8. #taken#Exploring mechanisms establishing nuclear control over gene expression in a nascent photosynthetic organelle in the amoeba Paulinella chromatophore – Eva Nowack, Julia Frunzke
9. Chlamydia and Alzheimer: Protofibrillar oligomers of Chlamydia adhesins and human amyloid-β (PDF)  – Wolfgang Hoyer, Johannes H. Hegemann
10. #taken#Phenology and genetics of adaptation in wild grass species – Maria von Korff, Peter Westhoff
11. Analysis of microscopy-research data using artificial intelligence – Markus Kollmann, Mathias Beller
12. #taken#Exchange of iron chelators as a public good-based inter-kingdom communication principle in microbial consortia – Karl-Erich Jaeger, Nick Wierckx
13. Molecular economics of signalling systems – Oliver Ebenhöhr, Matias Zurbriggen
14. #taken#CRISPR-induced sidestep mutations in honey bees: Consequences of neuromuscular miswiring on locomotion and social behavior – Hermann Aberle, Martin Beye
15. #taken# The evolutionary landscape of microRNA targeting in plants – William Martin, Laura Rose
16. #taken# Genetics of genotype*environment interaction for photosynthesis parameters in barley – Benjamin Stich, Ulrich Schurr
17. Structural analysis of a novel type of signal transduction protein – Dieter Willbold, Michael Bott
18. #taken#Interplay of inositol pyrophosphate pathway and iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis – Ingrid Span, Ursula Fleig
19. The function of EPS in host-microbe interactions (PDF) – Ilka Axmann, Sebastian Fraune

Application:  We are looking for talented, highly motivated applicants holding a M.Sc. degree in biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics or a related field and a strong background in molecular sciences, biochemistry, quantitative biology, synthetic biology or a related discipline.

Please indicate your project number(s) of interest, #1 – #19, in your application!

For further information, please visit our website