Open PhD positions for own proposal elaboration within Organismal Biology

The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Organismal Biology offers several fully-funded PhD positions. The IMPRS is based in southern Germany and is jointly organized by the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen and Radolfzell and the University of Konstanz. Outstanding students of all nationalities with a deep commitment to basic research in Organismal Biology are invited to apply.
All students accepted to the program will be supported by stipends or contracts. The program offers a dedicated teaching program, high quality research experience, and outstanding research facilities in an inspiring research and living environment. The working language is English. Each PhD student receives individual supervision and mentoring and is guided in her/his research work by a PhD advisory committee.

We are offering two open PhD positions funded by DAAD stipends. The positions are open (within the IMPRS) and not initially assigned to a specific project or a faculty member. Interested candidates are expected to apply with their own project ideas within the area of Organismal Biology, and to find matching faculty member(s) for their project proposal. It is the student’s choice what topic to study and with whom to conduct the study – given the agreement of an IMPRS faculty member as a mentor.
Requirements: Applicants should hold a MSc or equivalent degree in biology or a related discipline at the point of enrollment. The candidates have to be non-German citizens and not living in Germany for more than 15 months prior to application, and are not allowed to have finished their MSc or Diploma more than 6 years ago. Students from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply. A maximum of 3 months of study period abroad per year (and a total of 9 months abroad) can be funded.
Candidates can apply for various IMPRS positions at the same time, however, they cannot use the DAAD stipend for a project previously outlined by an IMPRS faculty member. The project proposal (as accepted by the prospective supervisor) has to be submitted together with all other application documents.