PhD Programme and IMPRS

University graduates who are interested in modern plant research can work on their doctorate at our institute. Our doctoral programme is open to students from all countries. The doctoral research is done under the guidance of our directors, group leaders and senior scientists. We work closely with the Faculty of Science at the University of Potsdam where most of our doctoral researchers are registered and enrolled during their doctorate. The doctoral thesis is submitted and defended at the University, which also confers the doctoral degree.

Doctoral Research at the MPI-MP

There are about 70 PhD researchers from about 15 different countries worldwide who are currently working on a full doctoral research project at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology. In addition, we host several guest PhD students every year who are doing part of their doctoral research in one of our groups.

Graduate students choose our institute for their doctoral research because of:

their enthusiam and interest in modern plant science encompassing experimental, bioinformatic and theoretical approaches.
top scientists who do cutting-edge research with state-of-the-art facilities and resources.
our doctoral training and support programme including PhD advisory committees, lectures and courses.
our lively international scientific environment close to Germany's capital, Berlin.

Doctoral training and support

Doctoral training at the MPI-MP is organized in the frame of the IMPRS MolPlant. All graduate students at the MPI-MP

carry out their doctoral research in one of our research groups, under the guidance and supervision of the group leader.
have a PhD advisory committee (PAC), which is an independent panel comprising 2-3 scientists who give advice and guidance, and monitor the progress of the research project at regular intervals.
give yearly presentations at the MPI-MP's weekly Progress Seminar, and write a report on their project after year 1 and 2.
attend seminars, lectures and courses, and are encouraged to present their results at conferences.

For transferable skills training, we collaborate closely with the Potsdam Graduate School. Every two years, our doctoral researchers organize the 'Plants and People' Conference - an exciting scientific event and a great possibility to hone your organization skills if you join the organizing committee!

The doctoral researchers at the MPI-MP are represented by the PhD representatives. The PhD representatives organize events and transferable skills training for all graduate students at the MPI-MP. All doctoral researchers in the Max Planck Society are organized in the PhDnet.

The great majority of our doctoral researchers are registered as doctoral candidates with the Faculty of Science at the University of Potsdam. Advice and support on administrative questions regarding the University of Potsdam, for example on how to register as doctoral candidate with the Faculty of Science and enrol as doctoral student with the University, is offered by the Doctoral Programme Coordinator, Ina Talke. If you would like to learn more about campus life, funding and tuition, have a look at our FAQ page.