The doctoral program "Molecular Biology of Cells" is part of the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB). The graduate school offers a joint modular training program to which the twelve doctoral programs of GGNB contribute and that is open to all GGNB students. In addition to a lecture and seminar program, training consists of (1) individual counselling by thesis committees, (2) intensive methods courses of 1-3 weeks in special training labs, (3) 2-3-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-organized 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.

The program accepts students from diverse areas of previous education in natural sciences who share enthusiasm for studying the structure and function of cells. Training is aimed at achieving a comparative understanding of how cellular structure and function are determined, a critical sense of how to apply comprehensive genomic/transcriptomic analysis tools, and the ability to set up and test conceptual models for cellular function. A comparative lecture series, typically presented by two or more speakers per session, covers analogous phenomena in different species and even kingdoms. Methods courses will assist all students in the analysis of genomes, transcription signatures, large scale protein identification, high content analysis of cell morphology and regulation, metabolomics, as well as large scale analysis and quantitative modelling through the participants who specialize in bioinformatics.

Experimental research constitutes the major component of the doctoral studies and is conducted in the laboratory of a faculty member of the doctoral program. Doctoral research projects are complemented by a school-wide structured training program, offered to all GGNB students, who are members of a vibrant international research community. The language of the doctoral program is English.