IMPRS-GS: Overview of PhD opportunities in 2026


This page provides an overview of the Principal Investigators (PIs) offering PhD positions through the IMPRS-GS program. Projects available through the Research Training Group GönomiX are described on a separate website: GönomiX. The IMPRS-GS program is offering fully funded PhD positions starting in 2026 (early summer or fall). To apply, please use the application tool found here.
Application Deadline: January 14, 2026.
Click on a project or faculty member below for more detailed information. Please read carefully to determine whether your experience aligns with the project's requirements. You can choose up to 5 PIs, but be prepared to clearly explain your choices in your application.

Tim Beissbarth - Michael Altenbuchinger

University Medical School -
Medical Bioinformatics
Bioinformatic research in precise medicine
Project description

Requirement: Experience Skills in Bioinformatics, Programming, Statistics and in Machine Learning techniques, Translational Research



Gregor Bucher

University of Göttingen -
Dept. of Developmental Biology
Pushing the limits of RNAi for pest control
Project description

Requirement: Skills in Molecular Biology and NGS Data analysis,



Lukas Cyganek

University Medical School - Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology
Stem Cell Unit / Cardiology and Pneumology
Disease modeling and testing of personalized therapies in human iPSCs
Project description

Requirement: skills in stem cell culture, CRISPR/Cas9 and/or omics approaches



Christian Dienemann

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences -
Department of Molecular Biology
Structural biology and in vitro systems
Project description

Requirement: Skills in Functional Genomics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or Bioinformatics



Niels Fischer

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences -
Project Group Molecular Machines in Motion, Department of Physical Biochemistry
Molecular mechanisms of translation regulation in health and disease
Project description

Requirement: Enthusiasm to work in a team and learn new techniques in structural biology.



Eugenio Fornasiero

University Medical School -
Department of Neuro-sensory Physiology
Unraveling the complexity of the human brain in physiology and disease by combining high-throughput imaging and analysis of iPSC-derived neurons
Project description

Requirement: Passion for cutting-edge research, foundational skills in microscopy and computational biology, and an eagerness to tackle complex problems with image analysis and multi-omics integration. Experience with bioinformatics, statistical analysis, or Biopython programming is a plus.



Kerstin Lenhof

University Medical School -
Medical Bioinformatics
SenDoCo: Dose-specific Drug Combination Sensitivity Prediction
Project description

Requirement: Solid programming skills in python, knowledge of the foundations of machine learning, particularly deep learn- ing, solid knowledge of biology (knowledge of the biology of cancer would be advantageous)



Ufuk Günesdogan

Goettingen University -
Developmental Biology
Transcriptional control and epigenetic programming during primate primordial germ cell development
Project description

Requirement: pluripotency, stem cells, primordial germ cells, transcription, epigenetics



Michael Lidschreiber - Kristina Zumer

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences -
Department of Molecular Biology
Genome transcription and regulation
Project description

Requirement: Skills in Functional Genomics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or Bioinformatics



Juliane Liepe

Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry -
Research Group Quantitative and Systems Biology
Quantitative and Systems Biology
Project description

Requirement: Computational modelling



Marieke Oudelaar

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences -
Lise Meitner Group Genome Organization and Regulation
Gene regulation and genome organization
Project description

Requirement: Skills in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics or Bioinformatics



Jochen Rink

Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry -
Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration
The gene regulatory dimension of planarian regeneration
Project description

Requirement: Skills in Molecular and Cell Biology, Data Analysis



Melina Schuh

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences -
Dept. of Meiosis
Unraveling the mysteries of Ovarian development and infertility
Project description

Requirement: Skills in bioinformatics, cell biology or genetics



Johannes Söding

Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences -
joint project of different groups
Modern methods for large-scale protein and RNA structure and function analysis
Project description

Requirement: Good programming skills on real-world projects, analytical thinking, interest in statistics and/or bioinformatics would be a big plus



Jörg Stülke

Goettingen University -
Institute of Microbiology
P1: The essence of life – contributions of so far unknown proteins
P2: Data integration in the era of artificial intelligence
2 Projects description

Requirement: Project 1: Skills in molecular biology, ideally with bacteria
Project 2: Skills in bioinformatics, programming