The European Doctoral Network "A Coherent Analysis Framework for Emergence in Biological Systems" (CAFE-BIO) is looking to recruit 15 excellent Doctoral Candidates (DCs) at 12 leading European partner institutions, for individual research projects leading to a PhD degree. In Germany, specifically, three positions are available in Göttingen (at the University of Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization) and one at the University of Stuttgart. DC positions should be taken up on 1 Sept 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applications should be submitted to the University of Edinburgh as coordinating institution by 1 April 2026.

Scientific overview

CAFE-BIO will provide a cohort of DCs with a rigorous training in solving complex problems where an ability to combine perspectives and quantitative methods from multiple scientific traditions is essential to gain insights and make predictions for systems characterised by many degrees of freedom and intrinsic noise. These skills will be gained in part through scientific research that applies techniques from statistical and condensed matter physics to understand how phenomena in biological systems – key to such functions as movement, growth and regulation – emerge from interaction between their component parts. A distinctive feature of the CAFE-BIO programme is that a novel combination of modelling and analysis techniques, that traditionally have each been applied in a specific problem domain, lies at the heart of each individual research project (IRP).

Further details of the scientific background and the research and training provision within CAFE-BIO are available from the network website (https://cafe-bio.org) and the official EU page for the network (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101226762).

Training overview

The 15 IRPs will be carried out at the University of Edinburgh (UK), University of Goettingen (Germany), MPI-DS Goettingen (Germany), University of Stuttgart (Germany), University of Barcelona (Spain), CEA-Saclay (France), NANOTEC-CNR (Italy), University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands), Leiden University (Netherlands), VU University Amsterdam (Netherlands), Institute for Physical Chemistry (Warsaw, Poland). Additional private sector partners will make important contributions to the training provision. Each institution provides a structured training programme through a local graduate school. Beyond this, the doctoral training programme involves academic and non-academic secondments, which are key to building coherence; annual in-person cohort events (launch meeting, research schools, final conference); specialized thematic workshops; and an ongoing programme of virtual activities. A career development plan will be developed for each DC, and network events will include training in transferable skills such as oral and written communication, project management, time management and team working.

CAFE-BIO provides generous funding levels for living expenses, which are determined according to the cost of living in the country where the position is held. In addition, the network budget includes a mobility allowance of €8,520 per year and (where applicable) a family allowance of €7,920 per year. Special needs allowances are also available on application. These allowances are in addition to a flat rate contribution to expenses for research, training and networking.

Eligibility and how to apply

Candidates are eligible to apply for CAFE-BIO positions if they have an excellent first degree that qualifies for PhD study in physics, mathematics and adjacent fields, with preferably a strong background in statistical physics. Candidates with a degree in the biological sciences with strong quantitative skills are also encouraged to apply. At the time of recruitment no candidate must have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the eventual host institution for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.
CAFE-BIO aims to promote gender equality. Suitably qualified female candidates, and candidates from any other under-represented group, are therefore explicitly encouraged to apply.

Before applying, candidates should consult the full list of the 15 CAFE-BIO research projects at https://cafe-bio.org/projects. Any enquiries on the projects themselves should be sent directly to the contact email provided for each project. At the time of application, candidates will be able to specify up to three IRPs that they wish to apply for, in order of preference. These preferences will be considered when allocating projects to candidates, in combination with a ranking based on the written application documents and performance at interview for shortlisted candidates. For full details of the application procedure please see https://cafe-bio.org/projects/eligibility .