The International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Plant Science 
(IMPRS MolPlant) is a doctoral programme in plant science at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology and the University of Potsdam. We are located close to Berlin, the multicultural capital of Germany. 

We are inviting applications for 5 Doctoral Positions. 

Doctoral candidates and their research projects will start in second half of 2026, between June and December.

Our Research — Plants and their seeds are vital for human nutrition. In our IMPRS, we study genetic, molecular, cellular, metabolic and physiological processes of plant growth, development, reproduction and interaction with other organisms. In a plant’s life, interactions occur at multiple levels: among others, between its plastids and the nuclear genome, between cells in one organ, between its roots and above-ground organs, with related plant species and their genomes, with microbes and other biota, and with abiotic environmental factors. We seek to understand how plants perceive and integrate the multitude of endogenous and exogenous signals they receive to ensure their health, survival, biomass acquisition and seed formation. We work with various plant and algal species, and follow an interdisciplinary approach, combining molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics, metabolomics, biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics and microscopy with bioinformatics and modelling. 

Detailed information on the research groups available for supervising PhD projects in the current application call can be found on the website of the IMPRS MolPlant.

Our Offer — We offer excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities and interdisciplinary training in an international environment, with English as working language. Our doctoral researchers are supervised by our IMPRS faculty, and pursue research projects in their groups. They receive further guidance from an advisory committee. Positions are fully funded for 3 years, with possibility of extension, and include health insurance and social benefits.

Your Profile — You are a highly qualified and motivated candidate who would like to tackle fundamental questions in plant biology using experimental and/or computational approaches. You have a strong academic track record and hold or are about to obtain an MSc or equivalent degree in a field related to our research. We value diversity and welcome applications from students of all nationalities.

How to Apply — Find further information about the IMPRS, our research, and our online application procedure on our website:

https://www.mpimp-golm.mpg.de/IMPRS-PhD 

Please note that we only accept applications that are submitted via our application form. The online portal closes on 10January 2026, 23:59 CET.