Open Positions

6

Time Span

01 May 2026 for 3 years

Application Deadline

10 Dec 2025

Financing

yes

Areas of study

Biology, Human Biology, Biomedicine, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics

Description

The International Max Planck Research School for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (IMPRS-IDI) is excited to announce openings for up to 6 fully funded PhD positions. We invite highly motivated candidates to join a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment, with projects at the forefront of infectious disease and immunology. Successful applicants will engage in innovative research at renowned institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin.

The following 6 PhD projects are available in 2026:

• Innate immune recognition in the gastrointestinal epithelium – Organoids as host model (Bartfeld lab)
• Immune–Metabolic Adaptation in Pregnancy: Implications for Offspring Health (Diefenbach lab)
• Variant Surface Antigen Expression in chronic Plasmodium falciparum carriage (Portugal lab)
• Dissecting the Molecular Pathways of NK Cell Memory (Romagnani lab)
• Dissecting the Molecular Pathways of NK Cell Clonality (Romagnani lab)
• Variable allele usage regulates inflammation (Weiss lab)

The IMPRS-IDI is a vibrant international doctoral program with about 75 doctoral students from more than 25 different countries. Our mission is to support students to develop into creative, critical, responsible and self-confident young researchers. 

We offer:

• cutting-edge research and training opportunities with access to state-of-the-art facilities
• an excellent scientific network
• a prestigious graduate school program with a project-adapted curriculum (training courses, lectures etc on scientific, technical and complementary skill topics) and a strong PhD student community
• the opportunity for travel to present your work
• a stimulating international and multi-disciplinary research environment on a thriving campus in the heart of Berlin 

We are looking for:

• Creative and highly motivated candidates (w/d/m) of all nationalities and backgrounds who are truly committed to research
• Candidates with a strong background in biological sciences, biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines are invited to apply. For some projects, candidates with a strong quantitative skillset are sought – please check the project descriptions for individual requirements on our website.
• Candidates must have an excellent M.Sc. or equivalent degree (it is not necessary to hold the final degree at the time of application, however the degree should be fully completed before project start)

Interested in joining us? 

Submit your application via our online application platform until 10 December 2025. 

Short-listed candidates are invited to online interviews in February/March, followed by interviews in Berlin. Successful candidates start their doctorate between May and December 2026.

For more information on available projects, eligibility criteria and the application process, please check the IMPRS-IDI website.