The International Max Planck Research School for Biology and Computation (IMPRS-BAC) is now accepting applications for its 2026 doctoral program. This prestigious graduate school offers a unique interdisciplinary environment at the intersection of molecular life sciences and computational sciences, hosted by the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and Freie Universität Berlin.

Program Overview

IMPRS-BAC provides structured PhD training for outstanding graduates in fields such as:

• Molecular biology
• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Mathematics
• Computational biology
• Related disciplines

The program combines experimental and computational mentorship, allowing candidates to explore cutting-edge research in areas like epigenetics, gene regulation, RNA biology, protein biochemistry, stem cells, sequence analysis, statistics, and molecular evolution.

Key Benefits

• 3 years of full funding for your doctoral project
• Additional DAAD scholarships available through the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP)
• Degree awarded by Freie Universität Berlin
• Thesis advisory committee for structured supervision
• Support for conference participation and German language learning
• Diverse and international research community in Berlin

Application Timeline

• Application deadline: January 7, 2026 (18:00 CET)
• Reference letters deadline: January 14, 2026
• Video presentation deadline (longlisted candidates): February 9, 2026
• Online Q&A sessions: February 23–26, 2026
• Final interviews in Berlin: March 23–25, 2026
• Acceptance notifications: April 2026
• Program start: Between May and November 2026

How to Apply

Applicants must submit:

• A motivation letter
• A formal CV (without photo)
• Academic transcripts and certificates
• A research proposal aligned with IMPRS faculty interests
• Two academic references
• Names of up to five potential supervisors

AI tools may be used to enhance formatting or language, but must not be used to generate content for the motivation letter, CV, or research proposal. All submissions will be checked for plagiarism and AI-generated content.

Apply now and learn more: IMPRS Application Portal