The International Max Planck Research School for Biology and Computation (IMPRS-BAC) is now recruiting doctoral candidates for a start in 2026. We seek exceptional graduates from around the globe and are delighted to offer them the ideal environment for advancing their scientific careers. The IMPRS-BAC graduate program provides interdisciplinary training for doctoral candidates at the intersection of molecular life sciences and computational sciences. This program offers comprehensive perspectives and mentorship in both experimental and computational fields, catering to graduates in molecular biology, biochemistry, mathematics, bioinformatics, and related disciplines.

If you possess a strong understanding of genome science and a passion for areas such as epigenetics, developmental biology, gene regulation, RNA biology, protein biochemistry, stem cells, bioinformatics, sequence analysis, mathematics, statistics, molecular evolution, or biophysics, and wish to work at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics or Freie Universität Berlin, this doctoral program is your ideal pathway! The International Max Planck Research School for Biology and Computation is a collaboration between Freie Universität Berlin (Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy; Department of Mathematics and Computer Science) and Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics.

You have:

• an above-average master's or comparable degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, mathematics, bioinformatics or any related areas, awarded by October 2026; 
• some experience with computational or biological research; 
• knowledge in biology or computation with a willingness to gain the other; 
• very good written and spoken English; 
• a project proposal that aligns with one of our faculty’s research interests.

 

We offer:

• cutting-edge research in a variety of areas in biology and computation, with possible specializations in genomic and molecular biology techniques as well as in algorithms, statistics and artificial intelligence for molecular genetics;
• 3 years funding to work on your doctoral project. Up to two additional positions will be funded by a DAAD scholarship „Graduate School Scholarship Programme” (GSSP). 
• a degree from the Freie Universität Berlin;
• excellent structured supervision through a thesis advisory committee; 
• a diverse community to exchange ideas with;
• a flexible and challenging curriculum of scientific courses and transferable skills; 
• support for attending conferences to present your work; 
• an international graduate program in one of Europe's most exciting cities; 
• financial support to learn German.

 Timeline:

• Apply by the 7^th of January 2026 (18:00 CET) via our application portal.
• Long-listed candidates are invited for online interviews between the 23rd and 26th of February 2026.
• Short-listed candidates are invited to Berlin for interviews between the 23rd and 25th of March 2026.
• Successful candidates start their doctorate between May and November 2026.
• Check our website for more information.

Application:Please prepare your CV and motivation letter, your academic record, a research proposal, and the name of two referees willing to provide references, then apply by the 7^th of January 2026 (18:00 CET) via our application portal. Check our website and FAQ for more information.

Contact: Dr. Anne-Dominique Gindrat (imprs-bac@molgen.mpg.de)

We are looking forward to your application!