The IMPRS-gBGC is a cooperation between the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU). It is guided by an executive committee and the spokesperson. The IMPRS-gBGC coordination office runs the daily administrative affairs.
The three-year programme focuses on original and independent research leading to a PhD thesis. An additional PhD curriculum provides a valuable complement to research work. The curriculum varies each year and is adapted to the needs of the PhD researchers. The current list of courses can be seen on the IMPRS-gBGC website.
PhD researchers have a primary affiliation with a research group at either FSU or the MPI for Biogeochemistry and are enrolled at the FSU. The list of faculty members and their respective affiliations is available at http://www.imprs-gbgc.de.
At the end of the PhD programme, a written thesis (ideally cumulative, i.e., based on at least three publications) and its successful defence qualify for a doctoral degree at FSU. The degree certificate indicates that the degree was obtained with the IMPRS.
In addition to guidance received from their direct adviser and discussions with fellows, PhD researchers are also supervised and mentored by a PhD advisory committee, which helps to set milestones for the research project as well as to time courses and other curricular elements.
Moreover, PhD researchers are encouraged to discuss their projects and results with all researchers at the MPI-BGC and the FSU at internal seminars. Once a year, all IMPRS members – PhD researchers and senior scientists – meet during a retreat to present their most recent results.
The research programme calls for applications internationally twice a year and admits new PhD researchers following a competitive selection process. Fellowships are offered for a duration of three years. International applicants are supported during their period of transition in Jena and are offered German language classes.
Doctoral researchers will be required to make a three-month foreign research visit at another scientific activity. The foreign visit also facilitates unique contacts with top experts in their field and will increase the visibility of the PhD projects.
Training in collaborative research is offered through short-term research visits at other institutions. A total of three months of research stay(s) gives doctoral researchers the opportunity to specialise and further qualify in a field of interest.
Teaching is not mandatory. Work contracts are full-time.