PhD / Doctorate •

Degree

Dr rer nat (PhD or similar)

Doctoral degree or degree awarded by

Friedrich Schiller University Jena or other universities

In cooperation with

Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Teaching language

• English

Languages

The working and teaching language is English.

Full-time / part-time

• full-time

Programme duration

6 semesters

Beginning

Only for doctoral programmes: any time

Additional information on beginning, duration and mode of study

The starting date of the PhD project is flexible.
The initial funding period is usually three years.
Find out more at https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/en/imprs/about

Application deadline

We accept applications twice a year. For current deadlines, please refer to https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/en/imprs/career-application .

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Combined Master's degree / PhD programme

No

Joint degree / double degree programme

Yes

Description/content

The key elements of life, such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, are continuously exchanged between land, ocean and atmosphere through processes known as global biogeochemical cycles. Research activities in the IMPRS-gBGC aim at a fundamental understanding of these cycles, how they are interconnected, and how they can change with an altering climate and with human activity. PhD researchers participate in ongoing research comprising field observations, method development, experiments and modelling. The PhD programme is thus an excellent starting platform for a successful career in a field related to global biogeochemical cycles and Earth System Science.
To answer questions relating to global biogeochemical cycling, individual PhD projects can involve aspects of (geo-)microbiology, soil science, atmospheric measurement techniques, atmospheric transport models, terrestrial and atmospheric remote sensing, model data integration, data mining, land surface models, ecosystem fluxes, isotope methods, biodiversity, organismic interactions, biological mineral formation, paleoclimatology, micropalaeontology and palaeolimnology. The particular combinations depend on the PhD researcher's interests and on the orientation of open positions.
Besides their own scientific research culminating in the PhD thesis, PhD researchers complete an additional training programme to develop a broad understanding of Earth System Science.

The additional curriculum comprises several partially elective elements:

• Courses offered by faculty members of the IMPRS:
  • An overview course on biogeochemical cycles and core courses that introduce the PhD researchers to scientific fields relevant to global biogeochemical cycles in which they have no deep knowledge as yet; this will facilitate interdisciplinary communication and collaboration
  • Specific skills courses relevant for research in global biogeochemical cycles
• Participation in summer schools and workshops related to the PhD project
• Training in collaborative research through short-term research visits at foreign top-level research groups
• Workshops on any personal skills which will improve PhD researchers' employment opportunities and future career performance in academia and elsewhere
• Outreach activities such as presentations of results at international conferences, publications in international journals, and explanation of PhD researchers' own scientific work to the general public (either in Germany or in the researchers' home countries)

Course organisation

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.

Certificates for specific modules are awarded

Yes

International elements

• International guest lecturers
• Integrated study abroad unit(s)
• Language training provided
• Study trips
• Projects with partners in Germany and abroad
• International comparisons and thematic reference to the international context

Integrated study abroad unit(s)

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.

Integrated internships

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/work obligations or opportunities

Teaching is not mandatory. Work contracts are full-time.

Special promotion / funding of the programme

• IMPRS

Course-specific, integrated German language courses

No

Course-specific, integrated English language courses

No

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Semester contribution

No semester contribution

Costs of living

The usual living expenses amount to 900 EUR for a single person.

Funding opportunities within the university

Yes

Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

Doctoral researchers with a Master's or "Diplom" degree receive either a support contract (remuneration of the support contract is along the lines of the Collective Wage Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD E13) (up to level 2) with minimum 65%) or a scholarship that is free of tax and social insurance. The funding is offered for three years.

Academic admission requirements

Applications for the programme are open to motivated and highly qualified students from all countries. A prerequisite is a "Diplom" or Master of Science degree in environmental sciences, geosciences, geography, biological sciences, physics, chemistry, computer sciences or related fields, including a corresponding thesis.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English is required since English is the official language of the programme.

The IMPRS for Global Biogeochemical Cycles has not made third-party language tests compulsory. Whether an applicant has sufficient command of the English language for a fruitful stay in the IMPRS-gBGC will become apparent during the application procedure (which includes an interview either via web conference or in person).
During the application process, you have the possibility to send us any language certificates you possess along with your other application documents.

Application deadline

We accept applications twice a year. For current deadlines, please refer to https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/en/imprs/career-application .

Submit application to

Online applications can be submitted through the website (https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/en/imprs/career-application ). The IMPRS-gBGC accepts applications for PhD positions twice a year.

Possibility of finding part-time employment

PhD researchers are expected to dedicate all of their productive time to the advancement of their doctoral studies. It is neither desired nor necessary that PhD researchers pursue a job for the duration of the programme because the contract or stipend covers the usual living expenses.

Accommodation

Off-campus accommodation is very common, e.g., in shared houses or flats. The coordination office can, if you wish, assist you in finding accommodation. A good starting point for your search is http://www.wg-gesucht.de/en/ . A limited number of single rooms is available in student residences.

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

Career advisory service

Doctoral candidates' progress and the quality of the thesis work is assessed regularly during meetings of the PhD advisory committee. Career planning is one of the topics of these discussions.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates

• Specialist counselling
• Visa matters

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