First call of the new International Max Planck Research School on "Multiscale Biosystems"
Interested and sufficiently qualified students can now apply for fellowships of this doctoral program under http://imprs.mpikg.mpg.de. The deadline for this call is February 28th, 2013.
Research
The IMPRS on "Multiscale Biosystems" addresses the fundamental levels of biosystems as provided by macromolecules in aqueous solutions, molecular recognition between these building blocks, free energy transduction by molecular machines as well as structure formation and transport in cells and tissues. The research activities are focused on four core areas: molecular recognition of carbohydrates, interaction of biomolecules with light, directed intracellular processes, as well as directed shape changes of tissues. One general objective is to understand, in a quantitative manner, how the processes on supramolecular and mesoscopic scales, between a few nanometers and many micrometers, arise from the structure and dynamics of the molecular building blocks.
General Framework
Our doctoral program offers fellowships for cutting edge research projects. The school has its headquarters in Potsdam, will run for at least six years, and is committed to attract interested and sufficiently qualified students from any country. The interdisciplinary research combines bottom-up with top-down approaches, which are pursued by several research groups applying methods from theoretical and experimental biophysics, from physical and colloid chemistry, as well as from biochemistry and molecular biology. Furthermore, the school offers additional tuition on a variety of topics such as scientific writing, information on career possibilities and German courses for foreign students.
Research group leaders and chair holders at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, the University of Potsdam, the Free University Berlin, the Humboldt University Berlin and the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering are taking part in the program and offer research projects, graduate training and mentorship. Detailed information about the organization of the school and possible research projects as well as about the application and admission procedures can be found at: