Matter to Life (PhD Phase)

Overview

The work of the Max Planck School Matter to Life (MtL) focuses on methods to describe, model, and ultimately harness the laws of physics and chemistry that dictate the biological processes of dynamic spatiotemporal organization of life into molecules, cells, tissues and organisms. Thus, the MPS MtL not only pushes the boundaries of our understanding of life, but also paves the way for filling the knowledge gap in fundamental biology and finding innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in biotechnology and medicine.

Overview

In the PhD Phase of the MtL Direct Track Program, you will apply the knowledge and experiences gained during the Master phase to a specific research question, building up on latest scientific achievements and applying cutting edge technologies. You will also benefit from the MtL community and your network which you develop during the first phase and which will continuously grow over this time. You will graduate with the academic title "Dr. rer. nat.", the German equivalent to the PhD awarded in English-speaking countries.

The research fields of our faculty include synthetic biology, biophysics, biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, biotechnology, biomolecular physics, inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, DNA & RNA origami, synthetic cells, bioethics, and many more.

Please note that it is not possible to enter our Direct Track program at the PhD level. You will have to start with the Master Phase.