Doctoral Training Program

Join us to understand the Bio-Chemistry of Plant Success!

All academic departments and independent research groups at the IPB regularly offer opportunities for pursuing exciting dissertation research toward a doctoral degree on ambitious and modern topics of plant-related biochemistry and natural products chemistry. The excellent research infrastructure at the IPB, its state-of-the-art technology platforms, and its vibrant academic environment provide outstanding conditions to ensure successful graduation. More than 50 doctoral candidates at the IPB benefit from competent mentoring and a two-tiered structured doctoral training program, which well prepares the candidates for future leading positions in academia, industry, or the public sector.

Core Program

Doctoral candidates are enrolled typically at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and defend their dissertation thesis in compliance with the Doctorate Regulations (Promotionsordnung) of the Faculties of Natural Sciences I-III (see also Guide for Doctoral Candidates). The MLU confers the degree Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.), which is equivalent to the degree Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in English-speaking countries.

Irrespective of their participation in a structured graduate program (e.g., CRC, RTG, yDiv, Agripoly, etc.), all doctoral candidates at the IPB complete the following core program (click "read more").

  1. Attendance at the IPB Welcome & Orientation Day within the first six months at the IPB, including the Seminar on Good Scientific Practice
  2. IPB Supervision Agreement between the doctoral candidate and the supervision team/thesis committee (or equivalent agreement of external doctoral program)
  3. Regular presentation at the IPB Research Seminar Series ("Wednesday Seminar"; see Intranet schedule)
  4. Regular participation in departmental activities (e.g., seminars/progress reports/research discussions)
  5. Regular participation in the IPB Retreat
read more

Extended Program
Leibniz Research School PlantBioChem

In addition, every doctoral candidate at the IPB has the opportunity to participate in a structured graduate training program - the Leibniz Research School PlantBioChem. The qualification and academic activities offered by the LRS PlantBioChem are embedded in the International Graduate Academy (InGrA) of the MLU. InGrA supports and coordinates various structured doctoral programs, offers additional soft skill courses and valuable networking opportunities both within the field of research and across disciplines.

Successful completion of the LRS PlantBioChem Program will be documented in an LRS Record Book (following the European Credit Point System) and acknowledged upon conferral of the doctoral degree by the MLU by awarding the LRS PlantBioChem Certificate.

LRS PlantBioChem comprises the following mandatory and optional training elements.

Mandatory Training Elements

  1. Attendance at the IPB Welcome & Orientation Day within the first six months at the IPB, including the Seminar on Good Scientific Practice
  2. IPB Supervision Agreement between the doctoral candidate and the Thesis Committee (or equivalent agreement of external doctoral program)
  3. Regular presentations at and regular (weekly) attendance of the IPB Research Seminar Series ("Wednesday Seminar"; see LRS PlantBioChem Program and Intranet schedule)
  4. Regular participation in departmental activities (e.g., seminars/progress reports/research discussions)
  5. Regular participation in the IPB Retreat
  6. Attendance at the annual Leibniz Plant Biochemistry Symposium
  7. Participation in the annual Plant Science Student Conference (PSSC) and/or the PhD Workshop on Natural Products
  8. Poster/Talk presentation at an international conference
  9. Participation in an transferable skill course

Optional Training Elements

In addition to the mandatory elements, the LRS Program encourages optional training for professional as well as personal development. It is recommended to take advantage of the following optional training elements which will be accredited in the LRS Record Book as well on the LRS PlantBioChem Certificate.

  1. Courses/Workshops (hard/technical and soft/transferable skills, including language courses) either offered by InGrA or IPB (initiated by the doctoral candidates and supported by IPB organisationally and financially; see IPB Doctoral Training Courses 'DoCou')
  2. Supervision of BSc or MSc students in the lab or in coursework
  3. Organizational responsibilities (Doctoral Representative, PSSC planning, hosting IPB Seminar speakers, etc.)
read more

How to apply?

  • We advertise open PhD positions on our job vacancies pages. Please, follow the guidelines of the specific job description when applying. See IPB job vacancies...
     

  • Students interested in applying for a PhD scholarship (see list of fellowship programs) should directly contact a research group leader working in the field of interest who may act as a supervisor. Check out the IPB research groups...

 

 

 

 

A Guidebook specifically tailored to doctoral students arriving at the IPB is available upon request and on the intranet. Contact your department's secretary or doctoral representative.

In addition, we refer to the Martin Luther University's comprehensive Guide for Doctoral Candidates.

The LRS PlantBioChem is led by Prof. Steffen Abel. LRS Coordinator is Antje Hellmuth.

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This page was last modified on 06 Feb 2025 27 Jan 2025 27 Jan 2025 06 Feb 2025 27 Jan 2025 11 Mar 2025 27 Jan 2025 .