International Max Planck Research School – Biological Intelligence (IMPRS-BI)

The International Max Planck Research School – Biological Intelligence (IMPRS-BI) integrates research groups from mainly three partners in the Munich area, one of Europe´s prominent science hubs:

Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (MPI-BI), with sites in Martinsried and Seewiesen
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
Technische Universität München (TUM)

© MPI for Biological Intelligence / M. Warner

OUR MISSION

The mission of the IMPRS-Biological Intelligence is to offer top-class education to doctoral students interested in the question of how nervous systems develop and have evolved to allow animals to pursue their goals, navigate their environment and employ behavioral strategies that are adapted to and shape their respective ecological niche. Thereby, research and training within the IMPRS-BI bridges all scales of biological organization, from molecules and genes to neuronal circuits, and from organisms to societies and ecosystems.

PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM

IMPRS-BI offers integrative doctoral training across different scientific fields, including neurobiology, connectomics, behavioral ecology and evolutionary genetics, thereby fostering collaboration and networking.

• State-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge research projects
• Individual supervision and mentoring
• Full funding, with no tuition costs; additional support for scientific meetings and training
• Structured PhD program in English

While the research projects of our doctoral students take center stage, IMPRS-BI helps to improve the quality of scientific research and our students´ career prospects by offering a comprehensive curriculum, tailored to each student´s individual needs. 

• Interdisciplinary Lecture Series
• IMPRS Seminars with oral and poster presentations by our students
• Workshops and courses in scientific techniques, advanced methods and statistics
• Workshops and courses in transferable skills and career development
• IMPRS-BI retreats

© MPI for Biological Intelligence / M. Warner

OUR NETWORK

37 renowned scientists leading a research group at one of our partner institutions, the MPI-BI, LMU and TUM, support and advise our ~70 doctoral candidates throughout their studies to develop their personal and research skills for a future career in science. IMPRS-BI builds on long-standing co-operations between the partner institutions and with research institutions from abroad.

INTERESTED?

If you are a passionate, talented and creative scientist, interested in unravelling the nature of biological intelligence and with a strong commitment to basic research, we welcome you to apply to IMPRS-BI. Watch out for the yearly call for fully-funded PhD positions. 

For more information about IMPRS-BI, visit our website https://imprs-bi.mpg.de/