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Welcome to the IMPRS “Principles of Microbial Life” in Marburg, Germany!

We are dedicated to offering excellent research opportunities for junior scientists with background in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics and bionformatics from all over the world. With us you can do a PhD in different branches of microbiological research, including

Cellular organization & architecture
Microbial communities & host-microbe interactions
Natural products & chemical biology
Physical biology
Physiology & metabolism
Signal transduction & information processing
Systems & synthetic biology.

Since 2003 the IMPRS in Marburg offers an international PhD program which provides interdisciplinary training in modern microbiology, state-of-the-art research facilities, and mentoring by world class scientists. Our thriving scientific community and academic landscape will give you the freedom to embark on your scientific journey!

Application process

Learn more about the application process and submit your application.

All events & activities

See our seminar program, workshops & other events.

Upcoming events

Undine Sophie Mies

Phylogeny and metabolism of Endomicrobiaceae and Elusimicrobiaceae: Exploring reductive genome evolution in two host-associated lineages of Elusimicrobiota

Apr 3, 2025 11:30 AM (Local Time Germany)

MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology, Room: Lecture Hall / Hybrid

Juliana Effert

Biosynthesis of bacterial pyrrolizidine alkaloids and additional nonribosomal peptides

Apr 11, 2025 10:30 AM (Local Time Germany)

MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology, Room: Lecture hall / On site

Holly Addison

Insights into the electron transport proteins essential for nitrogen fixation

Apr 25, 2025 03:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology, Room: Lecture hall

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Our graduate program International Max Planck Research School Principles of Microbial Life: From molecules to cells, from cells to interactions (IMPRS-µLife) is a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, the University of Marburg and the Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO).

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Our research

Our training program