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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

IMPRS Retreat

Jan 22, 2025 - Jan 24, 2025

Youth Hostel Leutesdorf

Francesca Ermoli

The crosstalk between type III secretion system and bacterial cell physiology in Yersinia

Jan 30, 2025 10:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology, Room: Lecture Hall / Hybrid

Leonard Ernst

Bridging Geochemistry and Biochemistry - From non-enzymatic methane formation pathways to the evolutionary dawn of enzymatic nitrogen fixation

Jan 30, 2025 04:00 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