Fully Funded PhD Positions in Life Sciences European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is offering fully funded PhD positions through its International PhD Programme (EIPP) for the 2026 summer recruitment cycle. EMBL is a world-leading research institution with sites in Heidelberg, Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Hinxton (near Cambridge), and Rome, providing a unique opportunity to join an international team of scientists working on basic research in molecular life sciences.

The EIPP is renowned for its comprehensive interdisciplinary training, balancing theory and practice, close mentoring and creative freedom, collaborative teamwork and independence. EMBL’s PhD programme has inspired similar initiatives at research institutions across Europe and globally, making it a role model for scientific training.

Research topics span a wide range of fields, including molecular medicine, animal biology and ethology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, biotechnology, cancer research, cell biology, computational biology, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, nanobiology, neuroscience, structural biology, systems biology, virology, biochemistry, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, molecular chemistry, algorithms, artificial intelligence, big data, computational sciences, data mining, databases, informatics, machine learning, software engineering, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biosystems engineering, chemical engineering, image processing, instrumentation engineering, optical engineering, robotics, applied mathematics, computational mathematics, statistics, stochastics, bacteriology, biomedicine, immunology, infectious diseases, applied physics, atomic, molecular and optical physics, biophysics, chemical physics, molecular physics, optics, photonics, and theoretical physics.

Applicants must hold, or expect to receive before starting at EMBL, a university degree that qualifies them for entry into a PhD or equivalent programme in their home country. EMBL welcomes candidates from diverse academic backgrounds, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, and molecular medicine. The programme fosters early independence and interdisciplinary research, providing a friendly and collaborative atmosphere that encourages the forging of long-lasting connections.

PhD positions at EMBL are fully funded, offering broad health care and pension benefits. The application deadline is 9 March 2026, and recruited candidates will start their work at EMBL by October 2026 at the latest. EMBL is committed to best practices in research assessment and is a signatory of DORA.

For more information and to submit your application, visit the EMBL International PhD Programme application portal. If you have questions, you may contact the EMBL Graduate Office. This is an exceptional opportunity to launch your scientific career in a vibrant, international research environment.