Fully Funded PhD Positions in Infectious Diseases and Immunology (IMPRS-IDI, Berlin) Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Germany

The International Max Planck Research School for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (IMPRS-IDI) in Berlin is offering up to six fully funded PhD positions for highly motivated candidates interested in cutting-edge research at the intersection of infection biology and immunology. Successful applicants will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary doctoral program hosted by leading institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, the German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Technische Universität Berlin. The available projects for 2026 cover a range of topics, such as innate immune recognition in the gastrointestinal epithelium using organoid models (Bartfeld lab), immune–metabolic adaptation in pregnancy and its implications for offspring health (Diefenbach lab), variant surface antigen expression in chronic Plasmodium falciparum carriage (Portugal lab), and the molecular pathways of NK cell memory and clonality (Romagnani lab), as well as the regulation of inflammation by variable allele usage (Weiss lab). IMPRS-IDI provides a stimulating international environment with about 75 doctoral students from over 25 countries, access to state-of-the-art facilities, a strong scientific network, and a project-adapted curriculum that includes scientific, technical, and complementary skills training.

The program encourages travel for scientific presentations and fosters a supportive PhD student community. Applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences, biochemistry, biophysics, or related fields, and some projects require strong quantitative skills.

An excellent M.Sc. or equivalent degree is required, though the degree need not be completed at the time of application. The application deadline is 10 December 2025, with interviews scheduled for early 2026 and successful candidates starting their doctorates between May and December 2026. For more information on projects, eligibility, and the application process, visit the IMPRS-IDI website.