Upcoming 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 in Life Sciences through its renowned International PhD Programme (EIPP). EMBL is a leading research institution with sites in Heidelberg, Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Hinxton (near Cambridge), and Rome, providing a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment for early-career scientists. The EIPP is designed to foster creativity, independence, and collaborative teamwork, offering comprehensive training that balances theory and practice, close mentoring, and creative freedom. EMBL’s programme has inspired similar initiatives across Europe and globally, making it a role model for interdisciplinary doctoral training.

PhD students at EMBL benefit from a diverse and international community, with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research across a wide range of fields including molecular biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, biotechnology, cancer research, cell biology, computational biology, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, 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 programme in their home country. EMBL welcomes candidates from diverse academic backgrounds, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, and molecular medicine. The positions are fully funded, offering broad health care and pension benefits, and EMBL is committed to best practices in research assessment as a signatory of DORA.

The application deadline for the next round is January 25, 2027. More information about future application rounds will be available in August 2026 and January 2027. Interested candidates should submit their applications online via the EMBL International PhD Programme portal. For further details, visit the EMBL website or contact the EMBL Graduate Office. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a world-class institution and launch a successful scientific career in a collaborative and supportive environment.