Upcoming doctoral (PhD) positions at the International Max Planck Research School - Biological Intelligence

© MPI for Biological Intelligence / A. Griesch

Thanks to all the academics who submitted their application! The application deadline has passed and the selection process started. More information for the new call-out will come up during Autumn 2026. Stay tuned!

, with sites in Martinsried, Munich and Seewiesen, offers  fully funded doctoral student (PhD) positions  in the fields of  behavior, neurobiology, connectomics, ecology  and  evolutionary genetics .

We welcome outstanding graduates from around the world to join a community of passionate young scientists in the Munich area, one of Europe's prominent science hubs.

WHAT WE OFFER

IMPRS-BI offers first-rate training to doctoral students interested in the question of how nervous systems develop and have evolved to allow animals to pursue their goals, navigate their environment and employ behavioral strategies that are adapted to and shape their respective ecological niche.

• An English-speaking, structured PhD program
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities
• Individual supervision and mentoring
• Full funding, with no tuition fees
• Training in scientific, computational and transferable skills
• Additional support for participation in international conferences / workshops

© MPI for Biological Intelligence / M. Warner

JOIN OUR NETWORK

Bringing together the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence and two leading partner universities, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) and the Technische Universität München (TUM), IMPRS-BI is bridging related disciplines, including neuroscience, behavioral ecology  and evolution , with the aim of unraveling the nature of biological intelligence.

© MPI for Biological Intelligence / M. Warner

HOW TO APPLY

We encourage highly qualified candidates with a strong commitment to basic research to apply.

Applicants should hold a MSc with a background in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, cognitive neuroscience, computer science, mathematics or related fields. Candidates with a BSc shall be considered for the fast-track program in cooperation with GSN-LMU, our partner PhD program. It is not necessary to hold the final degree(s) at the time of the application. However, you must have been awarded your degree prior to the start of the program.

IMPRS-BI is inclusive and openly welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.

For more information, eligibility criteria and online application please visit our website.