Matter to Life Program
We are part of the Max Planck Schools Matter to Life Direct Track Program.
Apply by Dec 1st: www.mattertolife.maxplanckschools.org
The Max Planck Schools provide a platform for students to collaborate with Germany's leading scientists in three key interdisciplinary research areas: Cognition, Matter to Life, and Photonics. With strong connections to German universities and research institutions, the Max Planck School of Matter to Life offers exceptional Masters and PhD integrated program featuring fully funded positions for Bachelor's and Master's graduates, all set within an outstanding scientific environment. Students gain access to excellent facilities, innovative teaching methods, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Backed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the pilot phase of the Max Planck School aims to reform doctoral education in Germany. The Matter to Life program is one such interdisciplinary research program where bachelor/masters students are assimilated for 5 years to pursue their masters for 2 years followed by a PhD fellowship for 3 years.
Mission Statement
“The objective of the Max Planck School Matter to Life is to address the questions of “What is life?” and “Can life-like processes, functions and objects be quantitatively described, simulated, predicted and created in the laboratory?”. Our work focuses on methods to describe, model and ultimately harness the laws of physics and chemistry that dictate the biological processes of dynamic spatiotemporal organization of life into molecules, cells, tissues and organisms. Thus, the MPS MtL not only pushes the boundaries of our understanding of life, but also paves the way for filling the knowledge gap in fundamental sciences and finding innovative solutions to some of the most pressing scientific challenges.”
This international 5-year direct track program of MSc (2 years) to PhD (3 years) targets undergraduate students. This joint program between Heidelberg University and the University of Göttingen encourages students to pursue master’s and carry out interdisciplinary research in MtL with a focus on:
- Complex Systems and Biological Physics at the University of Göttingen
- Molecular Systems Chemistry and Engineering at Heidelberg University.
During the Master’s degree in one of the above Universities, students will take courses in interdisciplinary fields and will pursue their Lab rotations and master thesis in any lab of MtL faculty. The PhD phase can also be done in any lab of the MtL Faculty, which are present all over Germany. This network houses 8 university partners and 14 non-university research institutions. The research carried out at the MSc phase is carried forward to the PhD phase with the knowledge and experiences gained from the MtL community. Also the close-knit structure of the program keeps the community well-informed of the ongoing projects. This helps MSc graduates choose the project of their desire.
At the University of Bayreuth, we explore how cells generate and regulate forces. We work at the interface of mechanobiology and materials science and we welcome MtL students eager to uncover how these processes impact cellular functions, with potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine!
Apply by Dec 1st: www.mattertolife.maxplanckschools.org