About

The International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Cell Biology and Bioengineering (IMPRS-MCBB) is a joint program of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) and the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), and was established as one of the first International Max Planck Research Schools by the Max Planck Society in 2001.
The IMPRS-MCBB provides interdisciplinary training and research opportunities in a highly attractive and inspiring research environment for outstanding University Graduates who wish to work towards a PhD in the fields of Molecular Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Biophysics, Neurobiology and Bioinformatics.

The IMPRS-MCBB hosts about 150 PhD students from over 30 countries in total. Admission to the IMPRS-MCBB is highly competitive, with approximately 40 candidates being admitted each year. PhD students have a primary affiliation with one of the participating research groups, and are enrolled as graduate students at the TUD. The language of the PhD Program is English. The duration of thesis is 3 to 4 years.

The IMPRS-MCBB is the partner of, and cooperates with, the Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering (DIGS-BB) which has been awarded to the TUD by the Excellence Initiative by the German federal and state government in 2006.

Admission to the IMPRS-MCBB includes the affiliation to, and participation in, the DIGS-BB. The DIGS-BB offers three international PhD programs:
- International PhD Program for Cell and Developmental Biology (CellDevo Program)
- International PhD Program for Regenerative Medicine (RegMed Program)
- International PhD Program for Nanobiotechnology, Biophysics and Bioengineering (NanoBio Program).
IMPRS PhD students benefit tremendously by the cross-disciplinary training, the co-operative research as well as the regulatory and administrative frame provided by the DIGS-BB.

Participating Institutions / Research Centers

Dresden provides an exciting and challenging scientific environment that not only provides a unique combination of scientific expertise in cell and developmental biology, medicine, biophysics and nanotechnology, but also reaches out towards its translation into regenerative medicine and applied bioengineering. PhD students are part of, and profit, from the inspiring and international atmosphere, and the ongoing collaborative and cross-disciplinary research conducted by the participating institutions. State-of-the-art research centers and facilities provide the infrastructure for an internationally recognized excellent research and training environment to the benefit of young researchers.

	Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) The MPI-CBG has been created in an exciting period of biomedical science: the first four eukaryotic genomes have been sequenced, including the human genome. This flood of sequence information provides unique possibilities for understanding cellular function. Within this context, the institute focuses on the following questions: How do cells organize themselves, what is the machinery responsible for cellular organization and how does the machinery change to generate the specialised cell types of multicellular organisms, and how do the various cell types assemble to form tissues? To answer these questions, the institute merges molecular cell biology with developmental biology. This challenge will be met by a combination of experimental strategies which include novel genetic, morphological and biophysical approaches. Read more...
	Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS) The research at the institute in the field of the physics of complex systems ranges from classical to quantum physics and focuses on three main areas, which correspond to the activities in the divisions "Electronic Correlations". "Finite Systems" and "Biological Physics". The institute hosts a visitors progam, and a large scale seminar program including workshops. The aim is to boost new promising research directions and to provide faster contact of young scientists with the rapidly evolving spectrum of new research topics in the broad field of the physics of complex systems. Read more...
	TUD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) The molecular biosciences provide unique prospects to enhance tissue and organ regeneration. The goal of the CRTD is to develop advanced treatments for haemato-oncological, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, diabetic and bone diseases. Dresden has outstanding expertise in the life science disciplines (medicine, molecular cell- and developmental biology, stem cell research, genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics) and engineering (tissue engineering, biomaterials science, chemistry, nanotechnology), providing a fertile ground for a broad interdisciplinary effort towards developing regenerative therapies. The DFG research center will capitalize on basic research in regenerating model organisms to understand stem cell recruitment, activation, proliferation, homing and differentiation, and will apply this knowledge to control these cellular processes using genetics, surface engineering and microdevices in order to elicit regenerative responses. Read more...
	TUD - Faculty of Science, Department of Biology The Department of Biology, established in 1993 as part of the Faculty of Science, consists of professors and about 50 scientists who work in the area of basic and applied biology. Topics include genetics, cell and developmental biology, organismic botany and zoology, endocrinology, parasitology, microbiology, and bio(nano)technology. The new Biology building, an architectural highlight of the University campus completed in 2006, forms the perfect frame for interdisciplinary research and offers ideal working places with state-of-the-art technology for more than 400 students in the fields of Biology and Molecular Biotechnology. Read more...
	TUD - Biotechnological Center (Biotec) The Biotechnological Centre (Biotec) of the Technische Universität Dresden is a unique interdisciplinary centre focussing on research and teaching in molecular bioengineering. The Biotec hosts top international research groups dedicated to genomics, proteomics, biophysics, cellular machine, tissue engineering, and bioinformatics. The Biotec has some 150 members of staff from over twenty different countries. Researchers have diverse backgrounds covering biology, medicine, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering. The Biotec provides excellent lab facilities and infrastructure with close links to companies residing in the same building. Read more...
	TUD - Medical Theoretical Center (MTZ) The Medical Theoretical Center (MTZ) houses a number of departments and institutes, which are dedicated to basic and preclinical research. This modern, rectangular building, inaugurated in 2000, features state-of-the-art laboratories including S1 and S2 areas, core facilities such as confocal microscopy, FACS and laboratory animal facilities, seminar rooms and lecture halls, and an open-air atrium in its center. Anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, cardiovascular research, experimental diabetology, pharmacology, microbiology, clinical sensoring and imaging, and virology are established in the MTZ, which also has space to temporarily accommodate additional research groups based on their project needs. Located on the Carus Campus of the Medical Faculty, the MTZ is in close distance to the MPI-CBG and BioInnovation Center and a key element within the interactive biomedical community. Read more...
	Max-Bergmann-Center for Biomaterials (MBC) The Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden (MBC) was established in 2002 as a joint interdisciplinary initiative by the Technische Universität Dresden and the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden. The center aims at providing the competitive edge in biology-inspired materials research for scientists, enterprises and public associations. Emphasis is put on a balance of research and education, on networking with related institutions worldwide and on the 'incubator' function for the commercialization of new ideas for biomaterials-based products. Read more...