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International Max Planck Research School "Chemical Communication in Ecological Systems"

The 2025 Call for PhD positions will go online on March 12. Please apply here.

We are an International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) that is jointly organized by the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology (MPI-CE) and the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena (FSU). The main focus of our school is the use of molecular, analytical and neurobiological techniques to explore chemical communication in nature. We study communication between plants, animals, microbes and their environment, as well as its ecology and evolution.

Admission to the school is possible either through the annual recruitment or a written application to the school committee. Each year, up to five IMPRS doctoral positions are awarded following a competitive, worldwide call for applications. Doctoral researchers participate in a 3-year structured program that includes lectures, practical courses, outreach activities, and an annual symposium. All courses are held in English. The doctoral degree is granted by the Friedrich Schiller University.

 

Upcoming IMPRS events

Katyaryna Lazitskaya

German Course A2.2+
Sep 15, 2025 04:30 PM c.t. (Local Time Germany) - Dec 3, 2025 06:00 PM
MPI-CE; B2.021

Ilona Matzka

German Course B2.1
Sep 15, 2025 05:00 PM c.t. (Local Time Germany) - Dec 3, 2025 06:30 PM
MPI-CE, A1.041

Katyaryna Lazitskaya

German Course B1.2
Sep 16, 2025 02:30 PM c.t. (Local Time Germany) - Dec 4, 2025 04:00 PM
MPI-CE; B2.021

Katyaryna Lazitskaya

German Course A2.1
Sep 25, 2025 04:30 PM c.t. (Local Time Germany) - Dec 4, 2025 06:00 PM
MPI-CE; B2.021

Nicole van Dam, Franziska Beran

Mini lecture series "Plant-insect coevolution"
Nov 3, 2025 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany) - Nov 14, 2025 03:30 PM
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Room: Seminar room A1.009 and A1.011 + online

Annett Schröter, Fabian Fink, Martin Niebergall

FAIR Research Data Management
Nov 20, 2025 09:00 AM (Local Time Germany) - Nov 21, 2025 04:00 PM
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Room: Seminar room A1.009 and A1.011

Stefan Schuster

Using Evolutionary Game Theory to understand ecological interactions
Nov 24, 2025 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
MPI-CE, Room: Seminar room A1.009 and A1.011

Günter Theißen

Where, when and how did life originate?
Dec 16, 2025 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
MPI-CE, Room: Seminar room A1.009 and A1.011

Juliane Handschuh

Diversity and Inclusion in Science - From Awareness to Action
Jan 23, 2026 10:45 AM - 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Room: Seminar room A1.009 and A1.011
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