Table of Contents Doctorate 2 IMPRS Primary Metabolism and Plant Growth • Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology • Potsdam 2
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Table of Contents Doctorate 2 IMPRS Primary Metabolism and Plant Growth • Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology • Potsdam 2 1 Doctorate IMPRS Primary Metabolism and Plant Growth Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology • Potsdam Overview Degree Doctoral degree Doctoral degree or degree University of Potsdam awarded by In cooperation with University of Potsdam Teaching language English Languages The working language of the IMPRS-PMPG is English. All courses and seminars are held in English. The doctoral thesis can be written and defended in English or German. Programme duration 6 semesters Beginning Only for doctoral programmes: any time More information on The IMPRS-PMPG does not have a fixed start time. Candidates should start their doctorate within beginning of studies the year that they were interviewed and accepted. Application deadline Application calls for IMPRS-PMPG-funded positions are held once per year. Usually, the application deadline for fellowships is in January. The application deadlines are posted on the IMPRS-PMPG website. The two-day IMPRS-PMPG selection interviews are usually held in late March / early April. After the interviews, successful candidates start their PhD projects between May and December. Association with IMPRS-PMPG: Doctoral researchers who join the research groups of IMPRS-PMPG faculty independent of the IMPRS interviews, with funding for their doctorate from other sources, can be associated with IMPRS-PMPG. The application for association is possible throughout the year. Tuition fees per semester in None EUR Combined Master's degree / No 2 PhD programme Joint degree / double degree No programme Description/content The study of the relationship between primary metabolism and growth in plants is the focus of the International Max Planck Research School "Primary Metabolism and Plant Growth" (IMPRS- PMPG), a joint doctoral programme between theU niversity of Potsdam (UP) and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP). A detailed understanding of plant growth, arguably, represents one of the greatest challenges in plant physiology. It also has tremendous societal and economic implications. Biomass acquisition is a highly complex process that is influenced by an enormous diversity of endogenous and exogenous factors, including macronutrient availability, uptake, distribution and storage, the activities of the bioenergetics pathways (photosynthesis and respiration) and numerous abiotic factors, such as light, temperature and water availability and their impact on cellular growth. These interact with developmental aspects of growth, like pattern formation, cell division rates, cell expansion and organ development. Plant growth, seen from a physiological point of view as resource (carbon, nutrients) acquisition and its conversion into plant biomass, is the main focus of our research school. Our faculty includes professors and group leaders from theM ax Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology and the Faculty of Science of the University of Potsdam. Research is at the core of the three-year programme of IMPRS-PMPG. We provide a unique training opportunity in modern plant science with a systems biology-oriented approach. Arabidopsis thaliana is our primary model organism, and our research projects use a range of methods - from molecular physiology, molecular phenotyping (-omics) technologies, and cutting-edge analytical techniques to bioinformatics and modelling. The doctoral candidates within IMPRS-PMPG come from a variety of scientific backgrounds - biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and related fields. Our doctoral students receive interdisciplinary scientific training through lecture series and seminar courses, with English as a working language. A part of our curriculum is devoted to transferable skills training, such as scientific presentation and writing, communication, team-work, etc. We aim to be as flexible as possible in our scientific and complementary skills training so that the curricular activities in IMPRS-PMPG fit the individual needs and interests of each doctoral student and his or her thesis project. Some doctoral researchers within IMPRS-PMPG pursue a joint research project in collaboration with professors and group leaders at the University of Melbourne, Australia and spend time in Potsdam and Melbourne. For more information, see the Melbourne-Potsdam PhD programme on our website. Course Details Course organisation The three-year training programme provides interdisciplinary scientific training through lectures, seminars, practical courses, participation at national and international conferences and/or summer schools, and teaching experience. The scientific training is complemented by transferable skills courses and workshops. The thesis research is carried out under thed irect supervision of one or more members of the IMPRS faculty. In addition, each doctoral researcher is supported by an independentP hD advisory committee (PAC). The PhD advisory committee comprises two to three members and is tailored to the needs of the student and the thesis project. Types of assessment Doctoral researchers give a 20-minute presentation about their research project every year, and submit a written progress report at the end of their first and second year. The report is the basis for discussions with the PhD advisory committee (PAC). The presentations, written reports and meetings with the PAC form an integral part of our training programme, they are not graded. 3 At the end of the doctorate, a written PhD thesis is submitted and orally defended at the University of Potsdam's Faculty of Science. The doctoral degree (Dr rer nat) is awarded by the University of Potsdam's Faculty of Science. International elements Training in intercultural skills Projects with partners in Germany and abroad Description of other IMPRS-PMPG is embedded in a very international research environment: more than 60% of the international elements doctoral researchers in the programme are international students, the research community at the Max Planck Campus in Potsdam-Golm is very international. Some doctoral candidates within IMPRS-PMPG pursue a joint research project in collaboration with professors and group leaders at the University of Melbourne, Australia and spend time in Potsdam and Melbourne. For more information, see the Melbourne-Potsdam PhD programme on our website. Teaching/work obligations The Faculty of Science at the University of Potsdam requires doctoral candidates to gain a small or opportunities amount of teaching experience during their doctorate, for example, by co-supervising students in practical courses. The teaching duty amounts to approximately 25 to 30 hours in total. Special promotion / funding IMPRS of the programme Course-specific, integrated No German language courses Course-specific, integrated No English language courses Costs / Funding Tuition fees per semester in None EUR Semester contribution The semester fee at the University of Potsdam is approx. 305 EUR per semester. A large portion of this fee pays for a public transport ticket for Potsdam, Berlin, and surrounding areas. There are two semesters per academic year: winter semester (October to March) and summer semester (April to September). Costs of living Accommodation costs make up the largest portion of monthly living expenses for students. The monthly cost of housing in Potsdam and Berlin for one person can vary from about 450 EUR to approx. 600 EUR. This depends on the type and location of the accommodation. For further information, see the following websites: FAQ on the IMPRS-PMPG website: https://www.mpimp-golm.mpg.de/6458/General_Information Website of the Welcome Center at the University of Potsdam: https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/welcomecenter/preparation/housing 4 Funding opportunities No within the university Requirements / Registration Academic admission Applicants for the programme should hold or be about to obtain aM aster's or equivalent degree in requirements a subject relevant to our programme (biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, bioinformatics, informatics, mathematics, or related fields). The academic performance should be excellent (rank at or near top of class). Doctoral candidates register with the Faculty of Science at the University of Potsdam. A university degree with at least four years of study, very good results, and a research thesis are required to be accepted as doctoral candidate at the university. If you are unsure whether you fulfil the degree requirements, please contact the IMPRS-PMPG coordinator. Language requirements The working language of the programme is English, both within the curriculum and for the scientific communication between our scientists. Thus, students who would like to pursue a doctorate within the IMPRS-PMPG or the Melbourne-Potsdam PhD programme should have a very good knowledge of written and spoken English. Candidates should support their application with proof of proficiency in English, for example, scores of internationally valid language exams like TOEFL, IELTS, MTELP, or other tests. If no English test is submitted, proficiency in English may be evaluated during a personal interview. We do not require any knowledge of German. Nevertheless, some knowledge of German is useful for getting around Potsdam and Berlin. German language courses for those interested in learning some German are offered at regular intervals by the university and in collaboration with the Language School