Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB) Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB)

Degree

Doctoral degree

Teaching language

• English

Languages

All our courses are held in English.

Programme duration

6 semesters

Beginning

Winter and summer semester

Application deadline

No deadline

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Combined Master’s degree / PhD programme

Yes

Joint degree / double degree programme

No

Description/content

The Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB) prepares the next generation of chemical biologists to tackle one of the great challenges of the future: explaining the processes of life in chemical terms.

Therefore, we created an academic environment that fosters both interdisciplinary education and research. Our research comprises the areas: Synthetic Chemistry, Cellular Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Biophysics, and Computational Life Science. The individually tailored training programme and the intensive supervision by interdisciplinary thesis committees guarantee excellent educational standards.

KoRS-CB serves as Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) of the SFB 969: “Chemical and Biological Principles of Proteostasis” and it provides fellowships financed by the SFB. The graduate school was funded by the German Excellence Initiative from 2007 until 2019 and is supported by top-class research institutions and world-renowned industrial partners.

Synthetic Chemistry
The research activities have a strong focus on Cellular Chemistry. At the heart of this priority topic are (1) the generation of synthetic molecules that specifically interact with proteins and nucleic acids and modulate their structure and function, and (2) the targeted manipulation of biomacromolecules including carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Cellular Biochemistry
A number of mechanisms have to be in place to maximise the usage of a limited number of genes accounting for the high plasticity of biological processes. At the DNA/RNA level, such mechanisms include processes that increase the coding potential of the genome and control gene expression at a temporal and spatial level. At the protein level, various posttranslational mechanisms are in place that regulate folding, cellular localisation, activity, and/or availability of a protein. This priority topic studies the fate and function of selected proteins and the mechanisms involved in the control of fundamental cellular pathways.

Biomedicine
This priority topic spans from the elucidation of basic pathological mechanisms in cells over the use of animal models of disease to the performance of small-scale clinical trials in volunteers. One of the major unifying themes is the Chemical Biology of molecular recognition. This involves the specific interaction of endogenous biological structures with foreign, reactive or altered compounds or proteins modified by posttranslational mechanisms.

Biophysics
The biochemical and physiological function of proteins is intimately linked to their structure and their potential to interact with other molecules including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and other non-proteinaceous ligands. Both structure/function relationships and protein/ligand interactions are studied by state-of-the-art technologies at the atomic level.

Computational Life Science
A deluge of data has been generated by Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, and genomics laboratories. Therefore, analysis and not production of bioinformatics information is the bottleneck to scientific progress. Novel methods, algorithms, and computational resources are needed to effectively process this wealth of genomic and proteomic information. Within this priority topic, Molecular Evolution and Genomics, Molecular Bioinformatics, and Computational Methods are applied.

Course organisation

Each doctoral researcher is supervised by an interdisciplinary thesis committee of three members. One member of the committee is the direct thesis adviser and at least one of the others has to be from another department involved in KoRS-CB. Regular meetings and discussions ensure that the research part of the thesis is professionally performed within a reasonable period of time.

The curriculum consists of scientific courses, retreats, poster sessions, and transferable skills courses. An annual course programme offers scientific workshops as well as transferable skills (e.g. academic presenting, project management, career development). The entire training programme is supported by several top-class research institutions and world-renowned industrial partners. The doctoral researchers themselves organise poster sessions as well as retreats in order to introduce their research topics to one another and to exchange ideas.
A special mentoring programme provided by the university supports female scientists pursuing their careers.

International elements

• International guest lecturers
• Courses are led with foreign partners

Course-specific, integrated German language courses

No

Course-specific, integrated English language courses

No

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Semester contribution

Students currently pay the following fees per semester:

• administrative fee: 70 EUR
• student service fee: 95 EUR
• student body fee: 14 EUR

For more detailed information, please check our website: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/study/study-essentials/finances/other-fees/general-overview/

Funding opportunities within the university

Yes

Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

Students with great academic credentials and community service experience can apply for scholarships in Germany. In cases of unexpected financial hardship, the university will try to help with emergency financial support. For an overview of financial support options, check out the following website: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/doctoral-researcher-portal/ .

Academic admission requirements

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in biology, chemistry, life science, or related subjects; marks significantly above average and a proven interest in chemical biology (as indicated in the applicant’s academic record)

For outstanding Master’s students of the courses at the Departments of Biology and Chemistry at the University of Konstanz, this doctoral programme provides the possibility to enrol via the “Konstanz Fast Track” system.

Language requirements

Applicants must provide proof of their proficiency in English.

Application deadline

No deadline

Submit application to

https://www.chembiol.uni-konstanz.de

Accommodation

There are a number of possibilities for accommodation for students: in apartments, flat shares, or residence halls run by the university. Check out the website of the Welcome Centre https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/welcome-centre/housing/ .

Please note that it is important to begin your search for accommodation as early as possible, as our city and surroundings are very popular not only with students but also with families and outdoor enthusiasts. Affordable accommodation is not easy to find.

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

Career advisory service

Career advice from the career service and the Academic Staff Development of the University of Konstanz

Specific specialist or non-specialist support for international students and doctoral candidates

• Other

Support programmes for international students

Welcome Centre at the University of Konstanz

University of Konstanz

Flexible, communicative, strong in research: founded in 1966 as a reform university and situated in one of Germany’s most attractive regions, the University of Konstanz is one of the most successful universities in Germany and one of the leading younger universities worldwide. Konstanz has been successful in both phases of the German Excellence Initiative. The University of Konstanz was ranked seventh in the world and first in Germany in the 2016 “THE 150 Under 50” ranking.
Our university is currently home to some 10,300 students enrolled in around 120 different degree programmes in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences, humanities, politics, law, and economics. With students from more than 90 countries around the world, we are proud to call our university an international community.
In Konstanz, you will find optimal conditions for research, studying, and teaching. The University of Konstanz has set the following five research priorities: 1. Cultural Studies, 2. Social and Cognitive Sciences with a Special Focus on Inequality Research, 3. Collective Behaviour and Ecology, 4. Chemical Biology and 5. Nano and Materials Science. As a student, you will benefit from interdisciplinary cooperation between departments as well as from first-rate teaching, which is directly influenced by our cutting-edge research. A wide range of additional programmes and services complement your academic training and prepare you for your future career.
Our modern university is located on a beautiful hill above Lake Constance, with short distances on campus and an open-door policy, which will make it easy for you to feel at home. The University of Konstanz has been recognised for its measures to promote equal opportunities and family-friendliness, and it seamlessly bridges work and study with everyday life and recreation.

Find out more about our university and student life in Konstanz on our website.

University location

Konstanz is situated in south-west Germany in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, and it shares its border with the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. It is beautifully located on the shores of the Rhine River and Lake Constance, central Europe’s second-largest lake, where the borders of Austria, Germany and Switzerland converge. The lively university city, with 86,000 inhabitants, among them more than 15,000 students, is the economic and cultural centre of the Lake Constance region. Take a stroll through the shopping mall and the historical centre, with its department stores and small specialist shops. Take a break in one of the many cafés, restaurants, ice cream parlours, pubs and wine bars. Konstanz is not only a popular tourist destination but also an attractive business location (light industry, commerce, high technology). It is a very safe place to live, and it offers a high quality of life, with its excellent infrastructure and its diverse range of cultural and recreational facilities. Konstanz has a long and rich historical tradition. The first settlements were erected in Konstanz Bay in 2000 BC, and the city was given its name “Constantia” by the Romans in the fourth century AD. Konstanz has a well-preserved medieval town and numerous historical buildings from the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods.

Konstanz has the perfect location for all kinds of outdoor leisure activities. The region has an excellent network of routes for walking, cycling and in-line skating tours. The beaches are a major attraction for relaxing in the sun and swimming in the lake or the Rhine. The lake offers various water sports, such as sailing, canoeing and diving, and the nearby Alps provide year-round enjoyment for skiers, snowboarders, hikers and climbers. Konstanz is the home of the oldest running theatre in Germany and of the famous Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra. There are several museums, art galleries and art centres offering a broad spectrum of events: art and documentary exhibitions and concerts in all genres of music. Konstanz is also an ideal starting point for excursions to many attractions in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. On the city’s doorstep are the famous gardens of Mainau Island and the Island of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take boat trips to beautiful towns around the lake, such as Meersburg, Überlingen and Lindau. The lakeside town of Friedrichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin, and the Austrian city of Bregenz is renowned for its summer festivals, with spectacular opera and musical performances on a floating stage in the lake. A boat trip along one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhine takes you to the magnificent Rhine Falls at the Swiss town of Schaffhausen. From Konstanz, you can easily reach major cities, such as Zurich, Basel, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Munich and Milan.