Leibniz Graduate School on Aging and Age-Related Diseases (LGSA) Leibniz Graduate School on Aging (LGSA)

Degree

Dr rer nat or PhD

Doctoral degree or degree awarded by

Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) or any other university

In cooperation with

Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU)

Teaching language

• English

Languages

The courses of the LGSA are held in English.

In addition, the FLI provides the opportunity to learn German and/or English at different levels.

Programme duration

8 semesters

Beginning

Only for doctoral programmes: any time

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Combined Master’s degree / PhD programme

No

Joint degree / double degree programme

No

Description/content

The LGSA is a joint activity of the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI) and the Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) in Jena. The programme started in autumn 2006. The LGSA provides ambitious training and research opportunities for graduates who wish to obtain a PhD in the fields of molecular biology, molecular genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology or systems biology.

Training and research within the PhD programme is interdisciplinary, endeavouring to reach an understanding of the multifaceted mechanisms that cause the development of age-related diseases and those that cause senescence and ageing.

Ageing is a complex stochastic process based on genetic contributions as well as environmental influences. The process is still ill-understood. The Leibniz Graduate School on Aging and Age-Related Diseases (LGSA) in Jena will strengthen research on the mechanisms of decisive processes, in particular pathological processes which lead to consequences for health and healthy ageing.

The research topics will focus on two sections. Cellular and organismic senescence covers stem cell ageing, genome stability, identification of genes involved in ageing and gene regulation. In the other section, the mechanisms leading to specific age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, kidney failure, immunosenescence and cancer are investigated. The experimental methodology ranges from genomic approaches, protein biochemistry and cell culture to animal models of disease.

Course organisation

We provide excellent research conditions in which scientists, such as biologists, biochemists, chemists, computer scientists, mathematicians, physicians, physicists and veterinary surgeons work together. Lectures by resident and guest scientists, practical courses and training in presentation skills will accompany the programme. The courses of the LGSA are held in English. To be eligible to participate in this programme, students must have obtained (or must obtain within half a year) an academic degree comparable to a Master’s degree or diploma in life sciences, chemistry, bioinformatics or other related fields.
All PhD students at the FLI will be integrated into the LGSA following the same procedures and rules. The doctoral degree is supplemented with a graduate school certificate.

International elements

• Projects with partners in Germany and abroad

Special promotion / funding of the programme

• Other (e.g. state level)

Course-specific, integrated German language courses

No

Course-specific, integrated English language courses

No

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Semester contribution

Not mandatory

Funding opportunities within the university

Yes

Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

We offer a work contract with a salary according to German TV-L E 13 (salary agreement for public service employees).

Academic admission requirements

Master’s degree or diploma in life sciences, chemistry or other related fields

Language requirements

Applicants must provide proof of their English skills in the entrance interview.

Submit application to

Please acquaint yourself with the application guidelines at:
http://lgsa.leibniz-fli.de/application/application-guideline/

Submit your application according to the guideline.

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

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

• Other

Support programmes for international students

Our institute is part of the EURAXESS Services Network. We provide free and personalised assistance on the challenges faced by international researchers and their families when relocating.

Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute e.V. (FLI)

The Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) is the first national research institute in Germany focusing on biomedical research on human ageing, a multifactorial process controlled by environmental and genetic factors. The institute’s mission is to identify the basic mechanisms that lead to dysfunctions and disease during ageing. Our research aims to provide a knowledge basis for the development of future therapies that extend the health span during ageing.

Location

Jena was named Germany’s “City of Science 2008”. It is a lively, small city. Jena has a population of 100,000 inhabitants, among them 30,000 students.
A nice mixture of tradition and modernity can be found here. Since the founding of its university in 1558, it has been one of the most famous places to study in Germany. Great thinkers like Goethe, Schiller, and many others have left their mark here.

Thanks to Carl Zeiss, Otto Schott, and Ernst Abbe, Jena has also developed into a location for high-tech enterprises with effective cooperation between research institutes and industry, the most famous examples being Zeiss microscopes, which were developed in Jena.

The city is located at the middle reaches of the river Saale, surrounded by limestone hills up to 400 metres high. It offers nice opportunities for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor activities.