What kind of research placements does NexTPro offer?

We accept applications for the following type of placements: 

• Bachelor and Master thesis work.
• Mandatory research experience required by your study programme (non-thesis work).
• ERASMUS placements.
• Voluntary research placements = placements not required by your study programme.

Please see also below for important information on the duration of research placements.

How long can a research placement be at IMB?

A research placement at IMB can last between one month and one year. The exact duration of your placement will depend on your university enrolment status and on whether you have funds to support your placement, and should be discussed with your hosting group leader.

• Bachelor and Master thesis work: duration according to your university's regulations.
• Research placement required by your study programme (excluding thesis work): duration according to your university's regulations.
• Voluntary placement (= not required by your study programme) with third-party funding, e.g. ERASMUS fellowship: duration according to the fellowship you've been granted.
• Voluntary placement without third-party funding: maximum 3 months.

Please see below “Dates, Deadlines & Financing” for more information on the financing of research placements at IMB.

Which projects are offered for a research placement at IMB?

In general, you apply for any of the Participating Groups rather than for specific projects. In case of acceptance in the NextGen Training Programme (NexTPro), you will discuss directly with your hosting group leader which project you will work on. 
If an IMB group is looking for a research intern to work on a specific project, we will advertise the specific position in our NexTPro Application webpage. 

Can I do an ERASMUS placement at IMB?

Yes, if you have already applied for and received an ERASMUS fellowship, you can apply for NexTPro. Please make sure to state in your application that you already have an ERASMUS fellowship. 

If you haven't applied yet for an ERASMUS placement but would like to do so, you can still apply. In this case, make sure to inform us about the timeline for your ERASMUS application (deadline, publication of outcomes, prospective start date) in your motivation letter.

Where will I stay during my research placement at IMB?

Please note that unfortunately IMB doesn’t have a guest house. In case you are accepted for a research placement at IMB, you will have to find accommodation on your own. Our HR department will provide you information on this, and can assist you in case of language barrier. 

What is the working language at IMB?

The official working language at IMB and in its research groups is English. For this reason, all NexTPro students need to be fluent in spoken and written English. No previous knowledge of German language is required.

Who can apply for a research placement at IMB?

We encourage applications from outstanding bachelor and master students who have studied molecular biology, bioinformatics, biotechnologies and related fields at university for at least three years (unless you are applying for your Bachelor thesis work). If you have already completed your Master’s degree and you are looking for a research placement to strengthen your practical skills before applying for a PhD, you can apply up to three months after the end of your studies. 

If you have completed your Master's degree longer than three months ago, or if you are already doing your PhD or have already completed your PhD or medical studies, you cannot apply for our programme. If you are a PhD student who is looking for a lab to learn a new technique/methodology for their PhD project, please contact directly the group of interest to enquire about potential research stays.

Which nationalities can apply for a research placement at IMB?

We accept applications from students of any nationality. If you are not an EU-citizen and you are studying outside of Germany, please consider that  the application timeline will be different, as we will need to file additional paperwork (visa and/or research stay authorisation) prior to the start of your NexTPro placement.

What do I need to apply for a research placement at IMB?

You will need to fill in our online application form and to upload the following documents as a singlePDF file:

• Your CV, in English
• Your certificates (e.g. university degrees and transcripts)

The application must be submitted entirely in English. Please read carefully the instructions on how to apply and the list of documents required on our NexTPro Application page. Please note that failing to submit an application according to our guidelines (e.g. information missing, motivation letter too long, documents submitted as multiple files), would result in ineligibility.

I have won an ERASMUS Fellowship to fund a research stay abroad. Can I apply for the NextGen Training Programme (NexTPro) at IMB?

Yes, we welcome through our programme applications from students who have an ERASMUS or other types of fellowships.

I would like to do my thesis work in an IMB group; is that possible?

Yes, applications from university students who would like to write their Bachelor or Master thesis working in one of IMB’s groups are welcome.

I study at Mainz University and would like to do my Bachelor/Master thesis in a lab at IMB. Do I have to apply to the NextGen Training Programme (NexTPro) or can I directly contact my group of interest?

Students from Mainz University (JGU) are encouraged to apply through NexTPro, to benefit from the additional support and training opportunities provided by IMB’s Professional Development Office.

Do I need to be enrolled at university to do a research placement at IMB?

No, it is not necessary to be enrolled at university. You can apply for our programme also if you are in between your studies, or you have just completed your Master’s degree and you are looking for a research placement to strengthen your practical skills before applying for a PhD. However, if you are no longer enrolled at university you should apply within three months from the end of your studies. 

What is the deadline to apply for NexTPro?

You can apply anytime for a research placement at IMB. However, please keep in mind that we screen applications only on the 15th of each month (excluding weekends).

• If you are an EU-citizen, or you are studying in a university within the EU and you don't require a visa, we recommend to submit your application at least 4 months before the ideal start of your research placement.
• Non-EU citizens (excluding Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Lichtensteiner citizens) studying at a non-German university during the time of their research placement should apply 6 months before the ideal starting date, to compensate for the waiting times required to prepare all necessary paperwork (even if you don't require a visa). 

If you are considering to apply also for a fellowship in case of acceptance to NexTPro, make sure to apply early enough to have time to submit your fellowship application and get feedback on it before starting your research placement at IMB. Please inform us also of your intention to apply for funding (including which funding) in your application.

When will I know if my application has been successful?

The final outcome of your application is usually known within 2 weeks from when we start screening applications (on the 15th of the month, excluding weekends). Please make sure to check also your spam folder.

When can I start my research placement?

The start of your research placement has to be agreed upon with the research group that will host you. However, please note that it is not possible to start a research at IMB before all bureaucratic processes have been completed (visa and/or research stay acceptance for non-EU students; HR preparations for contract, etc.).

Is there a fellowship or financial aid for my research placement?

We strongly encourage our applicants to seek financial support from third-party funding sources, such as the ERASMUS+ programme, DAAD fellowships or other stipend and fellowship programmes available in your home country. Please read carefully the information on our NexTPro Application page and check this list of potential funding opportunities.
If you need additional information on funding opportunities, or you are unable to find a suitable funding source, please inform us of it in your application or reach out to us via email.

Can I still do a research placement at IMB even if I don't have funding?

Yes, you can join IMB for a research palcement also if you don't have funding. However, please note that if your research stay is not required by your study regulations and you don't have funding (e.g. ERASMUS, etc.) we can host you for a maximum of 3 months.

How do I apply for NexTPro?

• Step 1: Have a look at the research topics of our participating groups.
• Step 2: Prepare all required documents and information, as listed in the NexTPro Application page.
• Step 3: Apply via our online application form on the NexTPro Application page. Your application must be entirely completed in English.
• Step 4: After a thorough evaluation of the received applications, we invite the best applicants for a research placement at IMB.

Please visit our NexTPro Application page for more information on the steps and documentation required.

Will I receive a confirmation after applying?

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation via email.