We offer an international research environment characterised by excellence in ageing research, superb supervision, early independence in research and state-of-the-art facilities. We are committed to providing first-class conditions for young scientists in an innovative and inspiring environment. Our competitive PhD programme provides a world-class platform for a successful career in science.

The programme is highly selective and invites outstanding university graduates who wish to pursue a PhD in the field of ageing and age-related diseases to become part of the vibrant and international research scene in Cologne.

Our international, interdisciplinary faculty offers positions in cell or molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, bioengineering, pharmacology, neuroscience, medical biology, translational medicine or related fields.

If you would like to get an idea of last year's projects, you can do so here. Projects for the CGA class of 2026 will be available from August 12, 2025. We invite applicants with a Master's degree or equivalent in the above or related fields.

Applicants with a medical degree are also welcome to apply, provided they have sufficient relevant research experience.

Excellent written and spoken English (C1 level) is also required. If possible, please provide a language test on the application platform to demonstrate your English language skills. However, it is not compulsory to provide a language test certificate; alternatively, you may provide a written statement explaining why you believe you are fluent in English.

For the online application via our application portal you will be asked to provide the following information:

• Statements regarding your prior research experience and your motivation for joining our programme
• Detailed research proposal outlining your scientific interests and ideas
• Specification of three possible host laboratories
• Contact details of two academic advisors as referees (one should be your most recent supervisor, e.g. your BSc or MSc thesis supervisor)
• CV, certificates, transcripts and other supporting documents as separate PDF files

Candidates are selected based on their academic qualifications, research achievements, and motivation. Following the online application, up to 80 candidates will be invited to our online panel interviews in December 2025. Of these candidates, up to 25 will be invited to our recruitment week in Cologne in February 2026. PhD positions may start between July and October 2026. All accepted students will be enrolled through the University of Cologne.

Please see our FAQ for more information:

Applications for PhD classes beginning in 2026 will open on August 12, 2025, and will be available through our online application portal. Information regarding the process is available in the download section above.

For more information about our programme, please see our FAQs.