The Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena is not only an Excellence Graduate School, but also a lively network of scientists from a broad variety of natural & life sciences institutes and an umbrella organization for three Research Training Groups in Jena. The JSMC was first awarded funding within the German Excellence Initiative in 2007. In June 2012 the Excellence Status of the JSMC was confirmed and funding for an additional six years was granted to the Graduate School. Since 2019 the JSMC is funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.

Today, JSMC hosts a total of about 130 doctoral researchers. Their research projects are situated at the numerous institutes that make up the JSMC network, including institutes and clinics at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena as well as non-university research institutions.

The LIFE Talent Award 2024 honors outstanding achievements in the life sciences, supporting early-career researchers with a focus on innovation, scientific excellence, and societal impact.

• Eligibility: Early-career researchers in life sciences at Friedrich Schiller University Jena or affiliated local institutions (including Jena University Hospital).
• Award Amount: €5,000 per category
• Categories:
  • Doctoral research
  • Postdoctoral research
  • Independent research (habilitation candidates & junior faculty, non-tenured)
• Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
• Required Documents: Cover letter addressing criteria (max. 2 pages), CV with publication list, and recommendation letter (for doctoral candidates & postdocs).

Further info is available here.

With its "Funding of Networking Events" programme, the Jena Alliance supports self-organised networking events of doctoral candidates with up to 1,000 € per event day. The funding can be used to reimburse costs such as speaker fees, room rental, travel expenses, public relations materials or catering.
Doctoral candidates from the Jena Alliance graduate schools (JSMC, JSMM, ASP, MPSP) are eligible to apply.

Applications are possible throughout the year.

Further information can be found here: https://apply2.uni-jena.de/atmn9

The JSMC is part of the Jena Alliance "Life in Focus" that promotes a nationally and internationally visible excellent graduate qualification at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Under the umbrella of the Graduate Academy, the Jena Alliance networks and strengthens the established graduate programmes: Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC), Jena School of Molecular Medicine (JSMM), Abbe School of Photonics (ASP) and Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP).

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