The Integrative Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMCBio) graduate school aims to attract talented PhD students to the University of Strasbourg to start innovative research projects in 2026. The IMCBio graduate school builds on the strong research developed in five research institutes:
The research within these five institutions covers all areas of molecular and cellular biology at the levels of molecular factors, genes, cells and organisms, including model systems of diseases.
Researchers from these institutes co-operate in four research clusters. The research within the four clusters is focused on:
Within this network of research clusters, IMCBio fellows have an unique opportunity to get a broad overview of gene regulation that includes: nuclear organization; epigenetics; transcriptional, translational, post-transcriptional and post-translational events; crosstalk between the nucleus, cytoplasm and organelles in eukaryotes; and cell-to-cell communication.
The training of IMCBio PhD students builds on the strong expertise and the cooperation of the research groups associated with the research clusters. Students will also benefit from the outstanding technology infrastructures and multiple service facilities which support them in developing high-level research projects in a stimulating and interdisciplinary environment.
The IMCBio graduate school and its partners offers PhD fellowships across a wide range of molecular biology topics. The available research projects for the 2026 call are listed below, with the possibility of additional projects being added throughout the call period. For each cluster, only a certain number of fellowships can be funded, regardless of the number of projects that are offered within the research clusters. Consequently, for the clusters with more projects than fellowships, only the projects attracting the more-highly ranked applicants will be awarded an IMCBio fellowship. For the 2026 call, the number of fellowship is not defined yet.
To obtain more detailed information about particular projects, scientific context or teams, we encourage applicants to contact the PIs of the projects of interest. The contact information can be found in the respective project descriptions.
During the application process, we will ask candidates to choose at least one, but preferably, up to three projects, according to their interests. However, please note that nothing is definitely settled until the very last step of our recruitment process. At each step, from the initial application to the final interview with the jury, candidates can change their mind, discover other projects, and reconsider their choices.
The 2026 call for applications will be open from November 24, 2025 to January 25, 2026. Please register by January 18, 2026, as this is the registration deadline. Candidates can complete and finalize their application until January 25, 2026.
We accept applications from both French and international students, who hold or expect to receive a M2 or equivalent degree in 2026. We are looking for candidates with excellent knowledge and explicit interest in molecular mechanisms, good communication skills in English (both written and spoken), strong motivation to acquire practical and bioinformatic skills, scientific independence, outstanding curiosity, critical thinking, and team spirit.
In order to start an innovative research project in 2026, interested candidates that fulfill the application criteria above, should register below, to postulate an IMCBio graduate school position!