Call for Applications

The International Max Planck Research School on Cognitive NeuroImaging invites excellent students holding a master's degree (or equivalent) to pursue a PhD in the field of Cognitive Neuroimaging. The IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging covers the highly interdisciplinary and fast-paced fields of cognitive neuroscience, clinical and translational neuroscience, and neuroimaging. With the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS), Leipzig, Leipzig University (LU), TUD | Dresden University of Technology , and University College London (UCL), the IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging integrates leading regional and international partner institutions.

Deadline for applications is 02 November 2026. Virtual panel interviews take place at the end of January 2027. The PhD programme starts in October 2027.

The IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging aims to recruit and educate international, motivated, curious, independent, self-organised and highly talented doctoral researchers who wish to extend their knowledge and research experience in a structured 3-year PhD programme on cognitive neuroimaging.

Requirements

Applicants should come with an excellent master s degree (or equivalent) in a wide spectrum of potential disciplines such as cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, translational neuroscience, psychology, medicine, neurobiology, computer science, biological engineering, medical engineering, mathematics, physics, neuroimaging, or related fields.
The master s degree should have been awarded by an internationally recognised university.
Students nearing completion of their master s degree are also encouraged to apply.
Research experience in an area related to the graduate school s scope is essential for successful candidates.
Proficiency in oral and written English is crucial, as English is the teaching and supervision language.
Applicants with a bachelor s degree will, in exceptional cases, also be admitted to the school (see website for details).

Academic Requirements (Detailed)

Applicants should hold a very good master's degree (or qualified equivalent).
The degree should include a minimum of four years of academic training (BSc + MSc) and should be awarded by an internationally recognized university-level institution.
Applicants with a bachelor s degree will, in exceptional cases, also be admitted to the school.
The study program should include an extensive original research project and a written thesis in a discipline such as cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, translational neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, psychology, medicine, neurobiology, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, neuroimaging, biochemistry, or related fields.
Research experience is essential for successful candidates.
All certificates that are not in English or German must be translated by an officially approved translation office.

If the master's degree is not completed yet

Students may apply before receiving their master s degree (or equivalent degree).
In this case, they need to indicate the expected date of degree completion and must submit their most current academic transcripts.
The degree must have been awarded by the time the student starts the IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging program.

Language Requirements

Candidates are expected to be proficient in written and written English.
TOEFL paper-based test: minimum score of 550.
TOEFL computer-based test: minimum score of 213.
TOEFL internet-based test: minimum score of 79 80.
IELTS: overall band score of 6.5.
Coursework in English is also accepted, either at your home university or from a university abroad.
We also accept the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Language Certificate with a minimum of C in all skills or **** (4 stars) in all skills.
If you come with another language certificate and are unsure whether it will be accepted, feel free to reach out to imprs-coni@cbs.mpg.de .
Because the teaching and supervision language at the IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging is English, German language skills are not mandatory.
However, the IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging offers the opportunity to take German language courses.

Research Environment and Opportunities

The graduate school offers its doctoral researchers outstanding research opportunities in a very international and multidisciplinary environment. It includes access to state-of-the-art cognitive and imaging neuroscience facilities, e.g. 9.4T small-bore MRI scanner, a 7T MRI scanner, four 3T MRI scanners including a Connectom MRI scanner equipped with ultra-strong gradients (one of only four worldwide), a 306-channel MEG system, and several TMS, TDCS, NIRS, and EEG systems.

Research projects and teaching are assigned to three thematic modules:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Clinical and Translational Neuroscience
Development of Neuroimaging and Modelling Methods

The recruiting faculty is very interdisciplinary and comprises more than 20 highly-renowned researchers from our participating research organisations performing high-end research related to one of the three modules.

The IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging offers its doctoral researchers a cutting-edge educational programme that integrates innovative teaching approaches. These include hybrid teaching, flipped classroom activities, as well as remote learning elements to accelerate students learning curves and furthermore emphasises Open Science education.

The teaching programme is adapted to each doctoral researcher s individual needs and academic background via an individual development plan and offers a wide range of theoretical and methodological training opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of cognitive neuroimaging. General introductory courses and project-specific advanced training provide doctoral researchers with a solid foundation for their theses. The emphasis on neuroimaging and computational modelling further strengthens this foundation and enables new types of doctoral projects at the leading edge of the field. Lecture series will be supplemented by a broad spectrum of scientific and transferable skills courses and also emphasises teaching Open Science and good research practices.

Doctoral researchers are given the opportunity to receive funding for research stays of up to three months at one of our partner institutions.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated in several stages.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online panel interviews with the graduate school s faculty, which will take place in January 2027.

Diversity and Equal Opportunities

The IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging aims to recruit excellent doctoral researchers from all genders, nationalities, ethnicities and social backgrounds, sexual orientations, and physical abilities. We are committed to equal opportunities and aim at a diverse student body, and thus especially encourage applications from individuals who belong to underrepresented groups in science.

Funding

A limited number of doctoral researchers will be funded through contracts based on the German TV D, "Collective Wage Agreement for the Civil Service", and will receive remuneration corresponding to 65% of pay group 13 of TV D (currently around 40,600 gross annually, i.e. before taxes, health insurance fees, and fees for further social insurance). Where no funding from supervisors is available, there is also the possibility for positively-evaluated candidates to apply for external funding. More details about funding can be found on the webpage .

Location

With almost 600,000 inhabitants, Leipzig is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, a one-hour train-ride to Berlin. In more than 800 years of recorded history, Leipzig emerged as a city of classical music, trade fairs, academic education, and recently modern arts. With its many parks, forests, canals and lakes, Leipzig is a perfect place for recreation, sports, and leisure time, and it offers plenty of opportunities for social life. Only recently, Leipzig was listed by the New York Times as one of the 52 places to go in 2020.

Contact Information

For more information about our graduate school please visit: https://imprs-coni.mpg.de and go to https://cbs.cloud.opencampus.net to submit your application.

For further information please contact:

imprs-coni@cbs.mpg.de

IMPRS on Cognitive NeuroImaging

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences

Stephanstrasse 1A, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

Web: https:/imprs-coni.mpg.de

@imprsconi.bsky.social

https://www.linkedin.com/company/imprs-on-cognitive-neuroimaging