Options for PhDs & Post-Docs
Open PhD Positions
While we do not always have publicly advertised PhD positions, well suited candidates are always welcome to contact us. Several PhD students are funded through external scholarships, graduate schools, or research projects. Below are common ways to pursue a PhD.
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DAAD and Other International PhD Scholarships: International applicants can apply for doctoral funding through programmes such as the DAAD scholarship database. Depending on your country of origin, there may also be suitable national scholarship schemes, bilateral programmes, or foundation-based fellowships that support doctoral studies in Germany. Since deadlines and eligibility conditions may vary, candidates should usually start preparing 6–12 months in advance.
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EU-Funded PhD Positions (e.g., MSCA Doctoral Networks): Many PhD positions in Europe are funded through collaborative EU projects, such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks, and are advertised internationally via platforms like EURAXESS. These positions are often fully funded and embedded in international research and training networks.
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German Doctoral Scholarships: A good starting point is StipendiumPlus, which provides an overview of the major scholarship foundations supporting PhD candidates in Germany.
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Proposal-Driven Funding: If you already have a rough idea for your PhD topic or if you are strongly interested our research areas do not hesitate to contact . In some cases, a doctoral project can be developed jointly and funded through external proposals (e.g., DFG or foundations). Please keep in mind that the review process can take 6–9 months, so early contact is recommended.
If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with within our chair, please send a short email including your CV, transcript of records, a brief description of your research interests, and, optionally, a short research idea related to our topics.
Research Stays
International applicants may also consider externally funded positions through prestigious fellowship programmes (e.g., Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, DAAD, JSPS, or the Dresden Fellowship Program). These schemes can provide an alternative to a regular TU Dresden contract and may support research stays ranging from a few months up to 1–2 years, depending on the programme. We welcome researchers at all career stages — from Master’s and PhD students to postdocs and established scientists/professors.