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Structure of mar.quest PhD School

The PhD School is based on two central pillars:

  • Module 1: Scientific Training – in-depth scientific training and interdisciplinary exchange
  • Module 2: Career Training – development of transferable skills and career abilities

The program thus promotes the ability of its PhD students to address complex scientific issues, communicate results convincingly, and embed research responsibly into social and technological contexts.

Module Scientific Training

The Scientific Training module serves to deepen specialist knowledge, methodological competence, and interdisciplinary exchange. Offerings include:

  • Lecture series by the researchers: Overview of research topics and methods at mar.quest, in which doctoral students in particular present their research, combined with laboratory visits. 
  • Integration in colloquia of the participating departments
  • Poster presentations and lectures at national and international conferences.

Recommended scope: 10 credits from various scientific activities. 

Module Career Training

The module Career Development promotes interdisciplinary skills that are relevant for a successful academic or industrial career. It includes:

  • Workshops/courses on interdisciplinary skills, e.g.
    • Communication, presentation, and scientific writing.
    • Project management, leadership, and teamwork.
    • Research data management, integrity, and open science.        
    • Career development and application strategies. 
  • Visits to industry and cooperation partners to gain insights into applied research and possible career paths.
  • Independent organization of various networking formats for doctoral candidates.

Close cooperation with the Marburg Research Academy (MARA) is planned to support doctoral candidates. 

Recommended scope: approx. 5 credits from freely selectable courses and activities.

Recognition and Certificate

Participation in activities is recorded using a flexible point system that allows each doctoral student to set their own priorities. A total of around 15 credits should be collected during the doctoral program, spread across scientific and transferable activities.

To recognize special achievements, the PhD School organizes annual internal competitions that highlight the diversity of the scientific work and creativity of the doctoral students.

Planned events include:

  • Best Poster Award as part of a joint event for all participants of the PhD School,
  • Best Paper Award for outstanding scientific publications,
  • Best Image Award in recognition of aesthetic or particularly illustrative scientific visualizations.

These formats are intended not only to recognize scientific excellence, but also to strengthen exchange, presentation culture, and the community within the PhD School.

After successful participation and documentation of the activities, a mar.quest Graduate Certificate will be awarded documenting the scientific and interdisciplinary skills which were acquired.