For the application as research assistant please see here.
We welcome applications for our open positions! 1 PhD position is available for 3 years!
- Project 10 Maternal and fetal reactions to psychosocial stressors/rewards during pregnancy
The University of Tübingen is an equal opportunities employer. Applications of women are thus especially encouraged; applications of disabled persons will be given preferential treatment to those of other candidates with equal qualifications.
We offer
- An interdisciplinary and international research environment
- A structured PhD program with the opportunity to develop your individual skillset
- Intensive support, mentoring and career development
- A stay in Swedens science hub Uppsala University for 6 months
- Payment is based on the German TV-L scale (E13, 65%).
General requirements
- Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research
- Scientific interest in the topic of women’s mental health
- Interest and openness to work together with our international partners,
in particular our Swedish collaborators - Willingness to stay at Uppsala University for 6 months
- Social competence and ability to work in a team
- Excellent English language skills
We value experience in our topics but please be aware that we do not expect you to be already an expert in all of them. Your research group, the University of Tübingen/Uppsala and most importantly the IRTG (taking place in Tübingen and Uppsala) will offer training in important theoretical and methodological areas.
Nevertheless, we expect you to be eager to improve your skills, to work actively on closing your knowledge gaps, and improve your understanding of the topic, including research areas you were not involved in previously! Furthermore, we expect you to contribute actively to the scientific and general society beside publications, in the form of open science and scientific outreach programs. That said, we are looking forward to your comprehensive application and hope to welcome you soon in Tübingen.
Specific requirements for PhD applicants
For the specific requirements of individual projects, please see our Projects site, as well as the following table:

How to apply
Please ensure to submit the following documents (ideally compiled to a single pdf file): | ||
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CV | Please include copies of certificates and transcripts of records for the bachelor’s and master’s degree. | |
Letter of motivation | Please describe briefly why you are interested in obtaining a PhD and what fascinates you in your field of research (max. 1 page). | |
Research exposé | Please outline your research interest with reference to the goals of this IRTG. Please also mention 2-3 PhD projects (see project descriptions) that seem most interesting to you and fit with your expertise (1-2 pages). | |
Suggestion for two referees | Please include the contact information of two potential referees (e.g., former mentors or supervisors of your bachelor’s or master’s thesis). | |
Additional certificates | Please ensure to add other relevant certificates of educational and academic achievements. | |
Applications should be submitted by email to Please be aware that in case of safety concerns, you can also send us password protected zip (7zip) file with your application documents. |
Selection procedure
The selection of PhD students for our IRTG 2804 involves the following steps: | ||
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1. Screening: | Applications will be screened by the steering committee and qualified candidates will be selected for step two. Primary selection criterion is scientific excellence as mirrored in a timely graduation with excellence, a relevant and experimental bachelor/master thesis, as well as a match of expressed research interests with the IRTG’s goals. Secondary criteria are female gender, diversity, and language skills (English). Suitable candidates will be invited to a recruitment symposium. | |
2. Recruitment interviews: | Qualified applicants will be invited to an online recruitment interviews with candidates participating individually via internet. The interviews start with a short introduction of the investigators. Then, candidates shall present their previous scientific work (master thesis) and their motivation to join our projects (5 min). You are welcome to prepare one or two slides for this purpose. Afterwards, a structured interview will follow (20 min) and candidates will be given the opportunity to ask for further details on individual projects, the qualification program and/or the general structure of the IRTG. Candidates will be evaluated using the following criteria: demonstrated academic excellence (timely and above average), proven qualification fitting to IRTG projects, motivation and interest in research to date, achievements in experimental work, quality and coherence of presentations and discussion, and proven ability to work in a team. | |
3. Final selection: | The final selection step is based on a meeting of all IRTG PIs directed by the speaker. Each interview panel will briefly present their conclusions and suggestions followed by an open discussion leading to a grading of each candidate according to the criteria outlined above as excellent (A), very good (B), or good to average (C). C-rated candidates will be rejected. If we have more A-rated candidates than openings, they will be ranked according to our secondary criteria of gender equality, diversity, and language skills. If we have less A-rated candidates than openings, B-rated candidates will be considered for projects too, however, they will only be considered if all PIs agree that they have a prospect of achieving an excellent dissertation within the IRTG. | |
Successful candidates, who were offered a PhD position, are expected to start in Summer 2023. |
Research Assistants
We are currently seeking motivated and enthusiastic research assistants to join our team. The International Research Training Group (IRTG 2804) offers 4 positions for research assistants in the area of women’s mental health across the reproductive years.
- Organizing the IRTG program, including scheduling meetings, coordinating with principal investigators
- Assisting with research projects, including coordinating with participants
- Helping with the preparation of grant proposals and scientific publications
- Participating in lab meetings and other events
The ideal candidate will have:
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong attention to detail
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team
Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and experience to
Please let us know how many hours would you like to work in your cover letter!
We offer
- Variable working hours
- Insights into the organization of a large scientific joint project.
We expect:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Applications are open from now on!
This position is mainly aimed at students, as this are not a full-time positions and we require you to be already in Tübingen (or surroundings).