PhD Positions

Thank you to all applicants.
12 funded PhD positions starting January 1st, 2026
IRTG 2804 – Women’s Mental Health Across the Reproductive Years

We are excited to announce that 12 funded PhD positions, each for 3 years, will be available as part of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) 2804, starting on January 1st, 2026.

These positions are part of a unique, interdisciplinary PhD program jointly offered by the University of Tübingen (Germany) and Uppsala University (Sweden), focusing on the theme of Women’s Mental Health Across the Reproductive Years.

Application Deadline: 07.09.2025

Please ensure to submit the following documents (ideally compiled to a single pdf file):
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. Please outline your research interest with reference to the goals of this IRTG and mention 1-2 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 two letters of reference or 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 online, see below

	The selection of PhD researcher for our IRTG 2804 involves the following steps:
1. Screening:  07.09.25 – 04.10.25	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 master thesis, as well as a match of expressed research interests with the IRTG’s goals. Secondary criteria are diversity and language skills (English).
2. Recruitment interviews: 05.10.25 – 18.10.25	Qualified applicants will be invited to an online recruitment interview, with candidates participating individually via internet. The interviews start with a short introduction of the investigators. The candidates shall than 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. Research Group Interviews: 19.10.25 – 26.10.25	Shortlisted candidates will meet (online) with potential supervisors and their research groups in a more informal setting. These group interviews are designed to give candidates insight into the day-to-day work of the lab, and allow both sides to discuss possible project collaborations in more detail.
4. Final selection: 01.11.25 – 08.11.25	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 on 01.01.2026.

Overview about potential PhD projects

Please apply here (offline)