PhD in Cognitive NeuroImaging

The International Max Planck Research School on Cognitive Neuro Imaging invites excellent students holding a master's degree (or equivalent) to pursue a PhD in the field of Cognitive Neuro Imaging. The IMPRS on Cognitive Neuro Imaging 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 Neuro Imaging integrates leading regional and international partner institutions.

Final date to receive 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 Neuro Imaging 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.

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).

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 Neuro Imaging 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…