yDiv – Young Biodiversity Graduate School

yDivExternal link is the graduate school of iDiv, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research. iDiv is a hub for international biodiversity science whose central mission is to promote theory-driven synthesis and data-driven theory.

The uniqueness of the yDiv training programme stems from the exchange between theoreticians and empirists. Our aim is to bridge different levels of biodiversity research, from theory to applied aspects of nature conservation. The set of approaches and methods is similarly diverse, varying from modelling to field experiments, and the objects of investigation vary from single organisms to manipulated communities and entire ecosystems.

Each of our doctoral researchers benefits from a PhD Advisory Team ("PAC") consisting of supervisors from different disciplines, and representing both theoretical and empirical backgrounds.
We offer a curriculum of scientific courses on cutting-edge biodiversity topics, several methodological courses, as well as a range of soft-skills topics. Our doctoral researchers take part in the annual iDiv conference and get together for an overnight retreat every year.

yDiv also supports a three-month stay at a research laboratory abroad, providing the doctoral researchers the opportunity to create early networking as well as valuable scientific outputs.
Participation in the various scientific and social events at the research centre iDiv provides further opportunities for networking and professional development.  

Scientific key words
Biodiversity; ecology; biodiversity conservation; synthesis; theory; ecosystem services; interaction ecology; ecological experiments; physiological diversity; molecular interaction ecology

Participating Universities
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leipzig University

Cooperation partner
yDiv is an accredited member of the three graduate academies of the iDiv consortium: International Graduate Academy (InGrA), The Jena Graduate Academy (JGA), and the Research Academy Leipzig (ral). Its collaboration partners include the Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Graduate School for Environmental Research (HIGRADE) of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Integrated Research Training Group AquaDiva of the Collaborative Research Centre AquaDiva.   

Preferred language
English

Current number of doctoral candidates
50

How can I become a doctoral candidate? What is the method of selection?
Open, funded positions are regularly advertised at the iDiv websiteExternal link. Doctoral researchers who are supervised by iDiv members can contact the yDiv coordination office to enquire for opportunities to apply for external membership.

Are there fixed dates to apply?
Currently, there are no fixed application dates.

Are there possibilities to be funded in this programme?
When funded positions are offered, they are advertised via the iDiv "Positions" page. Interested students can also look at the home pages of the research groups of iDiv for other potential opportunities (e.g. opportunities to apply for an external scholarship within a project).

Interesting for graduates of the following subjects:
Any biodiversity-related subject(s) across scales, in particular students who have background in inter/transdisciplinary studies within the field of biodiversity.

Degree
PhD

Contact
Dr. Nicole Sachmerda-Schulz (Scientific Coordinator)
Deutsches Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Deutscher Platz 4
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49(0)341-97-33125
E-Mail: nicole.sachmerda-schulz@idiv.de
Internet: http://www.idiv.de/ydivExternal link