The Franco-German Doctoral College IB-ID
“In matters of observation chance only favours the prepared minds”, Louis Pasteur.
“Dans les champs de l'observation, le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés”, Louis Pasteur.
The origin of IB-ID
Researchers from Universität Hamburg and the University of Strasbourg have established a Franco-German program for doctoral researchers working at the interface between structural biology and infection research. The program, called Integrative Biology of Infection and Diseases, was funded by the Franco-German University starting in January 2022 and prolonged for 4 years in January 2026.
The objective of IB-ID
The objective of the new Franco-German Integrative Biology of Infection and Diseases (IB-ID) doctoral program is to offer structured training with a focus on the molecular understanding of infection and disease biology using supplementary biophysical tools to investigate cellular, molecular, and structural systems biology. The research project grew out of basic research and should foster greater understanding of infections, thereby facilitating efforts to fight them. Local coordinators at Universität Hamburg and the University of Strasbourg will oversee the program.
Among other things, there are plans for the respective research teams to make both short and long‐term visits at each other’s universities, courses on scientific topics, ideas for soft‐skills and intercultural topics, and an annual symposium and summer school. Doctoral researchers taking part in the program will be supervised by members of both institutions, ultimately receiving a doctorate from one but recognized by both.
The context of IB-ID
Both universities are designated universities of excellence in their own countries and have had a strategic partnership for the last 3 years focusing on interdisciplinary research and training activities. Strengthening international mobility, including academic and administrative staff exchanges, are also important for future cooperation.
The doctoral college IB-ID gathers young and senior researchers from different institutes and disciplines:
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
- Center for structural systems biology (CSSB)
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI)
- Hamburg Advanced Research Centre for Bioorganic Chemistry (HARBOR)
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMC)
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC)
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Plants (IBMP)
- Institute of Physiology and Biological Chemistry (IPCB)
- Institute for Research on Viral and Liver Diseases (IRMVH)
IB-ID Board
Serena Bernacchi
IBMC, unistra
Sylvie Friant
CRBS, unistra
Arwen Pearson
HARBOR, UHH
Joern Pütz
IBMC, unistra
Claude Sauter
IBMC, unistra