Research Training Group (RTG) 3151

Development and epileptogenesis of dysplasias
in the interplay of distinct CNS cell types

Funded by the German Research Foundation

(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG))

Home About Participants Apply Selection Process Application FAQs Contact

You can apply if you meet the following requirements:

• Strong motivation to pursue a PhD degree in the field of Developmental Neurobiology
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any relevant field (awarded before September 2026)
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Please note:
  The right to confer degrees remains with the University of Bonn and you must meet all the admission and degree requirements of the faculty where you choose to study.
  Please check the degree requirements for a PhD in neuroscience awarded by the Medical Faculty, University Bonn, here
  and the doctoral Regulations of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University Bonn, here.

You can apply if you hold a Master’s degree in any field. Relevant fields are advantageous, but applicants from other backgrounds may qualify with strong motivation and experience. Having a relevant degree (e.g. neuroscience, biology, mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science, bioinformatics) will be to your advantage, but you can still match the selection criteria if you have relevant research experience and a strong motivation coming from a different background. There is no fast-track option.

You do not need to have completed your Master degree program at the time of application. However, you must have completed your studies and have received your qualifying degree at the time when you start your PhD project at the RTG 3151. You should submit the certification of your latest degree and a copy of your latest transcript.

Please refer to this page for information on how to apply.

Please click on “Apply” button and login. Then a submenu opens with the application form.

You can make changes to your application as long as you do not submit it. Please only submit your application once you are sure that there are no changes you would like to make.

No, once formally submitted, you cannot modify your application any longer. However, you can edit, save and revisit your application before you press the “submit application” button as many times as you wish before the deadline.

The RTG 3151 accepts applications only until February 15, 2026. If you have missed the deadline, you can email individual supervisors with whom you are interested in working. Some supervisors recruit PhD students outside of the RTG 3151 recruitment and you can either join the RTG 3151 as affiliated student or apply to join the program later-on (if synchronization is possible)..

Once you have received an invitation to the Selection Symposium, you will receive a list with potential PhD Projects.
At this point of the application process, you are encouraged to contact potential PRs.

If a PR is not listed in the application dropdown menu under the “Research Interests” tab, it means that they are not recruiting PhD students.

If you are not a native English speaker, you are recommended to upload proof of English proficiency. Applicants who have been taught the majority of their courses in English do not need to submit results from a standardized test such as TOEFL or IELTS. However, it is recommended that they attach an official statement (signed by an official of the college or university, e.g. the dean’s or registrar’s office), which indicates that English was the medium of instruction. We also accept outdated test results. Successful candidates can be admitted to the program based on the demonstration of language skills in the interviews.

Results of GRE tests and English language proficiency tests are not required but are strongly encouraged. Your application will not be impacted in any way if GRE or English test results are not provided.

If your academic records are not in English, then you have to submit translations in addition to copies of your original documents. At the stage of the online application, you can provide unofficial translations. You will need official translations if you are accepted to the program.

Your referees will be contacted automatically via the system as soon as you submit the referee contact details in the application form. You will receive an email once a referee has submitted a recommendation letter on your behalf.
You will also be able to track the status of your letters of recommendation on the online application portal. You need to contact all referees well ahead of the deadline! It is your responsibility to remind your referees to submit the letters before the deadline. There will be no exceptions made for late submissions.

Please double-check if your referee’s data, email in particular, is correct.
If yes, contact your referee to check if perhaps their spam filter has blocked our email.
If this is not the case, please contact the RTG 3151 Representatives.

No, we do not accept letters of recommendation submitted by applicants.

Successful applicants should start on September 1, 2026 in agreement with the individual PR.