Graduate School of Excellence

The Graduate School of Excellence "MAterials science IN mainZ" (MAINZ)

is an international PhD program which focuses on graduate training through excellence in research in the fields of functional polymers, model systems and correlated materials, hybrid structures and bio-related materials.

08.08.2013 - 12.08.2013

4th MAINZ Student Seminar taking place at Langholmen in Stockholm in August 2013.

MAINZ PhD students gather for their annual workshop with talks, invited speakers and poster sessions.
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21.05.2013

First MAINZ Alumni Meeting to take place in autumn 2013!

MAINZ has organised the first alumni meeting at Schloss Sörgenloch on the last weekend in October. MAINZ has already gathered an alumni base of more than 120 people since its start in 2007.

02.05.2013

JGU Gutenberg Research College Fellow Stuart Parkin (IBM Research Almaden) to receive honorary doctorate from MAINZ partner!

The University of Kaiserslautern will honour Parkins fundamental achievements in spintronics research. The laudatio will begiven by MAINZ PI Burkard Hillebrands on June 3, 2013.
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Requirements

Besides meeting the basic formal requirements given by the regulations for PhD studies of the respective university faculties, our candidates are only accepted to our program when they also meet the excellence criteria imposed by the graduate school.
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Open Positions

Currently, MAINZ has a variety of open positions available in a broad spectrum of research. Descriptions of open positions are available for interested candidates. Addtionally, further openings might be available in research groups participating in MAINZ.
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Inga Zins, concluded her PhD in April 2011

"While at MAINZ, it was particularly important for me that there was the opportunity to meet many researchers from other work groups and to interact with other doctoral students."

Angel Medina, started his PhD in April 2009

"The interdisciplinary and international approach of the Graduate School MAINZ provides me with ideal conditions for my research. It allows me to exchange information with other PhDs during summer schools and to learn a vast amount from others."

Training through Research

Training through Research provides in-depth, interdisciplinary training at the bench complemented by specialized training within our research areas. Research training focuses on four main technical training areas.
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Training for Life

Training for Life provides MAINZ PhD students with complementary technical, business, and cultural competencies needed for their future career. MAINZ offers a wide range of complementary competencies and skills courses.
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Thesis Committee

Each student has an individual thesis committee of at least two experienced scientists. It is responsible for the student’s personalised development and training, ensures the quality of the training and helps with the student’s career development.
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Mentoring Program

The mentor is an external person from academia or industry who advises the student on his/her research project as well as on career related questions.
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Concept

MAINZ invites excellent PhD students from foreign universities to participate in the training program of MAINZ for a period of up to 12 months as guest PhD students. They share the same rights and obligations as regular MAINZ PhD students.

PhD students in Polymer Research should apply via our joint IMPRS-PMS program with MPI-P. Other candidates apply for guest PhD student status following the guidelines for regular application to our PhD program and state that they intend a sandwich PhD.

Early Stage Career Support for Undergraduate Students

We offer stipends (max 12 months) for excellent undergraduate students at JGU or TUKL and for foreign undergraduates wishing to perform research at research groups of MAINZ. Additionally, excellent undergraduates can benefit from our training program.
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Video

Early Stage Career Support and International Collaboration of MAINZ - Stanford University
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Research Priority and Multidisciplinary Approach

Materials science plays a leading role in tackling societal challenges in the fields of energy, healthcare, mobility, sustainability, and information technology. Our research ranges from model systems and correlated materials, functional polymers...
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Video: Research at MAINZ - Energy

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Members

The graduate school consists of PhD students (funded by MAINZ and other sources) and Faculty. The Faculty of MAINZ consists of the Principal Investigators (PIs), associated members and external faculty.

Video: Women in Science - Prof. Angelika Kühnle

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