Graduate School of Ageing Research

Our aim is to train a new generation of biomedical scientists who can take on the diverse challenges of making fundamental scientific discoveries in the basic biology of ageing and translating them into improvements in health and life for people as they grow older. In order to do this, we need to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that promote healthy ageing and identify interventions and potential drug targets. Our research areas include: DNA Damage & Repair Genetics & Epigenetics Immunology & Inflammation Membrane & Lipid Biology Metabolism & Nutrient Sensing Mitochondrial Biology Neuroscience & Neurodegeneration Protein Homeostasis RNA Metabolism Stem Cells & Tissue Regeneration Systems Biology & Bioinformatics Tumour Biology The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) offers a comprehensive PhD training in the highly interdisciplinary field of ageing. The programme provides excellent research conditions with intensive supervision and state-of-the-art facilities in an international environment. The curriculum is complemented by individual career-development mentoring, scientific and professional skills courses, lecture series, journal clubs, and scientific retreats. During an on-site recruitment week, candidates can visit up to five laboratories of their choice. Up to 12 candidates will be selected for the three-year programme that starts on an individual basis between 1 July and 1 October. In October, the Welcome Days for all new CGA PhD candidates take place. Stories of our students with interesting insights about their live in Cologne can be found here: https://www.ageing-grad-school.de/about-us/cga-stories . For students holding a BSc degree, the CGA offers a Master's fellowship programme as well. Master's fellows receive hands-on training in ageing research, have regular meetings with mentors of the CGA faculty, and participate in various CGA events already at an early stage in their careers!