International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP)

What International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP) does

The International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP) is an international, English-language graduate school that trains PhD students in cellular biophysics at the molecular level. Founded in 2021 and hosted jointly by the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and the Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies, the program serves international applicants holding Master's degrees in natural or life sciences (biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, medicine, pharmacy, neuroscience, mathematics, computer science, or engineering). Its core product is a structured PhD curriculum built around three lab rotations across different research groups, a Thesis Advisory Committee with four mentors per student, an annual scientific retreat, transferable-skills workshops, and an annual symposium. Participants gain hands-on access to state-of-the-art structural biology infrastructure including cryo-electron microscopy, cryo-electron tomography, NMR, mass spectrometry, and advanced light microscopy.

IMPRS-CBP operates as a non-profit academic program within the Max Planck Society, a German government-funded research foundation headquartered in Munich. It generates no commercial revenue; instead, PhD students receive employment contracts under EG 13 TVöD at 65% (approximately 2,000 euros net monthly), funded by the Max Planck Society and partner universities, with students paying a ~400 euro semester fee for transit and student services. Faculty research is supported by competitive external grants from the European Research Council, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the LOEWE program of the State of Hesse, and other bodies. Recruitment is event-driven and global: applications are submitted via the OpenCampus portal, followed by a competitive two-day virtual Admission Colloquium for roughly 30 finalists, with new cohorts starting each September 15. The school is small (~25 PhD students across three cohorts as of late 2023, ~16 employees, ~40 affiliated Principal Investigators) but high-prestige, evidenced by ERC grants at all tiers and 2024 awards including the Feldberg Prize, Körber European Science Prize, EMBO Young Investigator selections, and the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize.

Name

International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP)

Legal name

International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP)

Website

https://imprs-cbp.mpg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP) is a non-profit international graduate school, founded 2021 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, that trains PhD students in cellular biophysics via structured lab rotations, mentorship, and access to cryo-EM, NMR, and mass spectrometry infrastructure across four partner institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graduate Research Education

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

Keywords

• Graduate research education
• PhD training program
• Cellular biophysics research
• Structural biology research
• Academic research training

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: Funded by the Max Planck Society and partner universities (Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz). All admitted PhD students receive working contracts (EG 13 TvÖD, 65%) with monthly net income of approximately 2000 euros.
2. Research Grants: Faculty members secure competitive research funding from European Research Council (ERC), German Research Foundation (DFG), LOEWE program, and other funding bodies. Examples include ERC Starting Grants, ERC Consolidator Grants, ERC Advanced Grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IMPRS-CBP is an international graduate school that delivers a structured PhD training program in cellular biophysics, hosted by the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and the Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies. The program combines lab rotations across research groups, a Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) mentoring concept, transferable skill workshops, and access to state-of-the-art facilities including cryo-EM, cryo-ET, NMR, and mass spectrometry, supported by nearly 40 internationally distinguished Principal Investigators from the Rhine-Main area.

Product overview

IMPRS-CBP is an international graduate school that offers a structured PhD training program in cellular biophysics. The program provides first-class research training through lab rotations across participating institutions (Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies), a dedicated mentoring concept via Thesis Advisory Committees (TAC), transferable skill workshops, annual retreats, and access to state-of-the-art research facilities including cryo-EM, mass spectrometry, NMR, and advanced light microscopy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PhD Training Program in Cellular Biophysics Structured international PhD training program in cellular biophysics for Master's-level graduates in natural or life sciences, featuring lab rotations across three research groups, Thesis Advisory Committee mentoring, transferable skill workshops, and access to state-of-the-art biophysics facilities. Program starts annually on September 15/16 and admits students via online application and competitive Admission Colloquium. Admitted students receive 65% TVöD EG 13 working contracts (~€2,000 net monthly) with no tuition fees.
• Annual Symposium on Cellular Biophysics Annual scientific symposium organized for incoming PhD students, featuring faculty presentations on cellular biophysics research topics, intended as part of the structured PhD training curriculum.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Max Planck Institute of BiophysicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary host institution for the IMPRS-CBP program. Located in Frankfurt am Main, the institute provides state-of-the-art research facilities including cryo-EM, cryo-ET, and advanced microscopy. Martin Beck serves as Spokesperson of the program.
• Goethe University Frankfurt am MaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner institution contributing faculty members and research expertise. Students can enroll as doctoral candidates and conduct PhD work at GU facilities.
• Johannes Gutenberg University MainzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing faculty and research capabilities. Some PhD students may conduct doctoral research at JGU after initial training phase.
• Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies (FIAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner research institute contributing to the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Hosts some PhD students and faculty members.
• Max Planck SocietycoreOthersParent organization (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.) headquartered in Munich. Provides institutional oversight, funding, and brand recognition for IMPRS programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EMBL International PhD Programme: European Molecular Biology Laboratory's international PhD program in Heidelberg; comparable in international cohort sourcing, structural biology focus, and Max-Planck-adjacent European research prestige.
• Cambridge Wellcome Trust PhD Programme in Structural Biology: UK-based PhD program focused on structural biology and biophysics with similar access to cryo-EM/NMR infrastructure and a strong international applicant pool.
• Helmholtz Munich International Graduate School: German public-research graduate school with similar structured PhD training, multi-PIs supervision, and access to large-scale research infrastructure; directly comparable in funding model and German public-research positioning.
• IMPRS for Multiscale Bio-Systems: IMPRS focused on quantitative and physical biology approaches to biological systems; close thematic peer to IMPRS-CBP's biophysics focus and shares the same Max Planck Society institutional backing.
• IMPRS for Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMPRS-MCB): Freiburg-based IMPRS offering PhD training in molecular and cellular biology under the Max Planck Society; closely comparable cohort size, application portal structure, and faculty-driven research model.
• IMPRS for Cell, Developmental and Systems Biology (IMPRS-CDSB): Dresden-based IMPRS PhD program co-hosted by MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics with similar structured curriculum, lab rotations, and TAC mentoring concept for cellular/molecular biology research.
• IMPRS for Molecular Life Sciences (IMPRS-LM): Another International Max Planck Research School under the Max Planck Society umbrella offering structured PhD training in life sciences; directly comparable in structure, governance, funding model, and recruitment cycle.

Broad incumbents

• MPI of Biophysics PhD Program: Host institution for IMPRS-CBP; the broader institute also recruits PhDs beyond the IMPRS-CBP structured program and operates adjacent biophysics training.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imprs-cbp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP)