Press release: 25 years of international Molecular Biology and Neurosciences
No. 129 - 01.09.2025
Göttingen University and MPI celebrate with Nobel Prize winner and alumni from around the world
The University of Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences celebrate 25 years of their internationally renowned Master’s and PhD programmes, and their two International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) in Molecular Biology and Neurosciences, on 12-14 September 2025.
In 2000, the international Master's and PhD programmes taught in English were the first of their kind in Göttingen and made a significant impact on the landscape of teaching and research in Germany. A unique feature of these programmes is the close collaboration across the Göttingen Campus, bringing together expertise from Göttingen University, the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), as well as the Max Planck Institutes (MPIs) and the German Primate Centre (DPZ). The proportion of international students on these courses is 75 per cent. The excellent education and support is shown by the outstanding success rate: over 800 graduates from 90 countries, of which 98 per cent completed their studies and published original scientific findings. More than half stayed to complete PhDs in Göttingen.
Over 500 invited guests will join the celebrations, including around 300 alumni from all over the world. The event kicks off with a Keynote Lecture by Nobel Prize winner Professor Randy Schekman, University of California, Berkeley. Göttingen University President Professor Axel Schölmerich will open the event. Other speakers include Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, the President of the Max Planck Society, Professor Patrick Cramer, the UMG's Executive Board Chair, Professor Wolfgang Brück, as well as staff, students and alumni of the degree programmes. In addition, there will be a careers event where Alumni from both degree programmes will share their professional experiences. Talks and discussions will look to the future – from artificial intelligence and social media to ethics and sustainability.
Press enquiries: to attend, journalists should email by 8 September: gpmolbio@gwdg.de. Further information: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/697195.html.
Contact:
Dr Steffen Burkhardt
University of Göttingen
Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB)
Managing Director, GAUSS Graduate School and
Scientific Coordinator, IMPRS Molecular Biology
Justus von Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)551 39-26685
Email: gpmolbio@gwdg.de
www.gpmolbio.uni-goettingen.de
Dr Jonas Barth
University of Göttingen
European Neuroscience Institute
Scientific Coordinator, IMPRS Neuroscience
Grisebachstraße, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)551 39-61359
Email: gpneuro@gwdg.de