Welcome to our instructions on how to apply for our RTG 3096 program! Please take your time to read the instructions carefully to make sure you submit a complete application.

Thank you very much for your interest in our Research Training Group (RTG) 3096 “One Health approach to soil transmitted helminths”.

We offer 9 positions for doctoral researchers in 9 different projects!

Please note: The subjects of the 9 projects are different and require different backgrounds ranging from Parasitology, Immunology, Veterinary Medicine to ecological modeler, social scientists and economists. Please check below the project descriptions of all 9 projects offered in detail to find the right project(s) for you. In your application you need to choose your favorite project(s). You may apply for 1, 2 or 3 projects.

You can only apply by using the application platform of the DRS:

(https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/user/register?field_i_want_to_apply_for=732).

The call is open until October 30, 2025, only. Project start will be April 1, 2026.

Please note: You must register at the DRS platform and create an account first. This will make it possible for you to go for a coffee or come back the next day to complete your application, because the application is saved in your account. You need to confirm your profile via the confirmation link in the e-mail we send you. In order to apply, click on the apply link in the left menu under "OpenCampus Menu".

Please note: When you register you are asked for "Affiliation". In case you are not affiliated to any institution (you don't have to for an application) choose "Other Institution" in the drop-down menu. Two new "Please specify..." boxes will open. Type in here: "n/a" or "not affiliated", anything etc. Then, go on with the registration.

Please do not send any other type of application by post or e-mail as they will be rejected.

Application

• The application form must be completed in English only. Please make sure that all your personal details including your e-mail address and postal mail address are up to date, as we will be using them to communicate with you throughout the whole application process!

• You will find a section called "External Reviewers". This is for you to provide us with the contact details of two referees that support your application. This is an important part of your application! We strongly advise you to pick your referees carefully and inform them about their role BEFORE you apply. Please note: we will send an e-mail (with sending e-mail address: grk3096@vetmed.fu-berlin.de) to your referees who will upload their letter of reference directly to our application platform, please don’t upload letters of reference yourself! Please consider that your referees will only have time to submit their reference letters until November 3, 2025!

• You can choose your research group preferences according to the project descriptions. The order in which you make your picks is usually interpreted as a tentative ranking, but it does not limit your choice at a later stage by any means! You may even find yourself later in a lab that you haven't originally picked as a preference, because once you are invited to Berlin you will have the opportunity to meet every faculty member that offers a project. Still, we advise you to choose carefully, because initially faculty members will also evaluate whether you might be a good match for their lab.

• The field "Research Interests" is one of the most critical parts of your application! You should clearly communicate why you are an ideal candidate for RTG 3096. Importantly, you have to provide specific and meaningful insight into why you have made the choices regarding your research group preferences. Please comment also on your plans for your professional future. We would like to emphasize again that it is very important here to be specific, meaningful and concise!

• We recommend having the following things ready for your application:

1. CV (PDF-file)
2. Letter of motivation (PDF-file)
3. College/university career (including certificates, abstracts of your thesis etc.)
4. High school career (including certificate)
5. Names/address of two external reviewers for letters of reference

• Please note: You can upload any material / certificates as PDF-files only!

Incidentally, the application period is also a busy time for us. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that we are able to answer your questions promptly or help you solving problems immediately. We would also like to stress that because of the large number of applications we get, we cannot answer any requests on the status of your application. We will do our best to keep you updated on the progress of the application process on our web page.

If you have any questions, please check our FAQ first!