About the Max Planck Graduate Center mit der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (MPGC)

The Max Planck Graduate Center with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (MPGC) offers a structured interdisciplinary doctoral program jointly established by the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (MPIC), and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU).

In Mainz – the vibrant capital of Rhineland-Palatinate – the MPGC provides a future-oriented research environment at the interfaces of the natural and life sciences. It brings together internationally recognized scientists and doctoral researchers within a coordinated framework that enables collaboration across institutional and disciplinary boundaries.

The interdisciplinary nature of the MPGC is particularly important in a scientific landscape where research increasingly transcends traditional categories. Many of today’s most pressing challenges and many of the most significant discoveries arise at the interfaces between established fields. 

The MPGC was established in 2009 to enable this interdisciplinary research goal and strengthen the scientific integration of the participating institutions offering structured doctoral training at the highest level. Following successful evaluations, the program has been continued and further developed as a long-term strategic partnership between the Max Planck Institutes and JGU Mainz.

What distinguishes the MPGC

• Joint supervision across Max Planck Institutes and JGU Mainz

• Interdisciplinary Focus Groups as research nuclei

• A structured curriculum combining scientific and transferable skills training

The MPGC contributes significantly to the scientific profile of Mainz as a research location. By linking the two Max Planck Institutes with JGU Mainz, the program fosters long-term institutional integration and enhances collaborative research initiatives within the regional and international context.