The International Leibniz Research School for Microbial and Biomolecular Interactions (ILRS Jena) is the graduate training programme of the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute – (HKI, www.leibniz-hki.de) in close collaboration with the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (www.uni-jena.de), the University Hospital Jena (www.uniklinikum-jena.de) and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology (www.ice.mpg.de). The ILRS is part of the “Jena School for Microbial Communication” (JSMC, www.jsmc.uni-jena.de) which has been established as an umbrella organisation for existing microbiological Research Training Groups.

The aim of the ILRS Jena is to understand communication and interaction processes among microorganisms and of microbes and higher organisms – be it in peaceful coexistence or as aggressive pathogens. The ILRS PhD projects use interdisciplinary approaches, combining methods of microbiology, natural product chemistry, chemical ecology, bioinformatics and systems biology to decipher the underlying biological mechanisms. ILRS Jena offers cutting edge technological facilities and a strong scientific platform including a comprehensive training programme. The doctoral researchers join an innovative and communicative network of scientists in Jena.

To complement the ambitious scientific projects and to provide the best preparation for future academic or industrial careers, all ILRS doctoral researchers can participate in an extensive training programme – both in laboratory methods and in transferable skills.