The Mainz Campus at Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) Mainz serves as a key satellite location for the IMPRS-CBP, contributing specialized expertise through two prominent institutes affiliated with the faculties of physics and biology. Located in the picturesque Rhine Valley, this site complements the Frankfurt hub with strengths in experimental physics, molecular physiology, and life sciences research. IMPRS-CBP students at Mainz participate in the program's three-rotation system, accessing unique facilities for biophysical studies of cellular processes, while engaging in joint seminars, workshops, and collaborative projects across the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. The focus here emphasizes quantitative approaches to biological systems, from molecular dynamics to physiological functions, supported by JGU's renowned research infrastructure.
The Riedberg Campus in northern Frankfurt am Main is the central hub for the International Max Planck Research School on Cellular Biophysics (IMPRS-CBP), hosting the program's coordination office and the majority of its faculty laboratories. This modern Science City integrates Goethe University's faculties of natural sciences—including physics, biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacy, and biology—with prestigious research institutions such as the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics (MPIBP), Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), and Frankfurt Biotechnology Innovation Center. The campus specializes in interdisciplinary approaches to cellular biophysics, employing cutting-edge techniques like cryo-electron microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, single-molecule methods, and computational modeling to unravel the physical principles underlying cellular structure, dynamics, and function. PhD students engage in research rotations across labs, attend specialized courses in quantitative biology, advanced imaging, and biophysics seminars, and benefit from a vibrant international community embedded in state-of-the-art facilities.
