Life as a DKFZ PhD Student

The DKFZ has a very active and welcoming PhD community. Below you'll find more information about the PhD student representatives and teams, as well as some of the many activities going on at the DKFZ.

PhD Council

The PhD Council is a team of six PhD student representatives, elected by the DKFZ PhD student body in October/November of every year. The PhD Council represents the DKFZ PhD community, acting as the official liaison between the Doctoral Researchers community and the administrative and scientific executive boards. They also head the PhD Teams to support various activities for PhD students, fostering scientific and social interactions not only among the PhD students at the DKFZ but also with other institutes in Heidelberg and other Helmholtz centres all over Germany (check Helmholtz Juniors below).

PhD Teams

The Community and Networking Team not only fosters a welcoming environment for PhD candidates during PhD selection rounds, but also helps the newest PhD colleagues in their first steps at DKFZ. Being a newcomer can be challenging, so the Welcome Team is on hand to show new PhD students the possibilities that DKFZ and Heidelberg can offer and how they can make the most of their PhD life! They also put together the Unofficial Guide for New DKFZ PhD Students, with useful information about starting a PhD at the DKFZ.

Beyond welcoming new members of the DKFZ PhD Program, the Community and Networking team is very active organizing various scientific and social events, including happy hours, pub quizzes, movie nights, beach-volleyball tournaments, and much more! They also support various PhD clubs (such as salsa, hiking, board-game and running clubs) and are always looking for more ideas to introduce new ones! This team provides opportunities to take a break from research and meet your fellow PhD colleagues in an informal environment and make new connections.

The Working Environment team works continuously to ensure that the DKFZ is a place where everyone is welcome and included. This team works together with the PhD Program Office and DKFZ administration to support activities related to mental health awareness, language exchange, diversity at the DKFZ, PhD talk shows/contests and much more!

This team enhances the communication for and among PhD candidates, and keeps the DKFZ PhD community updated on what's going on. They also create a space for people interested in science communication who can gain hands-on experience in this field. Another part of their work includes supporting and collaborating with other PhD teams and the Helmholtz Juniors, promoting useful resources, and advertising events and activities.

Helmholtz Juniors

Helmholtz Juniors (HeJus) was founded in 2005 as an initiative to represent the interests of all (about 8000 as of 2016) PhD students working at each of the 18 centers in the Helmholtz Association, Germany's largest non-university scientific organization. Their primary goals are fostering exchange between and networking, improving working conditions, and expanding opportunities for advanced training within the Helmholtz Association.

A diverse group of 22 PhD students stands together in a lush indoor setting with greenery in the background. They are smiling and dressed in casual attire, representing various backgrounds and cultures, showcasing a sense of community and collaboration within the DKFZ PhD program. — Helmholtz Juniors Meeting 2022

Helmholtz Juniors (HeJu) as a whole is made up of at least two PhD student representatives from each Helmholtz center. At the DKFZ, the two HeJu representatives are elected together with the new PhD Council in November every year. Helmholtz Juniors aims at being a dynamic team that responds flexibly to the current needs and requirements of PhD students within the Helmholtz Association.

In 2017, Helmholtz Juniors joined forces with Max Planck PhDnet and Leibniz PhD Network to form a ‘network of networks’, or N². This platform aims to address broad topics relevant to PhD students within all three organisations.

Helmholtz Juniors as a whole meet twice a year: once in one of the Helmholtz centers in late winter, and once in the headquarters of the Helmholtz Association in Berlin in summer. At these meetings they discuss and exchange information about their ongoing projects and new initiatives. They currently have four active working groups: working conditions, surveys, events, and communication.

Other PhD Initiatives

BioContact

A busy networking event set in a bright, open space. Attendees engage in conversations around various informational booths, with tables displaying brochures and promotional materials. The atmosphere is lively, reflecting collaboration and engagement among participants interested in PhD opportunities at DKFZ.

BioContact e.V. is an association founded and run by PhD students and Postdocs from various institutes in Heidelberg (e.g. DKFZ, EMBL, MPIs). Their main goal is the organization of an annual life science job fair called “CONTACT”. Additionally they invite several companies throughout the year to so-called “IN CONTACT WITH” presentations, where companies have the opportunity to present themselves as an attractive employer. These events are aimed to present different working models in the life science industry, such as big companies like Roche or Bayer, as well as exciting and newly established startups, to a new generation of young scientists. Through internal workshops, other social activities and meetings, they offer further useful training in preparation for the prospective job market. For more information about their activities, please visit their website.

The image features the website URL "www.BioContact.info" prominently displayed in black text, with an oval orange shape enclosing the text. It signifies an online resource related to 'BioContact'.

The upcoming CONTACT2026 is going to take place on 20 of May 2026 at the DKFZ in Heidelberg.

We offer you a wide range of talks, where you get direct information about job perspectives within the respective company. External speakers tell you about possible jobs in the areas of life sciences, publishing and forensics. Furthermore, we offer several workshops of renowned companies where you get the chance for a resume check and interview trainings.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

DKFZ PhD Band - The Wild Types

A musical performance takes place during the graduation ceremony, featuring a band named "The Wild Types." The group includes several musicians playing instruments and a vocalist, with a large screen displaying the band's name in the background.

The Wild Types: science, party and Rock'n'Roll!

The Wild Types is the DKFZ's rock band, made up of DKFZ PhD students, alumni and some colleagues from the campus! They play pop-rock, classic rock, dancing catchy songs and here and there some metal as well. They regularly perform inside and outside of the DKFZ, for example at the annual DKFZ Graduation Ceremony and at local events.

Voices of our PhD Students

Gain insights into what PhD students say about their experiences in the DKFZ International PhD Program here.

A diverse group of over 80 PhD students stands together, smiling and waving cheerfully. They are situated in a spacious, brightly lit area with tables and chairs, showcasing the vibrant community at DKFZ. This image reflects the collaborative and friendly atmosphere of life as a PhD student.