Doctoral Programs

As part of the University of Excellence concept at KIT, doctoral programs are important building blocks to ensure optimal conditions for doctoral candidates at KIT. Doctoral programs offer the opportunity to do a doctorate in an interdisciplinary research environment and within the framework of a structured qualification and supervision concept. Doctoral programs focus on qualifying doctoral researchers in promising research topics and supporting them in their personal career development and scientific independence. In addition, doctoral programs promote internationalization, early networking and interdisciplinary cooperation among early career researchers.

At KIT, early career researchers can conduct research and gain qualifications in various types of doctoral programs. For example, in graduate schools and research training groups. These differ primarily in the range of topics and in their size (number of doctoral researchers). In addition to graduate schools and research training groups, there are also various other doctoral programs at KIT.

Graduate schools are characterized by a broad, usually highly interdisciplinary field of research and comprise a large number of doctoral researchers (approx. 50 - 100). As part of the the University of Excellence concept, six new graduate schools (KIT Graduate Schools) were established at six KIT Centers in strategically important research areas in 2021 with the "Graduate School Support Program" (GradeUP). Together with the existing graduate schools at KIT, including two Cluster of Excellence graduate schools, there is at least one graduate school at each KIT Center

funding title (funding period) contact

Within the “University of Excellence” funding program

TT.-Prof. Dr. Christian Wressnegger 

KASTEL - Institut für Intelligente Systemsicherheit 

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Strufe 

KASTEL - Institut für Praktische IT-Sicherheit (PS)

Within the “University of Excellence” funding program

Prof. Dr. Martin Frank

Steinbuch Centre for Computing (SCC)/Institute for Applied and Numerical Mathematics (IANM)

Within the “University of Excellence” funding program

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Sauer

Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)

Within the “University of Excellence” funding program

Prof. Dr. Markus Garst

Institute of Theoretical Solid State Physics (TFP)/Institute for Quantum Materials and Technologies (IQMT)

Within the “University of Excellence” funding program

Prof. Dr. Frank Gauterin

Institute of Vehicle Systems Technology (FAST)

Within the “University of Excellence” funding program

Prof. Dr. Ingrid Ott
Institute for Economics (ECON)

Prof. Dr. Darko Jekauc

Institute of Sports and Sports Science (IfSS)

DFG

Prof. Dr. Rolf Schuster

Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC)

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Behm

University of Ulm

apl. Prof. Christine Kranz

University of Ulm

DFG

Prof. Dr. Martin Wegener

Institute of Applied Physics (APH) and Institute of Nanotechnology (INT)

 

Prof. Dr. Uwe Bunz

University of Heidelberg

KIT

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Lemmer

Light Technology Institute (LTI)

KIT

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Nierste

Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics (TTP)

HGF

Prof. Dr. Ralf Mikut

Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI)

KIT

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Hinz

Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (IPF) 

KIT

Prof. Dr. Nicholas Foulkes

Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP)

BMBF

Prof. Dr. David Hunger

Physikalisches Institut (PHI)

Prof. Dr. Christian Koos

Institut für Mikrostrukturtechnologie (IMT)

Prof. Dr. Uli  Lemmer

Lichttechnisches Institut (LTI)

Prof. Dr. Uli Nienhaus

Institut für Angewandte Physik (APH)

Prof. Dr. Carsten Rockstuhl

Institut für Festkörperphysik (TFP)

Prof. Dr. Martin Wegener

Institut für Angewandte Physik (APH) 

Research Training Groups are home to a medium number of doctoral researchers (approx. 10 – 25) working within a more narrowly defined research topic. In addition to the doctoral researchers directly funded by the research network, doctoral researchers funded in other ways can also be members of the Research Training Group and benefit from its offerings (as associated doctoral researchers).

funding title (funding period) contact

DFG

Prof. Dr. Marcus Elstner

Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC)

DFG

Prof. Dr. Christof Weinhardt 

Institut für Informationswirtschaft und Marketing (IISM)

DFG

Prof. Dr. Martin Heilmaier

Institute for Applied Materials – Materials Science and Engineering (IAM-WK)

DFG

Prof. Dr. Roman Sauer

Institute of Algebra and Geometry (IAG)

DFG

Prof. Dr. Thomas Wetzel

Institute of Thermal Process Engineering (TVT)

DFG

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klemens Böhm

Institute for Program Structures and Data Organisation (IPD)

DFG

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Thomas Böhlke

Institute of Engineering Mechanics (ITM)

DFG

Prof. Dr. Hans-Achim Wagenknecht

Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC)

HGF

Prof. Dr. Ralph Engel

Institute of Nuclear Physics (IKP)

The Collaborative Research Centers (CRC) funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) are long-term research institutions at universities in which scientists collaborate within the framework of an interdisciplinary research program (sometimes across locations). The structured promotion of young researchers is one of the central goals of Collaborative Research Centers and they may therefore also have Integrated Research Training Groups offering excellent research opportunities for doctoral researchers.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are international research networks of at least three European institutions. These doctoral programs usually include a small number of doctoral researchers (approx. 2 – 4) per location, who have the opportunity to spend up to one third of their doctorate at one of the partner institutions. 

funding title (funding period) contact

EU/KIT

Prof. Dr. Frank Breitling

Institute for Organic Chemistry (IOC)

EU/KIT

Prof. Dr. Mario Ruben

Institute for Nanotechnology (INT)

EU

Prof. Dr. Anja Metelmann

Institute for Theoretical Condensed Matter physics (TKM)

EU

Prof. Dr. Joerg Lahann

Institut of Functional Interfaces (IFG)

EU

Dr. Dominic Bresser

Helmholtz-Institute Ulm (HIU)

EU

Dr. Alberto Varzi

Helmholtz-Institute Ulm (HIU)

EU

Prof. Dr. Marcus Elstner

Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC)

EU

Prof. Dr. Manfred Kohl

Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT)

EU

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Leibfried

Institute for Electrical Energy Systems and High Voltage Technology (IEH)

EU

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Laurent Schmalen

The Communications Engineering Lab (CEL)

EU

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Laurent Schmalen

The Communication Engineering Lab (CEL)

EU

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Neumann

Institute for Anthropomatics and Robotics (IAR)

EU

Dr. Ottmar Möhler

Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Atmospheric Aerosol Research (IMK-AAF)

EU

Dr. Peter Stemmermann

Institute for Technical Chemistry (ITC)

EU

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Doppelbauer

Institute of Electrical Engineering (ETI)

EU

Dr.-Ing. Giovanni De Carne

Institute for Technical Physics (ITEP)

EU

Prof. Dr. Joaquim Pinto

Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK)

EU

Prof. Dr. Michael Meier 

Institute for Organic Chemistry (IOC)

EU

Prof. Dr. Thomas Schwetz-Mangold

Institute for Astroparticle Physics (IAP)

EU

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marcus Geimer

Institute of Vehicle Systems Technology (FAST)

Institutsteil Mobile Arbeitsmaschinen (MOBIMA)

EU

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gisela Lanza

Institute of Production Science (WBK)

EU

Prof. Dr. Stefano Passerini 

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) for Electrochemical Energy Storage

EU

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rainer Stiefelhagen

Center for Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technology (ACCESS@KIT)

KIT is strongly networked within the (international) scientific community as well as industry. KIT cooperates with its partners in particular in the area of doctorate, for example in the form of double degree doctoral programs, doctoral research groups with applied universities, and industrial doctoral programs.

funding title (funding period) contact

MWK

Prof. Dr. Armin Grunwaldt

Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)

MWK

Prof. Dr. Rainer Stiefelhagen

Institute for Anthropomatics and Robotics (IAR)

KIT

Prof. Dr. Hans Peter Schmid

Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMKIFU)

versch. Lehrstühle

Prof. Dr. Oliver Jehle

Institute for History of Art and Architecture (IKB)

HIRSAP

Prof. Dr. Marc Weber

Head of Division 5

DAHZ/HIRSAP

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Johannes Blümer 

KIT Distinguished Senior Fellow

MWK 

Prof. Christof Weinhardt

Institute of Information and Market Engineering (IISM)

IBM-Bosch-FZI

Prof. Dr. Stefan Nickel

Institute of Operations Research (IOR)