About JSMC

The Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena is not only an Excellence Graduate School, but also a lively network of scientists from a broad variety of natural & life sciences institutes and an umbrella organization for three Research Training Groups in Jena. The JSMC was first awarded funding within the German Excellence Initiative in 2007. In June 2012 the Excellence Status of the JSMC was confirmed and funding for an additional six years was granted to the Graduate School. Since 2019 the JSMC is funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.

Today, JSMC hosts a total of about 130 doctoral researchers. Their research projects are situated at the numerous institutes that make up the JSMC network, including institutes and clinics at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena as well as non-university research institutions.

Recruitment 2024/01

The Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse together with the JSMC invite applications for Postdoc Positions

The Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena combines expertise in life, material, optical and computational sciences to elevate microbiome studies from descriptive to hypothesis-driven and functional analyses. Our core mission is to elucidate fundamental principles of the interactions and functions in microbial communities in diverse habitats ranging from oceans and ground water to plant and human hosts. The affiliated early career program of the Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) offers an ambitious, structured and interdisciplinary post-graduate training based on top-level fundamental research.

We are currently offering several postdoctoral researcher positions. We are seeking motivated and engaging candidates who strive to collaborate widely and look beyond traditional disciplines to further our mission.

Application deadline: 20 March 2024.

Applications for these positions are only accepted via the Online Application Portal.

An overview of all positions offerend can be found here

JSMC Photo Contest

Adjust your microscopes and charge your cameras, the JSMC is having a photo contest!

For a new JSMC calendar 2025, postcards, Welcome Guide, website updates, etc. we’re looking for exciting photos all around your research, the microbial world, a scientist's everyday life, and the JSMC.

Please send your photos (for larger photos please use a Zip file) together with the application form before May 31st, 2024 to jsmc@uni-jena.de

All information can be found here.

Selected photos will be awarded and featured in the JSMC projects/published with your name and the information you provide.

Jena Alliance "Life in Focus"

The JSMC is part of the Jena Alliance "Life in Focus" that promotes a nationally and internationally visible excellent graduate qualification at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Under the umbrella of the Graduate Academy, the Jena Alliance networks and strengthens the established graduate programmes: Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC), Jena School of Molecular Medicine (JSMM), Abbe School of Photonics (ASP) and Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP).

Want to know more?