Life Sciences and Health Technologies

The doctoral program ‘Life Sciences and Health Technologies’ is guided by the life sciences as a leading scientific discipline of the 21st century. Doctoral candidates are systematically supported on their path to obtaining a doctorate and gain comprehensive insight into the diverse fields represented by the professorial members and affiliates of the department.

Content and Goals of the Doctoral Program

The aim of the doctoral program Life Sciences and Health Technologies is to develop outstanding and independent researchers who possess in-depth knowledge of the structures and processes of living organisms or the processes involving living organisms. This also includes a deep understanding of the materials, methods, techniques, and procedures used across the full spectrum of the life sciences.

Depending on their research focus, graduates of the program acquire independent scientific expertise in areas such as:

  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Biogenic Resources in Value Networks
  • Biomaterials
  • Computational Life Sciences

In addition, doctoral candidates gain interdisciplinary skills, which may include, among others, the ability to communicate with non-specialist audiences, teaching and didactic skills, leadership of staff, experience in project management, collaboration in international teams, and business management knowledge.

This training enables them to independently apply their life-science expertise in everyday and industrial contexts and to assume leadership positions in industry, research, and administration.

Target Groups and Admission Requirements

The doctoral program is aimed at graduates from the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology (STEM), and engineering, who address topics and research questions relevant to the disciplines represented within the department in their doctoral projects.

  • a degree that entitles to pursue a doctorate according to § 67 (4) of the Higher Education Act,
  • a convincing doctoral project that fits the program (see also Guidelines for the Short Exposé and the Detailed Exposé (.pdf)),
  • supervision by a professorial member of the department and proposals for a complete supervision team (see also Confirmation of Supervision),
  • a degree in a mathematical or natural science discipline for pursuing a Dr. rer. nat., or a degree in an engineering discipline for pursuing a Dr.-Ing.

Admission as a doctoral candidate is decided by the doctoral examining committee.

Structure of the Program

he doctoral program is designed for a duration of three years and is divided into a mandatory component and an elective component. Both components include subject-specific and interdisciplinary courses.

In the subject-specific courses, doctoral candidates engage deeply and critically with the research areas represented within the department.

In the interdisciplinary courses, doctoral candidates acquire comprehensive knowledge and skills in scientific topics and methods. This includes, for example, understanding good scientific practice, general methodological skills such as biostatistical methods, as well as training in leadership and communication. The program also provides opportunities for networking and discussing one’s research with the relevant academic community.

Courses are offered in German or English and are structured as regular semester courses, block courses, or online modules.

Mandatory Component

Mandatory Component

In the mandatory component, doctoral candidates are required to complete the following:

  • Workshop “Good Scientific Practice”
  • Workshop “Ethics and Responsibility in Society”
  • Lecture Series (7 sessions)
  • Methodological Qualification Course
  • Presentation of one's own research in two Doctoral Student Colloquia
  • Presentation of one's own research at an External Scientific Conference
  • Annual Progress Reports and Progress Meetings

Elective Component

Elective Component

In the elective component, doctoral candidates are required to complete three different activities, which can be freely chosen from the following areas:

Science

  • Publication of an article in a recognized journal
  • Publication in other venues (e.g., conference proceedings)
  • Participation in a national or international conference with a personal contribution (poster, presentation, or competitive demonstration)
  • Participation in a summer school or similar program
  • Research stay at a research institution or university (at least 2 weeks) with submission of a results report
  • Participation in a methods workshop relevant to the doctoral project
  • Participation in an interdisciplinary qualification workshop
  • Assistance with third-party funding acquisition
  • Co-organization of a scientific event
  • Participation in academic self-administration and committee work
  • Participation in a language course

Transfer

  • Filing a patent
  • Founding a start-up
  • Internship in a field relevant to future career goals (at least 2 weeks)
  • Substantive contribution to an informational event or workshop for companies, the public sector, or organizations

Teaching

  • Participation in a higher education didactics workshop
  • Conducting a teaching course
  • Co-supervision of a bachelor’s or master’s thesis

Note: In individual cases, further achievements may be recognized after prior consultation with the supervisory team and the doctoral examining committee. Activities that overlap between the mandatory and elective components, such as a methods workshop, will not be recognized twice.

Sample Timeline

Events Offered within the Doctoral Program

Lecture Series Summer Semester 2025

  • 13.05.2025 | 09:00–10:30 | Nutrient Flows at Scales: From Microbe to Landscape | Prof. Dr. Florian Wichern | Online
  • 27.05.2025 | 09:00–10:30 | Spectroscopic Methods in Bioanalytics: A Broad Spectrum of Opportunities | Prof. Dr. Ilya Digel | Online
  • 03.07.2025 | 10:00–11:30 | Retinal Vessel Analysis for the Diagnosis and Early Detection of Systemic and Ocular Diseases of Vascular Origin | Prof. Dr.-Ing. Konstantin Kotliar | Online

Another session will be announced.

Doctoral Colloquium

  • 04.07.2025 and 08.07.2025 | 10:00–11:30 | Doctoral Colloquium LuG | Online

Details can be obtained from the program coordination.

Methods Course

  • 12., 23. and 24.06.2025 | 09:00–17:00 | Fundamentals of Biomedical Statistics for Doctoral Candidates | Prof. Dr.-Ing. Konstantin Kotliar | Online

For details and registration, please contact the department coordination.

Further Information and Documents

Documents for Enrollment and Admission

Documents for the Doctoral Procedure

Documents for the Completion of the Doctorate

Legal Basis

Useful Links

Dr. Nora Diehl

Coordination of the Department of Life Sciences and Health Technologies

+49 234 32 10179

nora.diehl@pknrw.de

Do you have any questions about the Department or need further information? Please contact us.

Lena Elisa Freitag, M.A.

Coordination of the Department of Life Sciences and Health Technologies

+49 234 32 10159

lena.freitag@pknrw.de

Do you have any questions about the Department or need further information? Please contact us.

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PK NRW
Konrad-Zuse-Straße 10
44801 Bochum

info@pknrw.de