Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA)

Principle investigators of the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) are internationally recognized scientists known for their cutting edge research into diverse topics including genetic determinants of longevity, protein quality control, DNA damage and repair, mitochondria regulation, immunosenescence and inflammation, stem cell and tissue maintenance, organellar and cellular architecture, endocrine control of metabolism, as well as their research into age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, diabetes, obesity, kidney dysfunction. Close links between the research groups foster interdisciplinary collaboration and promote the development of novel research approaches.

The laboratories use diverse model systems - from bacteria, yeast, worms, and flies, to fish, mice, cultured cells, and human clinical samples - to delve into basic mechanistic questions. Core facilities provide on-campus platforms for performing genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, imaging, cell sorting, metabolic profiling and phenotyping.

Understanding how and why we age are fundamental biological questions with great medical and societal impact. To address these questions, we need to train a new generation of biomedical scientists to unravel the basic molecular mechanisms underlying ageing and age-related diseases.

This requires an interdisciplinary approach that integrates the fields of genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, systems biology, and translational medicine. The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research provides a strong research environment and a rigorous training programme to meet this challenge.

We offer young scientists of exceptional talent a structured PhD training in biomedical disciplines within an international environment. Principle investigators are internationally recognized scientists carrying out ground-breaking research, who cover a broad range of expertise. New facilities with state-of-the-art technologies provide excellent infrastructure for training and research. The doctoral programme is comprised of seminars and courses in ageing research, writing and presentation training as well as practical career development opportunities. 

The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research strives to foster scientific independence in our students by immersing them in high quality research, and encouraging critical thinking skills, lively exchange with other scientists, active participation and scholarship. Our students receive a full fellowship for the duration of the programme. All communication and courses are conducted in English.