Available topics for doctoral projects funded by DAAD scholarships
Topic No - Supervisor
Topic for doctoral project
Topic 1 - Marcel Brass
Social cognition in multi-agent virtual environments: a multi-method approach
Topic 2 - Isabel Dziobek
2a: Understanding Breathwork in Mental Disorders: Neural, Autonomic, and Behavioral Pathways
or:
2b: Mechanisms of Therapeutic Change in Autism: Clinical, Neurological, and Psychophysiological Perspectives
Topic 3 - Carsten Finke
Quantitative MRI markers of hippocampal pathology and limbic network dysfunction in autoimmune encephalitis
Topic 4 - Christine Heim
Early-Life Stress and Brain Ageing: Developmental Origins of Late-Life Brain Health
Topic 5 - Arno Villringer
Heart and Brain: How does heart function impact on cognition and emotion?
Topic 6 - Verena Wagner
The Zetetic Turn in Epistemology
How to apply
See DAAD Scholarships webpage (internal link)
About these scholarships: general information and rules for eligibility
(I) The Max Planck School of Cognition, through its cooperation partner, the Berlin School of Mind and Brain (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), advertises two four-year doctoral scholarships for doctoral projects conducted through the Max Planck School of Cognition (MPSCog). These two doctoral positions in two of the seven specific fields of research selected for 2026 (see descriptions on scholarships webpage) will be funded for up to four years by the Graduate School Scholarship Programme 2026 (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
(II) Successful candidates are expected to initiate their doctoral research work in Germany in September 2026 in one of the two advertised projects (below) supervised by MPSCog Fellows. During their research, candidates will benefit from well-established doctoral research, education, and training programs. A selection of courses which will address candidates' individual needs and interests will be available.
(If you are not interested in our topics, but interested in the DAAD’s doctoral scholarship program in general, please check the DAAD’s doctoral scholarship webpage - external link!)
(III) The advertized scholarships are available to international applicants only (all non-German nationalties) - see also below under (V).
(IV) Though it is the DAAD's main goal to provide funding and support for international students who will be in Germany for the first time, it is admissible to have resided in Germany previously or to have completed a degree in Germany - see details below under (V).
(V) Before applying, applicants must ensure they meet the DAAD's general eligibility criteria:
(1) Excellent academic profile.
(2) International background, i.e. non-German nationality.
The DAAD wishes to support primarily those international students who will be in Germany for the first time. However, there are the following exceptions:
(a) Already in Germany? International applicants are eligible if their Master's degree is from abroad and they have not been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months immediately prior to nomination in May 2026, i.e. not before March 2025. => In cases of doubt, the DAAD will review each case individually.
(b) German degree? Although the DAAD primarily supports international students who are or will be in Germany for the first time, a previous study stay or completed Bachelor's degree in Germany is permitted if (i) applicants have conducted their subsequent Master's degree abroad and are now applying from abroad, and (ii) they have not had a place of residence or study in Germany at least 15 months immediately prior to nomination in May 2026 (i.e. not since March 2025). => In cases of doubt, the DAAD will review each case individually.
(c) Dual citizenship? Internationals with dual citizenship must apply from their country of origin. As a rule, the "country of origin" is the country in which the applicant has spent the majority of their life. If the second citizenship is German, the applicant should have lived abroad (i.e. not in Germany) for at least 10 years or for at least five years in the case of strong ties (e.g. through a permanent employment contract, a second citizenship, an unlimited residence permit) to the country of residence - and if they fulfill the application requirements for that respective country (type of degree, etc.). => In cases of doubt, the DAAD will review each case individually.
(3) At the starting date of the scholarship in September 2026 (or voluntary preparatory German course before that date), applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(4) Applicants Master's degrees must not be older than six years (i.e. not completed before September 2020).
(5) Applicants must not have completed a PhD or any other doctoral degree previously.
(VI) The four-year DAAD-GSSP scholarships include:
- Scholarship payments of currently € 1,400 a month;
- A travel allowance from their home address to Germany and back;
- Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover;
- A research allowance of currently € 460 per year (for scholarship holders from countries listed in the DAC List of ODA recipients), or € 260 per year (for scholarship holders from other countries);
- A material resources and supervision allowance of currently € 1,000 per year (to be paid out upon application by the supervisor to the host institution, for use for the candidate's doctoral project).
(VII) Under certain circumstances, grant holders may receive the following additional benefits:
- Monthly rent subsidy (calculated individually, usually about € 50 to € 125 per month), if applicable;
- Monthly allowance for accompanying family members (about € 200 child allowance per child and about € 275 marriage allowance);
- In the case of a disability or chronic illness: subsidy for additional costs which result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers;
- A preparatory German language course (if available, applicable and feasible, taking into account the starting date of the scholarship); proficiency in German is not required for these scholarships.
