Focus on what is important
PIER Helmholtz Graduate School (PHGS)
The PIER Helmholtz Graduate School (PHGS) is a joint graduate programme of Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) and the University of Hamburg with support of the Helmholtz Association.
Doctoral researchers benefit from outstanding research in the PIER research, competence fields and the emerging topic. The PHGS offers its members internationally recognized training in their respective research fields as well as the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, all PHGS members choose from a variety of tailor-made transferable trainings and benefit from a special focus on career planning for their future career. By offering a wide range of services and support measures, personal well-being is guaranteed.
The PIER Helmholtz Graduate School is part of PIER, the "Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research", which stands for the strong partnership between DESY and the University of Hamburg. Under the umbrella of PIER, DESY and the University of Hamburg jointly provide funding for cross-institutional research projects, promote high-quality education of junior scientists, and foster an innovation-friendly culture on the science campus Bahrenfeld.
PHGS is part of the E (Education) in PIER. The PIER Helmholtz Graduate School and its more than 250 doctoral researchers benefit from the strong partnership between DESY and the University of Hamburg by taking advantage of the best of both partners.
You are starting a doctorate at DESY or at the University of Hamburg and want to become a member of the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School? Sign up here.
PIER research and competence fields and emerging topic: particle & astroparticle physics, nanoscience, photon science, infection and structural biology, accelerator research, theoretical physics and artefact profiling.
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY): one of the world’s leading accelerator centres. Researchers use the large-scale facilities at DESY to explore the microcosm in all its variety.
University of Hamburg (UHH): one of Germany’s largest research and educational institutions. It combines a diverse curriculum with excellent research. It was granted the status of a University of Excellence for its role as a flagship university.
Doctoral Programme
Members of the PHGS benefit from the high level of academic education, excellent scientific supervision, tailor-made transferable skills training and a caring PHGS team.
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Membership
All members of the PHGS conduct their doctoral projects in the PIER research and competence fields or emerging topic and have an affiliation to either DESY or the University of Hamburg or a cooperation partner of the PHGS.
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Forms & Info Sheets
The PHGS provides its members with as many information and templates they need in order to orient and organise themselves as easily as possible. All information is in English.
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PHGS Buddy Programme
Experienced doctoral researchers of the PHGS support newcomers from abroad and pass along their personal experiences to them e.g. accompany them to the initial contact points at DESY and/or the University Hamburg, support with communication difficulties, take the newcomer on a tour of the city.
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Equal opportunity & diversity
The PHGS has set itself the goal of contributing to a significant increase in the proportion of female members in the graduate school and also to increase the number of women who decide to continue their career in science after the doctorate.
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Our doctoral researchers
The PHGS has more than 250 active members. The members come from more than 30 different countries. The majority of the members conduct their doctorates in the PIER research fields particle and astroparticle physics and photo science.
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World class research with an international and interdisciplinary approach
The science campus Bahrenfeld with its world-class research facilities is where all PIER activities take place. Among them are DESY’s extremely brilliant X-ray synchrotron radiation source PETRA III (which, in the very near future, will be expanded into the ultimate 3D X-ray microscope for nanoresearch, PETRA IV), the free-electron laser FLASH and the world’s most powerful X-ray free-electron laser European XFEL. The campus will be the nucleus of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld – one of Hamburg’s most ambitious urban planning projects which will boost Hamburg as a hub for science by offering researchers a creative and sustainable space to learn, teach, research, innovate, live, and work. The PIER Helmholtz Graduate School promotes research and networking within this multidisciplinary and international environment, as well as offers its members an internationally recognized training in their respective research fields.
Learn More About Travel Awards for Members of the PHGS
PIER research and competence fields: particle & astroparticle physics, nanoscience, photon science, infection and structural biology, accelerator research and theoretical physics.
Focus on transferable skills and career planning
In addition to the qualifications specific to a profession, other abilities also play an important role when it comes to successfully planning one’s career and life. The qualification concept of the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School focuses on the acquisition of key research and career skills. In the PIER Education Platform (PEP), a comprehensive transferable skills portfolio with workshops, trainings and networking opportunities for young researchers is offered. The transferable skills portfolio is tailor-made for doctoral students and focuses on the needs in the respective stage of the individual research projects - from research effectiveness for first year doctoral students to career and leadership training for doctoral candidates in their third year. The language of instruction is English.
»As a member of PHGS, I have taken advantage of many of the soft skills courses offered in PEP. And the skills I gained in the process I now apply in my current position.«
Dr. Christian Nweze | Nigeria | Member of PHGS until 2023 | now Postdoc at the University of Hamburg | Read more about Christian
»As a member of PHGS, I have taken advantage of many of the soft skills courses offered in PEP. And the skills I gained in the process I now apply in my current position.«
Dr. Christian Nweze | Nigeria | Member of PHGS until 2023 | now Postdoc at the University of Hamburg | Read more about Christian
Service-oriented and strongly supportive
Because good working conditions are essential for the well-being of any doctoral student, the PIER Helmholtz Graduates School offers a wide range of services and support measures to its members. The offers range from a buddy program for new international doctoral candidates to help with bureaucratic issues and finding their ways the new country, other activities like organized leisure activities that enable doctoral students to jointly discover the beautiful and lively port city of Hamburg and to find friends. The PHGS team is the central point of contact for its members in all questions regarding the doctoral project and the wellbeing of each member. Furthermore, the PHGS team supports all members with knowledge of and cooperation with all facilities at DESY, the University Hamburg, the City of Hamburg and facilities in Hamburg that are experts on certain topics.
