OpenFieldFriedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (University of Jena), founded in 1558, is a classic German research university world-renowned as the cradle of modern optical science, laser physics, and precision engineering alongside Carl Zeiss and Ernst Abbe. A member of the Coimbra Group, Uni Jena is celebrated for the Abbe School of Photonics and its Cluster of Excellence 'Balance of the Microverse'.
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Doctoral research positions at the world-renowned Abbe School of Photonics in Jena, investigating quantum imaging, ultra-intense laser-matter interactions, and photonic crystal fibers.
Doctoral positions at the Microverse Cluster of Excellence, studying the chemical dynamics and molecular signals that govern complex host-microbiome interactions and ecosystem balance.
Elite two-year Master of Science taught entirely in English, training optical engineers in optical design, laser material processing, fiber optics, and semiconductor lithography.
Doctoral research conducted jointly between the University of Jena and Leibniz-HKI, synthesizing and isolating new antimicrobial secondary metabolites from fungal and bacterial sources.
Interdisciplinary English-language Master's degree combining high-performance computing, numerical optimization, Bayesian statistics, and machine learning for scientific data analysis.
Two-year postdoctoral appointment in collaboration with the University of Jena and MPI-BGC, modeling terrestrial biosphere-atmosphere carbon and water fluxes on a global scale.
Eight to twelve-week summer research placement at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) in Jena, assembling space telescope mirrors and laser radar optics.
Tuition at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena is zero for all domestic and international students in all consecutive Master's and doctoral degrees. Students pay only a modest semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) of approximately €290 per semester, which includes a regional railway ticket covering the entire state of Thuringia. Admitted doctoral researchers typically receive salaried TV-L E13 contracts (€42,000–€52,000/year gross) or DAAD scholarships.
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena:
Professor of Nano-optics, Abbe Center of Photonics · Nano-optics, Metamaterials, Nonlinear Optics, Photonic Crystals
Chair of Natural Product Chemistry & Deputy Director, Leibniz-HKI · Natural Product Biosynthesis, Chemical Biology, Antibiotic Discovery, Enzymatic Synthesis
Director, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry & Honorary Professor at Jena · Biogeochemistry, Earth System Science, Global Carbon Cycle, Ecosystem Ecology
Facts reflect official Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue