Based on the FORTHEM initiative and the collaborators from the Faculty of Biology, a Winter School on “Cell signaling-Dynamic Processes within Living Cells” was planned for 2022. Prof. Dr. Helen May-Simera played a leading role in organizing the event. Two days of lectures, discussions and poster sessions were planned for this hybrid event, with speakers (PIs and students) from all FORTHEM universities. The invited speakers met in person. As this was a hybrid event, international students were able to participate online. Students on site could attend the lectures and poster sessions.
Another workshop on “Innovative Crop Protection Strategies and the New Green Deal,” the subject of the FORTHEM Food Science Lab, has been planned for 2023.
Mainz University aims to prepare its students and young researchers for life and work in international and global contexts. In addition to gaining intercultural skills and experience, JGU students benefit from multinational study programs that strengthen their international connections and enhance their future career prospects. Professor Helen May-Simera, contact person for international exchange programs in the Faculty of Biology, is enthusiastic about the many opportunities for biology students at JGU to go abroad and experience different labs and research expertise.
Press and Public Relations Office of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
A special feature at the Faculty of Biology is the range of international degree programs with the possibility of spending part of your studies at a partner university abroad. In addition to the German degree, you can also obtain a corresponding foreign degree – without delaying the duration of your studies.
Currently, you can obtain a Double Master’s Degree in the Faculty of Biology at JGU and UBE in Dijon. We are planning further international study programs.

Our first Franco-German study program‘International Master’s degree in Microbiology (M.Sc.)‘ cooperates with our partner university in Dijon. As a consecutive course of study, the international Master’s program in Microbiology builds on the Bachelor’s programs in Molecular Biotechnology, Biology, and Molecular Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) or equivalent programs at other universities. The double degree program is offered exclusively in English and consists of courses at JGU and the Universitรฉ Bourgogne Europe in Dijon (France). Applications are submitted exclusively through the Universitรฉ Bourgogne Europe in Dijon (France).
All newly designed Master’s degree programs at the Faculty of Biology are offered exclusively in English for the best future prospects in terms of international standards in research!
Within our international cooperations, there are interesting opportunities for both incoming and outgoing students at the Faculty of Biology:
FORTHEM is a European university alliance coordinated by JGU and has been funded by the European Commission since 2018. In FORTHEM – Fostering Outreach within European Regions, Transnational Higher Education and Mobility – seven European universities work together to improve the mobility of students and staff and to facilitate new forms of cooperation.
Abt. International
For those interested in studying abroad with Erasmus+, an online information event is held annually via MS Teams. The dial-in code for the event and the date (usually early/mid-January), as well as a checklist and deadlines, such as the application deadline for the respective academic year, will be announced in advance via Moodle.
Erasmus+ Coordinator at the Faculty of Biology: apl. Prof. Bernhard Lieb
Ombudsperson for foreign students at the Faculty of Biology: Prof. Dr. Helen May-Simera, apl. Prof. Dr Bernhard Lieb.
Faculty representatives for the partner cities have been appointed for cooperation:
| Partner university in | Twin town representatives |
|---|---|
| Dijon | Universitรฉ Bourgogne Europe | Prof. Dr. Eckhard Thines, Prof. Dr. Ralf Heermann |
| Palermo | Prof. Dr. Ralf Heermann, Dr. Nazzareno Dominelli |
| Valencia | Prof. Dr. Miguel Andrade, Dr. Luis Antelo |
| Zagreb | University of Zagreb | apl Prof. Dr. Holger Herlyn, Prof. Dr. Petra Beli |
| Haifa | Prof. Dr. Thomas Hankeln |
Take advantage of our offers, become active and seek out the contact persons who can help you with your concerns.
You will find all important contacts for our international activities in the following overview:
JGU International | Erasmus+
All relevant information about the Erasmus+ program can be found on the JGU International webpage.
Erasmus+ Coordinator
There is an annual online information event via MS Teams. The dial-in code for the event and the date (usually early/mid-January) will be sent via a system message in JOGUStine. If you would like to attend, please register for the event in JOGUStine. A checklist and deadlines, e.g. application deadline for the respective academic year, will be announced in mid-February via the relevant Moodle ‘Erasmus+ Infoveranstaltung Fachbereich Biologie*’.
Ombudsperson for foreign students
JGU International | FORTHEM
Information on FORTHEM can be found on the JGU International webpage.
Partner cities representatives
Dijon
Palermo
Valencia
Zagreb
Haifa
All relevant information about your doctorate at the Faculty of Biology – e.g. on admission and the request to obtain a doctoral degree as well as the required documents and deadlines, structured doctoral programs, etc. – can be found on our “Doctorate” subpage.
PhD Representatives at the Faculty of Biology
PhD Representatives at the JGU
The Representation of Doctoral Candidates (DoV) is a representation elected by PhD candidates from all faculties and currently consists of 21 members. As an official body of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, it is firmly anchored in the Higher Education Act of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
If you have any questions concerning our internal research institutions, please contact the Office of the Biological Institutes. You will find further contacts and individual contact Information on the contact page of the individual institutes.
Office of the Biological Institutes
The close cooperations with our external research institutions are favored by their physical proximity on campus.
Two cross-faculty research units are currently being funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Research Initiative. For the relevant contact persons, please visit the respective webpages.
Two research projects are currently being funded as research training groups by the German Research Foundation (DFG). For contact details, please visit the respective websites.
Two long-term research institutions are currently being funded by the DFG. For contact details, please visit the respective webpages.
The Scientific Workshops at the Biological Institutes are made up of the workshops for electrical engineering, precision mechanics, and wood/plastic processing. Our job is to turn your scientific ideas into technical solutions!
Workshop
In-house technician
Service hours
In the Core Facilities at the Faculty of Biology, you will receive competent support for your scientific and technical questions. There are four teams with different scientific orientations as well as two competencies for the infrastructure.
Head
Head of Institute
Administration