◼ Research Department (Group/Team)

   - Centre for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS)

◼ Research Field:

   - Theoretical Chemistry; Earth System Science; Systems Biology

   - Digital Health; Computational Radiation Physics; Theory of complex systems

   - Dynamics of Complex Living Systems; Machine Learning for Infection and Disease

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - computer science, physics; chemistry; biological or earth sciences or related fields

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Selection process:
  1. review of the application documents
  2. interview with the student with small tasks assigned;

   - Duties during the assignment:
  1. perform and participate in the research activities/ projects in the particular research field

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - HPC; required software and programming skills specific for the selected research area

◼ Website: https://www.casus.science/

【18-A. Immune Signaling】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team): Immune Signaling

◼ Research Field: Biology

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Host-pathogen interactions

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Labwork

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - Work in a biochemical lab

◼ Website: https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en/research/research-groups/details/immune-signaling/

【18-B. Innovative Organoid Research】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team): Innovative Organoid Research

◼ Research Field: Biology - Organoid Research

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - The study focuses on organoid research, involving various organoids such as colon, liver, kidney, blood vessels, and heart. It specifically examines infection studies and host-pathogen interactions, including the introduction of pathogen effector proteins into the respective target structures.

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - The primary duties involve several key steps starting from the reconstitution of lyophilized DNA and preparing Glycerol stocks, to the transduction of target cells using lentiviruses. This includes plasmid extraction from E. coli, lentivirus production in packaging cells, and the subsequent virus harvesting and purification. Once the lentivirus is prepared, it is used for the transduction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Following transduction, these iPSCs are cultivated into organoids. The duties also encompass performing detailed readouts to analyze cellular responses, utilizing techniques such as flow cytometry and immunofluorescence to assess the effects of introduced effector proteins on the organoids.

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   ∘ The research will utilize advanced equipment and software to facilitate high-precision studies.

   ∘ Key equipment includes:

     - Automated Cell Culture Robot (CellXpress ai): This robot automates various cell culture processes, enhancing reproducibility and efficiency.

     - Confocal Microscopy (imageXpress HT): A high-throughput imaging system designed for detailed cellular analysis, providing high-resolution images.

     - Flow Cytometry: Used for analyzing the physical and chemical characteristics of particles in a fluid as they pass through at least one laser.

     - IncuCYte (Sartorius): Provides live-cell imaging that allows real-time monitoring of cell health, behavior, and function.

   ∘ For software, the research will employ:

    - Office Programs: Standard productivity tools for data management and documentation.

    - Fiji/ImageJ: An open-source platform for scientific image processing and analysis.

    - Imaris: Advanced visualization and analysis software for 3D and 4D biomedical images, enabling detailed structural and quantitative analysis.

    - NCarta: Specialized software for AI driven confocal imaging analysis.

    - FlowJo: A comprehensive software for flow cytometric analysis, facilitating data analysis and visualization.

    - Prism: Widely used for biostatistics, curve fitting, and scientific graphing to interpret complex data sets.

◼ Website: https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en/research/research-groups/details/innovative-organoid-forschung/

【18-C. Microbial Immune Regulation】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team): Microbial Immune Regulation

◼ Research Field: Life science (Infection research, Microbiome)

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics or related

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Microbiological research in the area of "human microbiome": Aerobic and anaerobic cultivation of bacteria, molecular biology, bioinformatic data analyses

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - Microbiological equipement

◼ Website: https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en/research/research-groups/details/microbial-immune-regulation/

【18-D. Laboratory of Transmission Immunology】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team)

   - Laboratory of Transmission Immunology

◼ Research Field: Virus immunology

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Immunology

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Project 1: The objective of this project is to conduct research on antibody-virus complexes that are generated in the respiratory tract upon infection with coronaviruses. In addition, the stability and protective qualities of these complexes will be analysed in the environment, both within and outside of the host.

   - Project 2: The aim of this project is to investigate the impact of environmental pollutants, such as pollen, on the anti-viral immune response to respiratory virus infection at the air-liquid interface of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - The techniques employed in this study include quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), cell culture, virus titration, virus growth and culture, microscopy or flow cytometry, neutralisation assay, magnetic protein pull-down, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and more.

   - The equipment utilised in this study includes an environmental stability chamber, IncuCyte, Vitrocell Cloud, viscosimeter, and more. Analysis will be performed on instrument specific softwares and Prism.

◼ Website: https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en/research/research-groups/details/laboratory-of-transmission-immunology/

※ 18-D의 경우, 지원하고자 하는 연구주제(Project) 기재 필수

【19-A. Anti-Infectives from Microbiota】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team): Anti-Infectives from Microbiota

◼ Research Field: Chemistry, biology, microbiology natural product sciences

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, natural chemistry, microbiology

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Depending on the project, duties can include

    ∙ Cultivation of bacteria or fungi under different cultivation conditions

    ∙ Extraction of bioactive metabolites from bacteria or fungi using different extraction protocols

    ∙ Isolation of bioactive natural products from bacterial or fungal strains

    ∙ Chromatographic techniques for natural product separation

    ∙ Structural characterization of natural products (general knowledge in NMR-based structure elucidation software (preferred))

    ∙ Genome analysis and analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters encoding for secondary metabolism

    ∙ Phylogenetic analysis of microbial producers of natural products based on genomic information or PCR-based gene sequence amplification

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - Depending on the project, it can include

    ∙ Microbiological methods (e.g. sterile bench)

    ∙ Utilizing advanced analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry

    ∙ Geneious (bioinformatics software for sequence analysis)

    ∙ Software for analyzing NMR, MS or HPLC data (e.g. ACDLabs, Chromelion)

◼ Website:https://www.helmholtz-hips.de/de/forschung/people/person/prof-dr-christine-beemelmanns/

【19-B. Chemical Biology of Carbohydrates】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team): Chemical Biology of Carbohydrates

◼ Research Field: Chemistry, organic & medicinal chemistry

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Chemistry or Pharmacy, major on Organic & Medicinal Chemistry

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - You will work in the fields of medicinal chemistry and structural glycoscience, gaining hands-on experience in carbohydrate synthesis. This project offers a unique opportunity to master advanced techniques in chromatography and analytics, all while contributing to cutting-edge research. Furthermore, you will use the competitive binding assay (FP assay) in your project as an exciting technique to evaluate the effectiveness of the compounds you synthesized.

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - Synthetic organic chemistry lab, NMR, LCMS, flash chromatography, HPLC, plate reader

◼ Website: https://www.helmholtz-hips.de/en/research/teams/team/chemical-biology-of-carbohydrates/

◼ Research Department (Group/Team): Medicinal Radiochemistry

◼ Research Field: Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - We are doing interdisciplinary research. Either Chemistry or Biology or Pharmacy are welcome. Research projects will be tailored according to the field of study.

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Organic Chemistry Syntheses of a biologically active molecule (for a chemistry or pharmacy student) and potentially radiolabeling of the synthesized molecule. For a biology (or pharmacy) student duties are cell biology experiments including western blots, antibody purification, cytotoxicity assays, potentially also radiolabeling of an antibody for assay studies

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - Chemistry and/ or Biology labs will be used including use of instruments such as HPLC, MS, NMR.

◼ Website: https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=130

◼ Research Department (Group/Team)

   - Analysis and Control of Advanced Robotic Systems (Legged Robot Team)

◼ Research Field: Robotics, Humanoid Robots

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Robotics -- Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer science background required

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

  ∘ Potential topics are

   1) Theme#1: Machine Vision for Humanoid Robots

   2) Theme#2: User Interface Development for Humanoid Robot Controller

   3) Theme#3: Neck and Head System Development for Humanoid Robots

『Theme#1: Machine Vision for Humanoid Robots』

   - [Position Overview]: We are seeking a passionate intern to assist in the development of fundamental technologies for the perceptual capabilities of humanoid robots, with a focus on robot vision using machine learning (AI) methods. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with state-of-the-art robotics technology and gain hands-on experience in vision-based intelligent locomotion and navigation. The successful candidate will Gain practical experience with state-of-the-art humanoid robots, enhance skills in machine learning, computer vision, and robotics, and contribute to pioneering research in a collaborative and dynamic setting.

   - [Key Responsibilities]:

    • Learn and understand the existing vision and locomotion systems of DLR's humanoid robots.

    • Develop and implement machine learning algorithms for object recognition and segmentation, state estimation, and simultaneous mapping and localization (SLAM).

    • Contribute to the creation of real-time vision-based world representations for humanoid robots.

    • Test and refine vision-based algorithms to improve robot navigation and interaction capabilities.

    • Collaborate with the robotics team to integrate and optimize vision systems within the overall robot control framework.

   - [Qualifications]:

    • Currently enrolled in a degree program in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.

    • Knowledge of machine learning and AI methods, with experience in relevant tools and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).

    • Familiarity with computer vision techniques and technologies.

    • Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, C++, or MATLAB.

    • Excellent problem-solving abilities and a keen interest in robotics and AI.

    • Strong communication skills in English and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

『Theme#2: User Interface Development for Humanoid Robot Controller』

   - [Position Overview]: We are seeking a motivated intern to assist in the development of a comprehensive and intuitive user interface (UI) for our humanoid robot controller. The UI will be implemented on handheld computer for steering the robot with foot step planner of cutting-edge locomotion controller and for visualization of sensory date of the humanoid. This role offers gaining practical experience with advanced humanoid robots, enhancing UI development and robotics skills, and contributing to innovative robotics research in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

   - [Key Responsibilities]:

    • Learn and understand the existing humanoid control system, including locomotion and manipulation controls.

    • Develop a user-friendly UI to command and steer the humanoid robot, implemented on an embedded handheld computer.

    • Visualization of streamed sensory data from vision systems, force sensors, and other electronic components to the UI.

    • Collaborate with the robotics team to ensure the UI meets user needs and enhances robot functionality.

    • Test and debug the UI to ensure reliability and performance.

   - [Qualifications]:

    • Currently enrolled in a degree program in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.

    • Knowledge of UI/UX design principles and experience with relevant tools and technologies (e.g., Java, HTML, CSS, Qt).

    • Familiarity with embedded systems and Linux, and hands-on experience with programming languages such as C++ and Python.

    • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

    • Excellent communication skills in English and a passion for robotics and technology.

『Theme#3: Neck and Head System Development for Humanoid Robots』

   - [Position Overview]: The successful internship student will contribute to the development of the neck and head systems for our humanoid robots. Additionally, the intern will support improvements to other parts of the humanoid robot, such as the foot and leg mechanisms. This role offers a unique opportunity to engage in the entire process from kinematics design to hardware and software integration, gaining hands-on experience in robotics engineering and design. This will enhance skills in mechanical design, fabrication, and system integration while working in a dynamic and collaborative research environment.

   - [Key Responsibilities]:

    • Assist in the kinematics design of the neck and head systems for humanoid robots.

    • Create detailed 3D CAD models of the neck, head, foot, and leg components.

    • Participate in the fabrication and testing of new parts.

    • Integrate hardware and software with the current humanoid system to ensure seamless operation.

    • Create robot simulation environment with the robot model representations such as URDF

    • Collaborate with the robotics team to troubleshoot and optimize the neck, head, foot, and leg systems.

   - [Qualifications]:

    • Currently enrolled in a degree program in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

    • Experience with 3D CAD modeling software (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks, AutoCAD).

    • Understanding of kinematics and mechanical design principles.

    • Hands-on experience with fabrication and prototyping.

    • Programming skills in languages such as C++ and Python, Matlab

    • Strong communication skills in English and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - access to laboratories and robotic devices

   - any equipment for research purpose, on request

   - Student office, desk and chair, PC and monitors

◼ Website:   https://www.dlr.de/rm/en (DLR-RM)
https://www.youtube.com/user/DLRRMC (YouTube Channel)

※ 21의 경우, 지원하고자 하는 연구주제(Theme) 기재 필수

◼ Research Department (Group/Team)

   - In situ Microscopy

◼ Research Field: Materials science

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Materials science

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Defect analysis in semiconductor devices

   - regarding the topic: Defect analysis in next-generation semiconductor memory devices

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - Scanning electron microcsope

◼ Website: https://www.iam.kit.edu/mmi/

◼ Research Department (Group/Team)

   - Sylvanus – Increasing resilience and reducing trade-offs during forest transformations

◼ Research Field

   - Highly interdisciplinary; human geography, humans and environment, policy and governance

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - Background in the field of environmental or natural sciences such as Biology, Geography, Geoecology, Environmental studies and engineering, or relevant studies

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   - Assist in policy analysis related to the planning and management of urban green spaces

   - Conduct structured literature reviews on nature-based solutions, cultural ecosystem services, and the management of urban green spaces

   - Enhance the quality of qualitative data on the governance of urban green spaces

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

   - Microsoft 365 (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

   - Statistical data analysis software (SPSS/R) - if applicable

   - Qualitative data analysis software (MAXQDA/NVivo) - if applicable

◼ Website: https://www.itas.kit.edu/english/index.php

※ Preferred internship period is from November 2025 to April 2026, with the possibility of negotiation.

【24-A. Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4)】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team):

   - Sequences and Scientific Computing Team

◼ Research Field:

   - Keywords: Brain function, Deep learning, Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Image processing, MRI, Medical imaging, Neuroscience

   - Brief introduction: The research and development activities of our institute (INM4/FZJ) are dedicated to advancing neuroimaging and data analysis techniques, fostering innovation in clinical diagnosis, and deepening our understanding of the functional architecture of the human brain. Our facilities feature a high-performance, ultra-high-field MRI scanner (Siemens Magnetom Terra 7T), enabling the study of the brain's structural and functional mechanisms with exceptional resolution and quality.

◼ Required Research Field of Study

   - The research fields relevant to the current project include medical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), neuroscience, digital signal processing, deep learning, and computer science.

   - Students are expected to have sufficient experience in handling scientific data. Familiarity with the Linux system and commands is also recommended.

   - To accomplish the scientific objectives, this project requires an understanding of the principles of MRI and fMRI, although prior familiarity is not mandatory. Before starting the project, students will attend lectures to acquire the necessary scientific background. Notwithstanding the diverse academic backgrounds of each student, prior knowledge or experience in any of the aforementioned research fields is highly desirable.

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

   1. Research Purpose

     - FMRI has opened new possibilities for the non-invasive investigation of human brain function, and its distinct advantages over other neuroimaging modalities have driven its widespread use in numerous brain studies. Recent advances in fMRI techniques have enabled the acquisition of functional signals with submillimeter voxel resolution. This breakthrough facilitates the interpretation of neural signals at cortical depth levels, providing valuable insights into fundamental neural circuitry and hierarchical processing. However, echo-planar imaging (EPI)-based techniques, commonly employed in fMRI, are prone to significant geometric distortions, leading to inaccuracies in mapping functional signals onto anatomical references. This challenge can be addressed effectively through the distortion-matched anatomical imaging technique. This project aims to implement the distortion-matched anatomical imaging method, leveraging the TR-external EPIK technique on a 7T Siemens MRI scanner, which has demonstrated superior spatial resolution performance (Yun et al., 2022). The proposed approach is expected to achieve half-millimeter resolution with whole-brain coverage in fMRI, along with distortion-matched anatomical reference data, surpassing the capabilities of current state-of-the-art methods.

       In addition, a deep learning-based image reconstruction approach will be implemented to enhance the quality of the high-resolution MRI data reconstruction, particularly under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. This method is expected to produce a clearer delineation of functional and anatomical images in the context of ultra-high field 7T MRI, achieving mesoscale spatial resolution and capturing finer granularity of neuronal organization. This innovative approach ultimately advances our understanding of the brain’s functional mechanisms as well as its underlying architecture.

   2. Research Tasks

     2.1. Prerequisite Achievement (Duration: Month 1)

        - Dr. Yun will deliver introductory lectures on the fundamental principles of MRI and fMRI.

        - The student will install fMRI data processing software packages, including SPM, FSL, and ANTs, and validates their functionality with sample datasets.

     2.2. Data acquisition with Protocol Configuration (Duration: Months 2-3)

        - The student will complete the MR safety and scanner operating course (Level 1/Level 2) required to become qualified to operate the MR scanner.

        - Both fMRI and distortion-matched anatomical imaging sequences will be implemented using the TR-external EPIK method at 7T MRI, along with the optimization of imaging protocols.

        - The same experimental configuration will also be applied to 3T MRI for performance comparison.

        - Conference abstracts will be prepared based on the intermediate results.

     2.3. Data analysis (Duration: Month 4)

        - The acquired data sets will be analyzed using a dedicated processing pipeline, including distortion correction, motion correction, and statistical tests to identify functional activation.

        - The performance of the proposed method will be evaluated in terms of functional mapping accuracy, spatial resolution, and detection sensitivity.

     2.4. Further Improvements (Duration: Months 5 - 6)

        - A deep learning-based image reconstruction method will be developed to enhance the quality of the acquired fMRI data sets.

        - The potential benefits of the advanced image reconstruction method will be thoroughly investigated.

        - Based on the study's findings, a research article will be prepared for submission to a high-impact journal.

   3. Expected Outcomes

     3.1. The student will acquire the knowledge necessary to study the human brain using MRI (e.g., MRI, fMRI, neuroscience, etc.), thereby cultivating a strong interest in conducting further research in the relevant research field.

     3.2. The student will gain hands-on experience in research activities, including acquiring human brain data using MRI scanners, processing the acquired data sets, interpreting results, and validating established hypotheses.

     3.3. The student will participate in the preparation of research abstracts and journal articles that will be submitted to leading international MRI conferences and high-impact SCI journals.

     3.4. The student will engage in discussions with colleagues, exchange skills, and share their ideas through presentations.

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

    1) Research Equipment: 3T/7T MRI Scanners with a fMRI Presentation Device.
Our research group is equipped with a high-performance, clinically approved 7T Siemens Terra scanner and a 3T Siemens Prisma scanner, which is more commonly used in the clinic. The scanners are dedicated to imaging structural and crucial physiological data (e.g., brain function, metabolism, etc.) from the human brain and will be utilized to examine human brain function in the current project.

   2) fMRI Data Processing: SPM, FSL, and ANTs
Functional data acquired in this project will be processed using open-source software packages widely used in the research such as SPM, FSL, and ANTs.

   3) Image Reconstruction/processing: Matlab, Python, and C/C++
To manage image reconstruction and additional processing of acquired MRI data, a software environment such as MATLAB or Python is required. Knowledge of C/C++ is also highly desirable for a deeper understanding of the MRI data acquisition and reconstruction system.

◼ Website: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/inm/inm-4

【24-B. Brain and Behaviour(INM-7)】

◼ Research Department (Group/Team): Mathematical Neuroscience

◼ Research Field: Medical Sciences

◼ Required Research Field of Study

    - As an interdisciplinary field, this project requires expertise in one or more of the following areas: computational neuroscience, applied mathematics, or machine learning.

◼ Duties to be Performed During the Dispatch

    - Patient classification, prediction of severity of neurodegenerative disease (Parkinson) using human whole-brain connectome data.

◼ Research Equipment or Software to be Used

    - Equipment: High throughput computing server at INM-7 and high performance computing cluster at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre.

    - Necessary: Python or MATLAB. Shell scripting in Linux or MacOS environments.

    - Get advantage: C++ for numerical calculation (differential equations), MRI processing (FSL, freesurfer, ANTs, SPM, etc.) or R (statistical tests).

◼ Website: https://www.fz-juelich.de/de/inm/inm-7