I was looking into PhDs in cancer research, and encountered these two places while lurking in [FindAPhd.com](https://FindAPhd.com)

I had a look at both and they seem pretty good places – both offer research that I’m interested in, as well as financial support. When looking at ranks, I only managed to find TU Dresden but not DKFZ.
Which one would be better? As DKFZ is a center and not a university, will a PhD from them have a different value than if it were from TU Dresden? Are there any other universities/institutes I should be considering? Do you have any tips for applications and interviews?

I’m an EU citizen, with a BSc and MSc from UK universities – if that helps.

Thank you!

4 comments

  2. Having just finished a PhD myself, I think that if there isn’t a great difference in funding between both institutes (which affects your salary and the kind of experiments you can do if you’re a wet lab scientist), finding a lab that you like would be more important.

    How much you like the research going on in the lab, how the PI treats their students and how the PI’s way of working matches yours.

  3. I am working at the dkfz (as a lab technician) with several PhD students. You will do your research work in one of the labs at dkfz and will be a student at University of Heidelberg at the same time, if the university is your concern.
    I don’t know about the research topics and groups at TU Dresden, but from my experience the dkfz offers a lot of nice things (in a variety of different topics in research from organoids, to IA over viruses and others and a looot of different machines/facilities/techniques, which are not super common everywhere).
    And the dkfz is Germany’s biggest institution when it comes to cancer research.

  4. Generally research institutes are slightly better than universities in terms of research funding and infrastructure in Germany. But they don’t award degrees. You would work there but be awarded the degree from the local university.

    The topic, and especially the supervisor, are far more important considerations than the small differences in infrastructure though.

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