In cooperation with the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry houses a unique and flexible research program that grants German and foreign students a broad selection of learning opportunities while still maintaining a research focus.The IMPRS-gBGC offers a PhD program specializing in global biogeochemistry and related Earth system sciences. The overall research and teaching focuses on:* Improved understanding of biogeochemical processes with an emphasis on terrestrial ecosystems * Development of observational techniques to monitor and assess biogeochemical feedbacks in the Earth system* Theory and model development for improving the representation of biogeochemical processes in comprehensive Earth system models