About

The evolution of antibiotic resistance by pathogens and the rising rates of cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric disorders pose major challenges to human health. Moreover, the distinction between health and disease may depend on individual life history and its interaction with the environment. The DFG-funded Research Training Group 2220 on Evolutionary Processes in Adaptation and Disease (RTG EvoPAD) will use knowledge derived from the theory of evolution to achieve a deeper understanding of the processes that are underlying adaptation and disease. Moreover, diseases are often exciting for evolutionary research itself, as evolution is generally assumed to lead to adaptation. The question arises as to why diseases have not been eliminated by evolution. While this is obvious in the case of rapidly evolving pathogens, it seems counter-intuitive in cases where disease-causing genetic variants are produced or maintained in the population. Today, we are able to trace such evolutionary processes in molecular detail. Such knowledge will be used by graduate students of EvoPAD to advance evolutionary theory and in turn apply evolutionary approaches to medical questions. A particular strength of EvoPAD is its foundation in the philosophy of science. Our philosophy graduate students benefit from first-hand access to modern biological and medical research. In turn, biology graduate students profit from a refined awareness of conceptual consequences of a chosen theory.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Outstanding Master's or equivalent degree in biology, biomedicine, bioinformatics, biotechnology, philosophy, or a related field

Fee Information

How to Apply

DFG Research Training Group 2220 EvoPAD WestfÃ¤lische Wilhelms-UniversitÃ¤t MÃ¼nster HÃ¼fferstr. 1a 48149 MÃ¼nster Germany

Evolutionary Processes in Adaptation and Disease (DFG Research Training Group 2220 EvoPAD)