Description of the institute

The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology was founded by the Max Planck Society in March 1996. The Thuringian town of Jena was selected because it is home to the Friedrich-Schiller-University and many other research centers, making it an attractive scientific location. The establishment of the new institute building on the Beutenberg Campus with immediate proximity to other biological and chemical institutes offers excellent potential for scientific co-operations and the establishment of networks.

The institute attracts researchers from all over the world. At the moment it hosts scientists from 35 different countries. Besides the five directors who are heads of their departments, around 170 scientists including about 90 PhD and roughly 15 graduate students do their research work here. Altogether, around 370 persons are affiliated with the institute.

An important task of the institute is training young researchers in modern techniques of chemical ecology. In 2005 a special graduate program, the International Max Planck Research School, was established that offers the possibility for highly qualified young researchers to conduct their research in an international atmosphere.