Wood Biology and Technology - Qualifications for the Wood Industry

The Faculty for Forestry and Forest Ecology at the University of Göttingen introduced a Ph.D. course in 'Wood Biology and Technology' in the summer term 2002. This course is postgraduate and leads to a Ph.D. degree in six semesters. The program focuses on research in wood modification. Improving wood by changing its cell structure is a process developed by the Institutes for Wood Biology and Forest Botany. The modified wood is water repellent, and does not shrink, swell, bleach, nor is it attacked by fungi.
Every semester six Ph.D. students are admitted to the program; half of them are international students. All applicants are submitted to a selection process. The course is international, classes are taught in English.
All students must participate in lab rotations, lecture series, and colloquia for Ph.D. students. One of the lab internships should be done in an associated partner institution abroad or with an industrial partner. Elective courses are geared toward helping Ph.D. students improve their 'soft skills' and toward making students more aware of their own market value. Graduates of the program are very much in demand with companies in the chemical and wood industries.
The Ph.D. course is sponsored by the DAAD via their 'Promotion an Hochschulen in Deutschland ' program with a total sum of € 200 000.