The research training group of young biodiversity researchers, yDiv, has been designed to educate a new generation of scientists in transdisciplinary biodiversity research. The trans-disciplinarity of iDiv and the aim to bridge different levels (from theory to applied aspects of nature conservation) and investigation objects (single organisms, manipulated communities, ecosystems) with a diverse set of approaches (modelling, field experiments, molecular ecology) is a challenge and an opportunity, both for the PhD candidates and the supervisors.

An integrative graduate programme with a shared PhD mentoring programme allows for exchange between Leipzig, Halle and Jena, as well as between theoreticians and empiricists. To ensure intellectual exchange, the two supervisors of each PhD student belong to different research areas (e.g. Theory and Molecular Interaction Ecology) and the fellow should interact with both groups depending on the needs of the PhD project.