HZB International Summer Student Programme (ISSP)

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) International Summer Student Programme (ISSP) offers approximately twenty undergraduate and master's students from across the globe the opportunity to participate in an intensive eight-week research residency in Germany. Selected participants engage in independent scientific projects under the direct supervision of HZB scientists, gaining hands-on experience in specialized fields such as Photon Science, Photovoltaics, Solar Cells, Catalysis, Electrochemical Energy Storage, Quantum and Functional Materials, and Accelerator Research. Students are fully integrated into the daily research activities at the HZB campuses in Berlin-Wannsee or Berlin-Adlershof, working within world-class laboratory environments. The program is structured to provide both technical training and broader professional development. In addition to their laboratory work, students participate in a framework of activities including visits to major research infrastructures like the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source, excursions to other prominent research institutions in Berlin, and workshops focused on science communication and entrepreneurship. The internship concludes with a formal event where participants present their findings in a scientific poster session. To support the residency, the program provides a subsistence allowance and offers subsidies for travel expenses. Eligible applicants must have completed at least two years of full-time study in disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, Material Science, Engineering, or Life Sciences and must remain enrolled as students for the duration of the program.