In September of 2016 Shenzhen University (SZU) and Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) signed an agreement to start a Joint PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences, which aims at training internationally competent biomedical researchers through the excellence of research from both universities. This joint PhD program is built upon the series of Jena/Shenzhen International Meetings on Adaptive Stress Response and the international efforts of the DFG-funded research training group RTG 1715. Prof. Dr. Xingzhi Xu and Prof. Dr. Thorsten Heinzel serve as the co-directors of the joint program. The program enrolled the first PhD candidates in 2017 and by 2022, about 30 candidates have been enrolled. PhD Candidates are jointly supervised by PIs from SZU and FSU (either Medical Faculty or Faculty of Biological Sciences) and spent two years each in labs in Shenzhen and Jena before the PhD degree (Dr. rer. nat.) is ultimately awarded by FSU. All PhD candidates of the Joint Program are registered with the Graduate Academy of FSU and participate in JSMM activities.