The fundamental constituents of matter, quarks and leptons, and their interactions are very successfully described by the standard model of elementary particle physics. The basic principle of the theory are the gauge symmetries of strong and electroweak interactions which have been tested in detail. 
 

Despite its outstanding successes, the model obviously is incomplete. Fermion and gauge boson masses being due to the spontaneous breaking of the electroweak gauge symmetry pose a fundamental problem to the model. The proposed mechanism, which indispensibly postulates the existence of the frequently quoted Higgs boson, still awaits its experimental scrutiny. In addition the generational structure of quarks and leptons and their mass spectrum cannot be explained. Theoretical properties and limits of the Higgs mechanism, which is only an ansatz, motivate extensions of the standard model at the TeV energy scale. 
 

The topics mentioned are central aspects of theoretical research and large scale experimental projects performed at international research centres like CERN, DESY, Fermilab, SLAC, and KEK. It is the aim of this training group to offer basic research opportunities on these central problems of particle physics to graduate students, to inspire the students by the interdisciplinary exchange within the training group, and to motivate them to innovative approaches. Besides the close collaboration of theory and experiment this requires a strong association of the training group with the projects at the research centers, a good infrastructure allowing for noticeable impact on the projects, and also new concepts of data processing since the demands exceed todays standards substantially. 
 

Munich offers unique opportunities due to the collaboration of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), the Technical University (TUM), and of the Max-Planck-Institute for Physics (MPI) which have world-wide connections and which pursue theoretical and experimental research on the fields of electroweak and strong interactions, the physics of flavour, and extensions of the standard model. This collaboration is strengthened in particular by the involvement of leading scientists from the international research centers.