by Dana Zöllner
From February 3rd to 7th, 2025 we have welcomed our new PhD and MD students for a week full of science, education and networking. With 12 new PhD students, 3 associated PhD students and 4 MD students, who have joined recently, getting to know each other for the first time and getting an overwiev of the diverse SynAGE research was at the top of the agenda.
Hence, we started on Monday with an introduction of the five different SynAGE Squads. Each was represented by their PIs and some of the experienced PhD students who are close to finishing their PhD theses. This way, the new SynAGE members got a first insight not only in the respective research fields and methods, but also into doing a PhD. The breaks in between offered time for informal exchange, questions and first connections.
The second day was fully focused on animal research – at least the morning sessions. Prof. Jörg Bock from the Institute for Biology of our university started the day with an introduction into animal welfare. With all the laws and regulations and good scientific practices some discussions developed that lasted beyond the seminar. One subject that is always a matter of intense discussions and thought are the so-called TVAs – in German Tierversuchsanträge, which translates as animal testing applications.
Afterwards Gege Li, a senior communications and social media officer from the European Animal Research Association, EARA, gave an online presentation under the title ‚Animal Research: Time to Talk!‘. Her focus was on the subject of how to talk about animal research beyond your colleagues and how to present your resrahc, e.g. online. While we do have strict laws here in Germany, other parts of the world have different laws and animal experiments should be questioned by the experimenters themselves.
The afternoon was used for networking and bonding of the new PhD and MD students. Beforehand we have selected for them a bit of a challenge: Most of the students had never met before the previous day and suddenly they found themselves basically with strangers in an escape room with a limited number of time to get out! But seeing that everybody was back Wednesday morning, it seems like all got out.
On Wednesday, a full-day workshop on Research Data Management was planned. Aliće Grünig and Jenifer Kriebel from the Institute of Biometry and Medical Informatics/Data Integration Center of our university’s medical faculty introduced not only research data management in general. Of course, storing a large amount of data securely and being able to re-use them later is extremely important. Hence, questions on lab books and data storage were discussed. This is then closely linked to good scientific practice. And while seems a bit theoretical, the new students got to know some of the practical tools they may use in the future.
As many SynAGE members use Confluence – a shared workspace that can be accessed remotely – an introduction was more than welcome. By now, all new PhD and MD students have access to their private SynAGE study book, where their personal data, supervision agreement, research proposal and all their successes are stored.
On Thursday, another full-day workshop was carried out. This time the focus was on ‚Getting Started. The Path to a Successful Doctorate‘. The trainer, Daniel Friedrich, allowed the students to select their topics of interest in order to focus on their needs answering questions such as: Do I have a plan for my doctorate? How do I set priorities and create a schedule? What does the writing process require?
Naturally, obtaining a doctorate is a multi-year project and for most students the first one spanning years to come. This workshop helped to start developing a personal strategy for each individual. Time- and self-management are only to factors; another huge factor is recognizing and exploring possible external resources in terms of active support from supervisors, peers, family & friends. At the same time, there is the questions on how to deal with external expectations.
Finally, on Friday morning we used the opportunity for a general assembly. We never had more SynAGE members in one room at the same time! This was a perfect chance for networking and exchange on anything and everything going on and being planned for 2025 and beyond. The program of this year’s SynAGE Summer School was discussed as well as the future SynAGE conference.
Afterwards, the first Squad Meeting of 2025 started with an introduction of the new Squad members – each giving a short insight into who they are, where they are from, what experiences they are bringing along from their Master’s thesis and what their research will be about.
This introduction was followed by a lecture of Anke Müller (SynAGE postdoc) and Varshini Padmanabhan (experienced SynAGE PhD students) on ‚Therapeutic use of GsMTX4‘.
After a lunch break Prof. Markus Fendt from the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology of our university gave a guest lecture introducing his research. The aim of his research is to better understand the neuropharmacological basis of emotions and cognitive flexibility.
We would like to use this opportunity to thank all trainers and lecturers for their time, effort and shared knowledge!
photos: Dana Zöllner