Graduate Center News 05/25
06.05.2025
Inhalt
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Career Perspectives with a PhD in Natural & Life Sciences // June 12, 5 – 6 pm
Looking for career options after your doctorate? And not sure what is “out there”? With the series "Career Perspectives with a PhD in Natural and Life Sciences", we would like to offer an opportunity for interactive and informal exchange about career-related topics.
Please note that we do not have the Career Perspectives Talk in May due to the public holiday in Berlin to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation from National Socialism and the end of the Second World War.
In June, Dr. Andreas Fulterer, who did his doctorate in Biology at FU Berlin and worked at the SupraFabCoreFacility afterwards, will be our guest. He completed his doctorate in 2017 and works now as Advanced Workflow Specialist at Leica Microsystems.
More information will be provided in the June Newsletter. For now, save the date!
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Scientific workflows: Tools and tips / Online lecture series by Dr. Selina Baldauf // May 15, 3 - 4pm
In this lecture series we will explore a diverse range of topics, including R code quality and efficiency, reproducible document creation, version control with Git, literature management, and academic notetaking. You'll learn practical tips and tricks that can help you optimize your research workflow and increase your productivity.
We will meet online on the 3rd Thursday of every month during the lecture period for one hour and you are welcome to join.
The next session will be “Write R code that lasts: Practical tips for reproducible data analysis”
Abstract: Do your R projects sometimes get messy, your scripts grow out of control, or your results are hard to reproduce? In this lecture, I’ll share practical tips for setting up clean, maintainable, and reproducible data analysis workflows. We’ll cover how to structure projects, organize scripts, write good-practice code, and manage dependencies effectively. The focus is on realistic practices that make your code easier for others — and your future self — to understand and reuse.
While the examples will use R, many of the tips apply to anyone doing data analysis, also in other languages. Whether you’re just starting out or already experienced with R, this session will help you build better habits for writing clean, reusable code.
When? Thursday 15.05.25 ATTENTION, this time already at 3 - 4 p.m.
Find further information and the meeting link here.
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Info event series: Doctoral studies at the BCP department // May 23, 11 am – 12 pm
The Graduate Center is organizing an information series for doctoral candidates at the BCP department. Once a month, the focus will be on a specific topic related to doctoral studies at the department, with a short input and the opportunity to ask questions.
The 4. info event deals with the topic of Defense of the Thesis:
Who organizes the disputation? When should the disputation be announced? How many members of the doctoral committee must be present? How long does the disputation take? Which format (online, in presence, hybrid) is allowed?
Join the online meeting, gather some information and ask your questions!
Further information and the Webex link: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/graduiertenzentrum/promovierende/veranstaltungen/info-events/index.html
Here you will also find the presentations of past information events as well as helpful links on the respective topic.
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Doctoral Council Election // June 17 & 18 // Nominations by May 12
As you all should have received the official announcement for the doctoral council election, here only comes a short reminder
Please find the info flyer of the current doctoral council attached.
Many information as well as the latest timetable for the election can be found within these FAQs.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us: graduate-center@bcp.fu-berlin.de
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Dahlemer Wissenschaftsgespräche “Die dunkle Seite der Macht: Wissenschaftliche Integrität und wie wir mit Fehlverhalten umgehen“ // May 7, 6pm
Forschende des Fachbereichs Physik und des Fachbereichs Biologie, Chemie, Pharmazie der Freien Universität Berlin laden zu einer neuen Ausgabe der naturwissenschaftlichen Vortragsreihe Dahlemer Wissenschaftsgespräche ein. Am Mittwoch, 7. Mai 2025, sprechen Prof. Dr. Joachim Heberle und Prof. Dr. Stephan Block zur wissenschaftlichen Integrität und dem Umgang mit wissenschaftlichen Fehlverhalten in ihren Disziplinen. Die beiden Wissenschaftler sind Biophysiker und in unterschiedlicher Funktion mit wissenschaftlicher Integrität befasst. Die Öffentlichkeit ist herzlich eingeladen. Der Eintritt ist frei, eine Anmeldung ist nicht erforderlich.
Forschungsbau SupraFAB
Meeting Point Raum 201
Altensteinstr. 23a | 14195 Berlin
Weitere Informationen
Prof. Dr. Christian Freund | Achim Wiedekind
dahlemer.wissenschaftsgepraeche@suprafab.fu-berlin.de
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Friday Light Talks // May 23, 5pm
Friday Light Talks is an initiative for Postdocs, PhD and master students to promote networking, discussion and ideas exchange in an informal environment.
Friday Light Talks started as a lecture series and networking platform for young researchers with a focus on physics. It is now open also for young researchers from other disciplines of Natural Sciences at FU Berlin.
Each event comprises a 20-30 min scientific presentation by a PhD or Postdoc followed by a discussion and a relaxed get-together with drinks. We are excited to have a space where all the research groups can get to know each other, and we are looking forward to meeting you all!
Our next talks will be on:
May 23 – “Looking for gadolinium: EPR on biological tissues”; Speaker: Nicole Höfer (AG Bittl)
June 21 - Christian Lotze (AG Franke)
July 11 - Daniel Reich (AG Koch)
Always at 5pm in BoB (Room 0.3.01), Phyics Department (Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin). No registration required.
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BUA E-learning Module “Good Research Practice for Doctoral Researchers”
Who owns my research data? How do I avoid plagiarism? How do I negotiate authorship? How do I recognize problematic publishers? What can I do in cases of research misconduct or power abuse?
There are so many questions about research integrity, especially for doctoral researchers. The new E-learning course “Good Research Practice for Doctoral Researchers” provides answers by introducing strategies of recognizing and dealing with research misconduct or questionable practices.
The course chapters, designed by nine experts, include videos and interactive exercises. All content is in English and open to all scientific disciplines.
Start the course here: https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/grp
Please note that the course is 10 full hours excluding the elective module on statistical inference. That is a total of 13 work units, so you still need 3 work units (2 full hours) of GSP coursework to fulfill the requirements of the BCP department´s doctoral regulations. For individual support and questions about crediting, please contact Simone Schlender.
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Dahlem Research School (DRS) Workshops & Open Door Talks
Open Door Talk: Doctoral Research and Care Responsibility (online)
Date: May 20, 10am – noon
Registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/112581
Wirtschaftswissen kompakt
Der Workshop vermittelt in anwendungsorientierter Form Grundlagen der Betriebswirtschaftslehre für all diejenigen, die sie nicht studiert haben.
Date and venue: 26. + 27. Mai, 9:00-16:00 Uhr; Hittorfstr. 16 (Dahlem Research School)
Registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/112259
Einführung in gute wissenschaftliche Praxis und wissenschaftliches Fehlverhalten
Die Teilnehmenden lernen die Grundlagen guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis kennen und wenden sie auf ihre eigenen Fälle an.
Date and venue: 03. Juni (9:00-17:00) + 04.Juni (9:00-12:00); Hittorfstr. 16 (Dahlem Research School)
Registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/108020
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Humboldt Graduate School (HGS) & BUA workshops
Instructor: Mark Edwards
Dates: 19 & 20/05/2025, 09:00-12:00
Location: online
Language: English
Budget Points: 6
Scientific Research & Writing in the Age of AI
Instructor: Dr. Tobias Zervosen
Date: 26/05/2025, 09:00-17:00
Location: online
Language: English
Budget Points: 8
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One-day course on descriptive statistics and data visualization for beginners // May 27
This course will cover various aspects of data exploration, description, and visualization, paving the way to understanding basic statistical concepts. It is open to everyone but specifically designed for beginners in data visualization and statistics. The course is free of charge.
Date: May 27, 2025
Time: 9am to 4pm, including breaks
Where: Online (Zoom)
Deadline for Registration: May 18, 2025
More information and registration can be found here.
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VBio Webinar & Softskill Seminar
Paths into the World – Health and Development in the Service of International Cooperation [EN] // May 7, 6pm
International Health Management and International Development Aid are facing challenging times. Public health is nevertheless an exciting and important field focused on improving health and well-being globally, with an emphasis on addressing health disparities, preventing disease, and promoting health equity across populations. Professionals in this field work with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to implement health policies and programs that address global health challenges.
Dr. George Boniface Githure received his PhD at the LMU in Munich, worked as a PostDoc in academia until 2020. During the pandemic, he worked and later supervised a COVID testing-lab at the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit). In 2022, he started his work as a project manager in the field of International Public Health at the Center for International Health Protection of the Robert-Koch-Institut (RKI) in Germany. At RKI, he focuses on Coordination of cooperation with African partner countries to strengthen genomic surveillance of pathogens.
Dr. Wibke Thies has been working around the world since 2003 with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to protect biodiversity—the foundation of life and a key to sustainable development. Her focus is on people and how they see and interact with nature. She has worked both internationally and in Germany and will share stories from her experiences.
Registration here.
“Persönlichkeitsprofile und Kommunikation“ // May 15, 6pm
Gute Arbeit gelingt dann am besten, wenn wir unsere persönlichen Stärken gezielt einsetzen können. In diesem Softskill-Seminar bekommst du spannende Einblicke in unterschiedliche Persönlichkeitstypen und lernst, wie du deine eigenen Stärken, Schwächen und Motivatoren besser erkennst und nutzt.
Moritz Knabe führt durch das Seminar und zeigt, wie Persönlichkeit und Kommunikation zusammenhängen. Im Anschluss hast du die Möglichkeit, gemeinsam mit dem HORBACH-Team ein individuelles Persönlichkeitsprofil erstellen zu lassen. Ayse Zor steht dir währenddessen für die Organisation des Persönlichkeitstests zur Seite. Darüber hinaus stärkt das Seminar deine rhetorischen Fähigkeiten, deine Körpersprache sowie deine Präsentationskompetenz – wertvolle Tools, um dich bei Bewerbungen und im Berufsalltag souverän zu präsentieren.
Registrierung hier.
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Workshop “From PhD to Impact Innovator” // June 12 & 13
How much of an entrepreneur is in you? Develop your potential startup ideas together with other PhDs and postdocs of all disciplines, network with real-life sciencepreneurs, and learn about career options after the PhD. Young Entrepreneurs in Science is an interactive workshop programme for PhDs and postdocs to help you ignite your entrepreneurial spirit! Together with your peers, you will learn methods and skills to realise your innovative potential.
Admission is free and no previous knowledge is required. The workshop will be held in presence in Potsdam on June 12 & 13, 2025 from 9am- 5pm.
For more information, see also the attached flyer. Registration until 05.06.25 here.
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Art in Science // July 2, 3 & 10 // Registration by June 25
Art in Science workshop series
The Art in Science workshop series seek to break down current frontiers in research and scientific communication by promoting innovative interdisciplinary methodologies, which infuse artistic and participatory elements into research practices. The workshop is designed for students, doctoral researchers and postgraduates engaged in sustainability-related fields such as natural sciences, geography, social sciences, agriculture and economics, and those wishing to work in transdisciplinary projects .
Trainer: Giovanna Chavez Miguel and Maria Schmiedbauer
Date: 02, 03 and 10 July 2025
Time: 02 and 03 July: 10 am - 5 pm; 10 July: 10 am - 1:30 pm
Format: In-person (in Berlin-Mitte)
Target group: Doctoral candidates and postdocs in Natural and Life Sciences
Course language: English