German Scholars Organization e.V. (GSO)

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗦𝗢: 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀, 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 Anyone familiar with the GSO knows that we have once again advised, supported and networked researchers in the “bottleneck” of their careers this year. --> Germans returning from abroad? Sure, that’s part of our story. But in 2024, we took a closer look at ourselves. 🔸 Our 𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗡𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 got a lot going this year: several virtual coffee breaks, themed workshops, the announcement and support of eight funding projects and three alumni meetings in person. Kübra, who joined us at the beginning of the year, has actively supported and enriched the network. 🔸 The eighth year of the 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝟴 brought together 25 Fellows from a wide range of disciplines, from linguistics to particle physics. The meetings offered not only content and tools, but also space for creative impulses – from tape art to dinosaurs. 🔸 Our colleague Karina has developed an impact analysis process for the LSA, and has approved applications for job interviews in Germany as part of the 𝗗𝗿. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝘆-𝗚𝗦𝗢 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, now in its 10th year. 🔸 In the fifth year of the 𝗞𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀 𝗧𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱, 15 new fellows have started their projects, while Birte crisscrossed Germany visiting 26 ongoing ones, logging 7,700 train kilometers. Stories from the journey? Check our Career Knowledge Section - The selection for the sixth year is currently underway! 🔸 With 150 researchers advised and 40 workshops hosted, the surprise twist? 𝟲𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 researchers in Germany. Turns out, our advice crosses borders beautifully. 🔸 The “returnees” brand doesn’t quite fit anymore. So, after a 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 (and more meetings), we’re refreshing our image to better connect with our target audience. Stay tuned for the big reveal in 2025. 🔸 Our year ended on a high note with the virtual *𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. Over 𝟭,𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱, and the session on the future of science was such a hit it’s still available to watch. 🔸 We welcomed new members like Dr. Nele Diekmann, a scholar of antiquity and founder of an agency for historical city marketing, and Dr. Maxim Egorov, leadership expert with a focus on the research sector. 🔸 A Big Thank You and a Wish for 2025 To everyone—our partners, members, advisory boards, clients, and the wider scientific community—thank you for trusting us, working with us, and making 2024 a success. Here’s to a bright, optimistic 2025. 💫 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻—𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀: 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕. 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 What if the key to understanding a rare disease could also unlock new insights into our immune system’s origins? That’s exactly the question driving immunologist Sabrina B. Bennstein, who recently transitioned from Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf to the Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University's Institute for Immunology, where she is diving into the mysteries of the thymus—a complex organ with a big role in our immunity. Her work focuses on innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), crucial players in our immune system. But how do they develop? Preliminary findings suggest a surprising connection: ILCs may share a developmental pathway with T-cells within the thymus. To investigate this, Sabrina is studying young patients with DiGeorge syndrome, a rare condition with varying thymic functionality. Why is this important? Sabrina’s research could redefine how we understand immune development and help pave the way for new therapeutic approaches. More questions were answered, when Birte Seffert visited her! 💡𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 “You can’t fully prepare for it,” says Sabrina candidly. Nonetheless, she emphasizes the value of prior supervisory experience. She gained confidence by mentoring doctoral candidates and students. However, she notes that much of the role involves "learning on the job," particularly when managing responsibilities and organizational tasks. Her three tips for building and leading a research group: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: Engaging with other group leaders is essential for learning from each other and finding support. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲: Handing over scientific and technical tasks is challenging but necessary for effective management. 𝗕𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁: Developing a personal system for group leadership and scientific guidance takes time and experience. 🎓 The Habilitation: What is needed Sabrina is currently pursuing her habilitation – one pathway to a professorship in Germany (the other ones: getting a major junior research group grant or obtaining a tenure-track professorship). She sees three factors needed for habilitation: 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: A substantial teaching record. Without regular teaching opportunities, habilitation becomes difficult to achieve. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Publications as first or last author outside the doctoral dissertation. Thoughtful publication planning can be advantageous. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Each university has specific habilitation criteria. Review them in advance. The Klaus Tschira Boost Fund is a joint program by GSO and Klaus Tschira Stiftung offering flexible funding and career development to promote researchers in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science. #BoostFellows #KTBoostFund

𝗧𝗯𝗵-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 & 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 The second day of the To Be Honest Conference 2024 delivered what it promised: candid conversations about the challenges of handling academia, strategies for career development, and a reminder that no researcher is ever truly alone on their journey. Moderated by Elena Lichtenthaler and Martin R. Lichtenthaler, PhD, the day kicked off with four focused sessions and closed with a reflective wrap-up featuring insights from Anne Schreiter, Birte Seffert, and Robert Kötter. Here’s what stood out: ✅𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗨𝗽 - 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 Visibility in academia often feels like walking a tightrope—how do you make yourself seen without losing authenticity? Robert Kötter from TwentyOne Skills offered a balanced perspective, showing participants how to build their professional networks in ways that feel true to their values. Clarity: Understand your purpose and audience. Consistency: Regularly share your work without overthinking perfection. Confidence: If visibility feels uncomfortable, you’re probably doing it right. ✅𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 Humanities and social science researchers often feel overlooked in career advice, but Anne's session ensured their voices were heard. Anne explained the key takeaways: Build your narrative early, show how interdisciplinary methods fit together, and apply for grants that reward innovation. Collect credentials and be unapologetically yourself: Your interests are your strength—even if they don’t fit traditional molds. ✅𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 For those eyeing a transition into industry, Birte summed up her takeaways: Research the sector and get to know the company and the people behind it - and shift from "What I've achieved" to "How I can help you". You can’t plan every step, but you can prepare for the next one. ✅𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘀 Academic hiring often feels like a black box. What do committees actually look for? Anne summarized: Understand institutional goals and match your application to the department’s vision. Focus on preparation, be confidence and clear, those matter more than perfection. Keep perspective: A professorship is not the only path. 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀… ➡️ here isn’t one path to success, but there are strategies and communities to help you navigate yours. ➡️ you don’t have to be perfect to make an impact. Show up as you are. ➡️ sharing your story creates connections—and opportunities. Whether you’re staying in academia or exploring new horizons, the message is clear: you are not alone. #tbh2024 #careertalk ______________ ❤️We thank the Klaus Tschira Stiftung, AlumNode – your network by Klaus Tschira Stiftung & TwentyOne Skills for their support!

The holiday season is here - and with it comes the inevitable questions from your loved ones: "So what exactly do you do all day?" If you're a postdoc, answering that question can be as challenging as writing that grant proposal you've been avoiding. Luckily, Elisa Granato, PhD, Christoph Ziegenhain & Sofia J. van Moorsel PhD'𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁: 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗰," and Simit Patel’s podcast, "𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗰’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹," offer the perfect way to explain the often chaotic, multifaceted, and surprisingly relatable reality of postdoc life. 𝗔 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲…𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗼, 𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻  Elisa, along with Christoph and Sofia, tracked over 19 months of workdays as senior postdocs - down to the minute! - and compared it to their junior postdoc data from years ago. The results? A fascinating look at how work patterns differ based on personal circumstances in independent research: 🔸 balancing parenthood with a strict weekday schedule 🔸 longer and more irregular hours, dominated by managerial duties 🔸 self-driven routines including weekend work ➡️ No two postdoc experiences are alike, and even within the same role, priorities shift dramatically over time. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗰 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹’𝘀 𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗰’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 While the blogpost focuses on the day-to-day mix of tasks and challenges, Simit’s podcast adds a deeply personal lens, with emotional highs and lows of postdoc life. ➡️ Simit reflects candidly on struggles with confidence, mental health, and work-life balance—issues that resonate widely across the postdoc community. The podcast offers a raw and honest journey through the postdoc experience: 🔸 the feeling of being out of depth at the start 🔸 the self-consciousness of finding one’s place 🔸 the burned-out-feeling that comes with lab failures 🔸 the eventual realization that the problem isn’t always you. ➡️ Why is this worth a read (and listen)? Because sharing these behind-the-scenes glimpses breaks the myth of academic life. For even more insights, here’s further food for thought (or soul, if you’re feeling reflective): 🔸 "Cracking the German Job Market as an International Doctoral Researcher" (Dahlem Research School | Freie Universität Berlin Podcast): Challenges and strategies for finding jobs beyond academia. https://urlz.fr/trbP 🔸"Spot On: Wege zur Professur" (Postdoc Academy of Berlin University Alliance): Pathways to professorships, with guidance and real experiences for researchers eyeing faculty roles. https://lnkd.in/et34m5-y 🔸"Nachwuchsfragen" of Graduiertenakademie LUH: Coming from Abroad: A practical guide for international postdocs living in a new country—part culture shock, part professional insight. https://lnkd.in/eUE-K9Tn

Food for Thought: Who Shapes the Future of Academic Funding? As the year draws to a close, we're reflecting on the progresses and the challenges that still lie ahead. Especially at the #tbh2024, we explored how biases, inequalities in opportunities, and lack of diversity can influence the future of academia. We also discussed the impact of these changes, particularly how they can shape the academic landscape and influence leadership roles in research. Building on these conversations, we took a closer look at the 𝗗𝗙𝗚 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗵𝗲𝗶𝘁𝘀-𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, which provides key insights into these very challenges. ➡️ Despite notable progress, persistent gender disparities continue to affect the German academic system, particularly in areas such as proposal submission, peer review, and leadership in funding programs. Here are some important findings: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Women are submitting more proposals in fields like life sciences and social sciences, where they are more represented at the faculty level. Although they continue to submit fewer proposals in male-dominated fields like engineering and physics, this trend signals the potential for targeted interventions to increase diversity in those areas. 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Female representation among peer reviewers is alarmingly low across all disciplines. In the natural sciences, women contribute to only 16.7% of written reviews. However, the DFG has noted improvements in some disciplines, where the share of female reviewers is slowly rising. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀: Female leadership in ongoing DFG-funded projects stands at 27.1%, but this varies greatly across programs. For example, only 4.1% of leadership in the Reinhart Koselleck Program is female, whereas the Walter Benjamin Program 42.3% and the Emmy Noether 33,7% see female leadership. These numbers show us that, while some progress has been made, much work remains to be done. ➡️ At our*Tbh-Conference, our speakers emphasized the importance of creating spaces that actively support the participation of different groups, much like how targeted programs can help increase female leadership in research. ❓ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲? What are the structural and cultural changes needed in academia to foster true gender parity in leadership roles and funding opportunities - and how can we challenge these traditional roles? What role do mentors and networks play in supporting different groups in academia, and how can these be made more accessible? And what are your thoughts on these findings?

*𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗯𝗵-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲! What a start to the *Tbh-Conference 2024! ➡️650 participants from 25 countries ➡️spanning across disciplines like Life Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Engineering ➡️Link in the first comment! The Opening Session kicked off with a bold discussion about the future of academia, moderated by Mighty Real. We heard from a diverse group of experts - Prof Dr Robert Lepenies, Tracy Wietecha, Leo Kurian, Prof. Dr. Sabine Becker, and Deniz Kumral—who laid out concrete ideas on how to address them. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: ✅Leadership in Academia: It’s clear that being a leader in academia requires not just managing research, but administrative labyrinths, mentoring, and making tough decisions that go against the usual. Robert Lepenies spoke about leadership that’s “unconventional but effective” - a refreshing perspective on what true academic leadership should look like. ✅Systemic Challenges: There was no sugarcoating here. Racism, sexism, and classism are embedded in structures, but rather than leaving us feeling overwhelmed, the discussion pushed for collective action and systemic change and about what we can begin implementing now. ✅The International Lens: Deniz Kumral and Leo Kurian offered a look at academia from an international perspective. They shared hurdles of academic systems in different countries, particularly here in Germany. ✅Visibility in Academia: One theme that stood out was visibility - particularly the role of social media. Robert Lepenies explained how platforms like TikTok can show that academia isn’t just a world of research papers and grants—it’s about people, ideas, and connection. ✅Personal Journeys and Career Paths: Tracy Wietecha’s story of moving from the U.S. to Germany was a personal and professional roadmap of career transitions. Sabine Becker also discussed how academia isn’t just about producing research, but about being seen for all your contributions, whether it’s through public speaking or building personal networks. 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 Our Key Takeaways: ✅Don’t wait for someone else to chart your path. It’s up to each of us to actively shape our careers through mentorship, strategic networking, and pursuing our goals without waiting for the “perfect moment.” ✅Build Communities! If there’s one thing we saw across the board, it’s that academic success doesn’t happen in isolation. There's much more to come, so stay tuned for Day 2! 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀—𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁? #tbh2024 #careertalk ______________ ❤️We thank the Klaus Tschira Stiftung, AlumNode – your network by Klaus Tschira Stiftung & TwentyOne Skills for their support!

🚀 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀: 𝗗𝗿. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗳 𝗘𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗿 In this edition of her ongoing travels throughout Germany, Birte Seffert visited Youssef El Mouali, a postdoc at the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig. Youssef’s work is at the cutting edge of microbiology, examining the secrets of Segatella copri, a prevalent gut microbe with a dual role in health and disease. While changes in our microbiome are linked to various diseases, the ability to pinpoint why and how specific microbes influence health remains elusive. Youssef is tackling this challenge by developing advanced genetic tools to decode the biology of S. copri. ➡️ This research is vital because S. copri is one of the most abundant gut microbiome worldwide. Yet, studying S. copri isn’t straightforward—it’s a picky microbe! It’s highly oxygen-sensitive, requiring specialized labs and techniques for cultivation and genetic modification – which the HZI in Braunschweig can provide. At Lunch, Birte had the chance to ask Youssef some questions: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? Youssef emphasized that progress isn’t necessarily about answering the initial research question; more about adding meaningful knowledge to the field. “Defining experiments that genuinely move forward our understanding is key,” he says, even if that means taking unexpected paths. He also sees failure as a natural and necessary part of science—a stepping stone toward refining experiments and moving forward. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲? Youssef’s answer is a resounding yes! But it won’t be easy. He compares the microbiome to the immune system: incredibly complex, yet increasingly understood by breaking it into smaller, analyzable pieces. Future technologies, like single-cell bacterial analysis, hold the promise of transformative discoveries about the microbiome’s intricate players—bacteria, phages, and beyond. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂? "Being the first in the lab to discover something that no one has ever seen—that is a very rewarding feeling”. With researchers like Youssef leading the way, we are curious about the future of microbiome science. The Klaus Tschira Boost Fund is a joint program by GSO and Klaus Tschira Stiftung offering flexible funding and career development to promote researchers in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science. #BoostFellows  #KTBoostFund

📣 Event Note: Digital Women in Science Day December 11, 2024 | 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm CET Science isn’t just about test tubes and telescopes; it’s about decisions, too. And when it comes to the career, there are big ones to make. Is this the right field for me? What career paths actually exist? What’s it like to build a life in a new country while working at one of the world’s top research institutions? Forschungszentrum Jülich is inviting curious minds to explore these questions at their 2nd Digital Women in Science Day. This event is designed to give attendees something often lacking in career planning: important talk from people who’ve been there. What to expect: The afternoon begins with a snapshot of life at Jülich. A brief presentation will offer a look at what it means to work there. At the 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 featuring three researchers with international backgrounds who have forged careers in neuroscience and supercomputing. They’ll share their personal stories—the wins, the hurdles, and the lessons they’ve picked up along the way: 🔸 Nataliia Fedorchenko, a doctoral researcher, explores the intricate connections in the human brain. 🔸 Casey Paquola, a group leader (and also one of our KT Boost Fellows), studies how brain structure shapes behavior - 🔸 Maria Petrova - El Sayed, MSc. Maria Petrova-El Sayed, a research fellow, dives into the massive data challenges of supercomputing. Their discussion, followed by an open Q&A, offers a rare chance to hear directly from those in the thick of it—not in soundbites, but in depth. Why It Matters Events like these are not just networking opportunities. They’re moments to pause and reflect. Mentorship and community connections significantly influence career success, especially for women and underrepresented groups in STEM. Yet, despite growing diversity, science remains a field where implicit biases and systemic hurdles persist. Jülich’s breakout sessions at 5:30 pm tackle some of these realities head-on. Discussions will focus on everything from balancing work and life to navigating Germany’s often opaque hiring systems. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eDkZeiBU

📣 To our Fellows and Alumni: Let's wrap this year together!

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀: 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮 𝗼𝗳 𝟮: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 Birte is continuing her journey! Next stop: Lorenz Adlung, a systems biologist and independent junior group leader at the Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf and current Klaus Tschira Boost Fellow, sharing his leadership approach and offering advice for postdocs building their teams. Plus: Lorenz´s take on science communication and his reply to a question never asked before. Lorenz describes himself as a “fat researcher.” With his Boost Fund project, he is deep-diving into how changes in immune cells and fat cells interact and become inflamed as body fat increases. By studying gene patterns in fat tissue, he aims to find new targets for treating obesity and type-2 diabetes, potentially leading to innovative therapies for metabolic health. Recruited from the Weizmann Institute of Science, he now leads a six-person team in Hamburg, focusing on thoughtful recruitment and leadership. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 “I made it clear from the beginning what I could offer – and what I couldn’t.” Leading with transparency, and building a foundation of trust & mutual respect is key: “Making mistakes is okay – that goes for everyone, including myself.” 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Success in academia often hinges on funding, citations, and publications. But Lorenz’s team is redefining it by fostering a value-aligned, collaborative work culture. “This is more within our control than winning a grant,” Lorenz explains. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝘁 In hiring, personality and shared values matter more than niche expertise: “People can and should be different, but they need to align on values.” 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 Celebrations aren’t reserved for wins alone—submitting a grant or paper calls for cake! Feedback follows the “burger rule”: positives on top and bottom, with constructive suggestions in the middle. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Known for science slams, podcasts, and books, Lorenz views public engagement as energizing but advises caution: “It’s a fine line between creating a unique edge and risking your academic reputation.” 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁: A question you haven't been asked yet but would like to answer! ❓ How is being from East Germany influencing identity and career? The underrepresentation of East Germans in academic leadership shapes Lorenz's perspective, though he feels conflicted about sharing it, given that he finds himself in a privileged position. Still, he says, there should be more conversations about identity and systemic biases in academia. The Klaus Tschira Boost Fund is a joint program by GSO and Klaus Tschira Stiftung, offering flexible funding and career development to promote researchers in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science. #BoostFellows #KTBoostFund