Humans and Microbes Qualification Program
In addition to the experimental work, the Humans and Microbes core curriculum is a central component of the qualification program and completes the overall goal of the RTG to actively support the scientific education of the early career researchers at a high level and to intensively promote their career development and international competitiveness.
Humans and Microbes doctoral researchers will regularly attend lab meetings and seminars as mandatory standard and discuss their projects with supervisors and group members to acquire in-depth knowledge and technical expertise within their specific research field. This individual project routine will be complemented by the mandatory part of the core curriculum which comprises following key elements (see also figure below for details and timelines):
- Introductory Week with presentation of Humans and Microbes program and RTG research groups and guided tours to the different Humans and Microbes campuses
- Key Skill Courses (Good Scientific Practice, Time and Goal Management, Data Management, Statistics, Data Presentation, Scientific Writing, Publication Processes, and Grant Application).
- Monthly Lunch Clubs organised by the doctoral researchers
- Bi-monthly Guest speaker program where world-leading scientists in the field of host-pathogen interaction will present and discuss their latest research findings. Prior to a public talk, the guest speakers will give a special seminar exclusively for the Humans and Microbes doctoral researchers which is a great opportunity to talk and discuss with leading experts in a very direct and personal manner
- Method Workshops on Mass spectrometry, Bioinformatics, Super-resolution microscopy or cryo-EM with a duration of 2 days
- Internships of up to 3 months preferably in a lab abroad will be offered to complement the research work and to foster networking, social competence and language/technical skills.
- Bench to Business events with entrepreneurs and legal experts giving practical insight and guidance into different occupational fields.
- International and national meetings – a Humans and Microbes Symposium will be organised every 3 years by the Humans and Microbes doctoral researchers to get to know all aspects of managing a major scientific event, from invitation of speakers to symposium announcement or abstract book editing. In addition, the doctoral researchers will also actively participate in two scientific conferences with a poster or oral presentation and, as inherent part of quality measurement, present their work and discuss it with all RTG PIs at the annual Retreats
TAC = Thesis Advisory Committee
Key Skill courses 1-8: 1 Good Scientific Practice, 2 Time and Goal Management, 3 Data Management, 4 Statistics, 5 Data Presentation, 6 Scientific Writing, 7 Publication Processes, 8 Grant Application