General Information

Background

Life science research (NanoBioMed ) is one of the core research areas of Saarland University.

Research in such institutions is highly interdisciplinary and requires close collaboration between faculties from different disciplines. This is particularly challenging, as each discipline also requires a dedicated "mindset" and way to approach scientific problems. Based on their training, a biologist undoubtedly views a scientific problem from a different perspective than a chemist or a pharmacist. Therefore, the goal of this graduate school is to train doctoral candidates from different disciplines to understand and speak "the scientific language of the other".  A skill set that is often required in the PhD-related research projects, where often methods of different fields (natural product chemistry, microbiology, medicine, chemical ecology, bioinformatics and systems biology) have to be integrated or are part of the broader project context. The interdisciplinary mindset and education is not only necessary in academia, but also highly demanded in industry!

Objectives

Within the framework of this interdisciplinary doctoral program, doctoral students in chemistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, as well as human and molecular biology will get the opportunities to train and learn to collaborate on joint projects in the field of natural product research. Due to the diverse study backgrounds, the doctoral candidates bring a wide range of modern, but also very different, methods into the program. This lays the foundation for innovative interdisciplinary research.

Training Concept

The graduate training programme has the aim to bring doctoral candidates of the UdS together and assist them in their training to become the leading scientists of the next generation.
A canon of selected courses will impart key competencies in neighboring disciplines. For example, a lecture series on "Natural Product Research" or block courses on new methods are particularly suitable, but also attending courses from neighboring disciplines is recommended. The educational program extends over a period of three years, during which a specific set of courses should be completed.
These could include attendance of scientific colloquia as well as events of the Graduate Program GradUS of the UdS, advanced lectures and scientific conferences. To support active participation in conferences (poster presentations and lectures), we can also assist in acquiring e.g. travel fellowships of different organization. Furthermore, the graduate school organizes symposia and colloquia where doctoral candidates not only present their results but also invite high-ranking members of the research community from all areas of natural product research.