Graduate College
Research Training Groups and Doctoral Programmes are institutions of higher education for the promotion of young researchers that are funded by the DFG for a maximum of nine years. The focus is on the qualification of doctoral students within the framework of a thematically focused research programme and a structured qualification concept. An interdisciplinary orientation of the Research Training Groups is desirable. The aim is to prepare doctoral students intensively for the complex "science" labour market and at the same time to support their early scientific independence. In addition to the Research Training Groups, there are also the Graduate Schools established as part of the Excellence Initiative as structured doctoral funding institutions.
Research Training Group 1554
Micro-Macro-Interactions in structured Media and Particle Systems
Many materials or media in nature and technology possess a microstructure, which determines their macro behaviour. Despite of possible difficulties to describe the morphology of this structure, the knowledge of the relevant mechanisms is often more comprehensive on the micro than on the macro scale. On the other hand, not all information on the micro level is relevant for the understanding of the macro behaviour. Therefore, averaging and homogenization methods are needed to select only the specific information from the micro scale, which influences the macro scale. These methods would also open the possibility to design or to influence microstructures with the objective to optimize their macro behaviour. Study and development of new methods in this interdisciplinary field of actual research will be under the supervision of professors from different engineering branches, applied mathematics, theoretical, and computational physics.
Research Training Group 2297
Mathematical Complexity Reduction
The combination of expertise from different mathematical areas under the theme of Complexity Reduction provides the RTG with a unique profile that specifically shapes the scientific understanding of the young researchers graduating within the RTG. A fundamental goal of our Philosophy is to make the PhD students work on projects that connect several mathematical areas and to let them profit from supervision by two principal investigators with different mathematical backgrounds.
Graduiertenkolleg 2413
The innovative research program RTG2413 SynAGE deals with the idea that cognitive decline in normal aging results from subtle synaptic alterations that impart an imbalance between stability and plastic properties of spine synapses and that is qualitatively different from neurodegeneration. This will further involve changes in the properties and functionality of the extracellular matrix, communication and interaction with glia cells and cells of the immune system, neuromodulation, and ultimately otherwise compensatory mechanisms. We aim to understand these processes of synaptic aging from a molecular, cellular as well as behavioral angle by jointly addressing transversal, intimately linked themes forming a comprehensive framework for inspiring thesis projects for 13 PhD and 13 MD students with high societal relevance.
Graduiertenkolleg 2408
Maladaptive processes at physiological interfaces in chronic diseases
Physiological interfaces are barriers such as skin, mucous membranes or vascular walls. These barriers consist of highly specialized cells, so-called endothelial cells or epithelial cells. In numerous chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis or chronic kidney diseases, the regulation and function of these interfaces is disturbed. For example, messenger substances that attract inflammatory cells are released. However, the molecular changes that are responsible for these misdirected reactions of the cells are largely unknown. By gaining a better understanding of these processes, researchers hope to develop new therapies for chronic diseases in the long term. Using state-of-the-art cell biological methods and technologies, such as mass spectrometry, organoid culture, microfluidics and high-resolution microscopy, doctoral students at the GRK will investigate these processes. Thus, the college will train young scientists in a highly relevant topic using state-of-the-art techniques and offer them a broad basis for a scientific career.
Research School
The International Max Planck Research School for Advanced Methods in Process and Systems Engineering in Magdeburg was founded in 2007 and is a joint initiative of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems and the Otto von Guericke University. Its main goal is to provide high-level scientific training and support PhD projects through an innovative concept which combines cutting-edge mathematical and systems-oriented engineering research. We are driven by challenging questions arising from the analysis, design and optimization of chemical and biochemical processes.
Our graduate school offers a structured PhD program with close supervision and broad scientific, professional and social networks. A diverse curriculum composed of both scientific and soft skills qualifies our students to join the next generation of leading scientists and professionals.
International Graduate School
ABINEP - Analysis, Imaging, and Modelling of Neuronal and Inflammatory Processes
The international Graduate school (GS) on Analysis, Imaging, and Modelling of Neuronal and Inflammatory Processes (ABINEP) is based on the two internationally recognized biomedical research foci of the Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg (OVGU), Neurosciences and Immunology. ABINEP aims at fostering cutting edge research projects in rising sub-disciplines of these research areas, which are currently supported by several German Research foundation (DFG)- and European Community (EU)-funded collaborative projects in Magdeburg (including the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centers SFBs 779 and 854 and associated graduate schools, as well as DFG TRRs 31 and 62). The program includes scientists from the Medical Faculty/ University Hospital Magdeburg (MED) and the Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNW) of the OVGU, the Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), both located in Magdeburg, the Helmholtz Centre of Infection Research in Braunschweig as well as international collaborators.
MEMORIAL - International Graduate School for Medical Engineering and Engineering Materials
The international Graduate School für Medical Engineering and Engineering Materials links up two cutting-edge research fields at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg in order to synergise "Knowledge-based Medical Imaging and Reconstruction" an "Engineering Materials Processing, Microstructure, Simulation, and Prediction".