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Three years of RTG-PRO - 3rd Young Scientists Retreat! This year the retreat took place in the German capital Berlin.

On October 25, there was the 1st Joint Symposium "Infection and Proteases". The symposium was organised by PhD students of the Berlin Graduate School IMPRS-IDI and the Research Training Group RTG-PRO Greifswald with the kind support of Microsynth Seqlab AG. The symposium aimed to provide a platform for networking of early career researchers.

The retreat further provided an opportunity to summarise the experiences of almost three years of doctoral research in the framework of the RTG-PRO.

Program | Abstracts

The 23rd Human Proteome Organization World Congress took place in Dresden, Germany from 20th to 24th October 2024. The conference gave a great overview of state of the art methods and analyses in the proteomic field.

This event was a great opportunity to present some of the proteomic-driven projects of the RTG-PRO. The PhD researchers Larissa Busch (B1) and Hannes Wolfgramm (C1) show-cased their project results through poster presentations. The RTG-PRO start-up ProTec Diagnostics could present their products. The conference was a very good chance to network and to discuss scientific growth in this field.

On October 25, there will be the 1st Joint Symposium "Infection and Proteases" in Berlin. he symposium is organised by PhD students of the Berlin Graduate School IMPRS-IDI and the Research Training Group RTG-PRO Greifswald with the kind support of Microsynth Seqlab. The symposium aims to provide a platform for networking of early career researchers. We are looking forward to the scientific exchange between Berlin and Greifswald!

The Nucleic Acid Immunity Society Meeting in Avignon, France, took place from October 14th to 16th, 2024, and shared insights on innate immune research. Sophie Möller, a PhD student of the RTG-Pro for project B4, presented her project results through a poster presentation and a one-minute poster pitch. Another opportunity for scientific discussions with some of the speakers and conference participants was provided by the "Meet the Experts" and "Mixed" dinner in the evenings, which were great experiences for young researchers.

The EMBO conference "Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins in health and disease" in Cavtat-Dubrovnik, Croatia, from September 27 to October 1 was a great opportunity for PhD student Sophie Möller (B4) to share her research.
Sophie presented her project in a one-minute poster pitch, which she described as a great and valuable experience. Overall, the conference was remarkable for its networking opportunities through the combination of a beautiful location and science.

The 7th Joint Microbiology & Infection Conference organized by the DGHM and VAAM took place in Würzburg, Germany from 2nd to 5th June 2024. The conference gave a great overview of diverse microbiological and hygiene-related studies.

This event was a great opportunity to present some of the bacterial-associated projects of the RTG-PRO. The PhD researchers Supradipta De (A6), Larissa Busch (B1), Abhishek Singh (B2) and Hannes Wolfgramm (C1) as well as the MD researchers Ole Plöhn (B2) and Jöran Tebben (C1) showcased their project results through poster presentations and a talk.

The conference was a valuable networking chance with a lot of interesting interactions and exchanges of ideas with the German microbiology community.

RTG Pro had a blast at Dr. Martina Michalikova's Scientific Writing Workshop! Key learnings: daily writing, punchy titles, structured abstracts, clear results/discussions, one-idea paragraphs, and smart journal picks.

Key Takeaways

• Commit to Daily Writing:
  • Transform daily lab notes into weekly reports and, eventually, into manuscripts or theses.
  • Build a routine by taking consistent small steps: turn your flow into a stock.
• Paper Structuring Tips:
  • Title: Keep it concise and avoid unnecessary fluff.
  • Abstract: Use the "And-But-Therefore" structure.
  • Results: Start with a main point, then expand on it.
  • Discussion: Cover main results, contextualize them, refine implications, and provide an outlook and predictions.
  • Conclusion: Focus on the big picture.
• Paragraph Structuring:
  • Idea: Stick to one idea per paragraph.
  • Context: Begin with a topic sentence.
  • Content: Provide supporting information or evidence.
  • Conclusion: End with a closing sentence or summary.
• Sentence Structuring:
  • Begin with known information (topic) and end with new information (stress).
  • Publishing Tip
  • Choose the right journal for your work.
  • Effectively address reviewers' comments.

Martina’s website: https://writingscientist.com/about/

Ole Ploehn, a medical candidate affiliated with RTG-PRO, received an award for his poster presentation at the "Tag der Wissenschaft der Medizin Anmeldeportal." His presentation focused on the role of the E3 ligase LSRAM1 in mediating the recognition of intracellular Staphylococcus aureus. Congratulations to Ole and the Seifert Lab on this achievement!

The FACS (Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting) training course conducted by Saskia Scholz from BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) provided comprehensive instruction on the principles and applications of flow cytometry. This course was designed for PhD researchers looking to deepen their understanding and enhance their skills in using BD flow cytometry systems. It comprised a preliminary online theoretical course followed by an onsite practical training.

Participants learnt about instrument setup, data acquisition, compensation, analysis techniques, and troubleshooting. The hands-on training includes practical exercises with live samples, enabling attendees to gain practical experience in cell sorting and fluorescence detection. By the end of the course, participants gained inputs in operating BD FACS instruments, interpreting complex data sets, and applying flow cytometry techniques to their specific research needs.

Hosted by Katja Wolter, Networking for Researchers delves into the essential components for acquiring or refining proficient networking abilities tailored to scientific researchers. Throughout this course, our PhD researchers explored the advantages of establishing a professional network for their research and career progression. Additionally, Katja introduced us to essential components and skills required to initiate and sustain networking connections across various platforms, encompassing physical and virtual environments.

A few highlights of the course were:

• Understanding the theoretical framework and significance of networking and utilizing research and career objectives as guiding principles in identifying suitable networking prospects.
• Boost your visibility through networking.
• Techniques for nurturing networking relationships and capitalizing on them to propel research and career objectives forward.

PhD researchers and the principal investigators convened from March 11th to 14th for an enriching blend of academic discourse on the Island of Vilm on the southern coast of Rügen in the Greifswalder Bodden. Home to the International Nature Conservation Academy Insel Vilm (INA) and a core zone of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve, Vilm was a unique blend of natural serenity and tranquillity.

Throughout the retreat, the doctoral researchers updated on the latest developments in their research projects, sharing their findings and insights. Additionally, captivating keynote lectures were delivered by Prof. Uwe Bornscheuer and our Mercator fellows, Prof. Alexander Bartelt and Prof. Dorte Frees.

But it's not all work and no play on the Island of Vilm; we embarked on a guided walking tour to explore the island: secluded beaches and the dense forests, which have been untouched for a long time.

The most memorable aspect of the retreat was the opportunity to network. Whether over shared meals or impromptu conversations, attendees forged meaningful connections that extended beyond the confines of the retreat, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and camaraderie.

Attendees:
Recently, Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald and University Graduate Academy played host to an engaging Academic Career Day that saw enthusiastic participation from RTG Pro members Sophie, Larissa, Jessica, and Dr. Maja Richert.

Workshops on Open Science and Career Paths in Natural and Life Sciences:
The program featured workshops focused on Open Science practices in research. Discussions centered on career trajectories within natural and life sciences, providing valuable insights for aspiring researchers.

Starting Up with Science:
Entrepreneurship in science was explored, highlighting the challenges and rewards of initiating impactful research ventures.

Jessica's Poster Presentation
Jessica presented a poster on behalf of the RTG-PRO research consortium. Her presentation emphasized the consortium's research focus on precision proteolysis, showcasing its significance in maintaining the delicate balance between pathogen and host homeostasis.

The Academic Career Day at Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald proved to be a concise yet insightful platform, fostering knowledge exchange and collaborative exploration in the scientific community.

Between September 25th and September 29th, the German national finals of the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) took place in Hanover. The IJSO is an international science competition designed for students up to 15 years old, aimed to kindle enthusiasm and curiosity in the natural sciences. The German qualification competition is organized by the IPN - Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In Hanover, the German national team for this year's 20th IJSO in Thailand was determined.

Hannes Wolfgramm, one of our dedicated RTG-PRO PhD students (C1), is providing support for the competition as a part of the team of professional supervisors. Hannes expressed, "In addition to the technical supervision of the exams, establishing contact with the young participants is of great importance to me. I'm always thrilled when I see that I can share my enthusiasm for science and motivate the participants to pursue scientific paths after school." Leading up to the finals in December, alongside his responsibilities at RTG-PRO, Hannes is also coordinating the training of the IJSO National Team in Biology, collaborating with colleagues from all over Germany.

Good luck and enjoy the adventure, young scientists!

(https://www.scienceolympiaden.de/media/2868/download/Pressemitteilung-IJSO%20Bundesfinale%202023.pdf?v=1)

The 5th German Pneumococcal and Streptococcal Symposium, which took place in Hannover, Germany, from September 25th to 27th, 2023, was co-hosted by the Foundation Veterinary University Hannover, the Institute for Microbiology, and the German Veterinary Medical Society.

During this event, Supradipta De (A6), one of our PhD students, showcased her research on Pneumococcal serine proteases through a poster presentation. The symposium primarily delved into critical research about infections and immune responses caused by pathogens such as S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, S.suis, and S.canis.

Supradipta shared her perspective on the event, emphasizing its high level of organization and the opportunities for valuable interactions. The symposium featured engaging talks and informative poster presentations that significantly contributed to our understanding of these pathogens.

This year the annual conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) took place at the University of Göttingen from 10^th to 13^th of September. Larissa Busch (B1) had the chance to present current results on construction a tool box of S. aureus strains to investigate the function of ClpX in S. aureus pathophysiology. The presented poster also included results from two RTG-PRO associated Bachelor projects of Meike Kröber and Emilia Schmidt. It was a great pleasure to meet many microbiologist and to discuss about microbial physiology, molecular methods and computational analysis strategies.

Autumn is conference season. Many of our PhD researchers are already able to present the results of their diligent and hard work at conferences of professional societies. The German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) convened its fall conference on September 5th and 6th, 2023, at the University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main. This year, the central theme of the GBM conference was "Proteomics," and among the distinguished participants was our Pro Hannes Wolfgramm (C1).

Reflecting on the event, Hannes shared, "It was a privilege to present and discuss my N-terminomics approach for identifying substrates of the Jep protease at the GBM Compact. The conference facilitated valuable insights into proteomics and fostered a welcoming environment for fruitful discussions."

The 75th annual meeting of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) took place in Lübeck, the historic "Queen of the Hanseatic League," from September 18-20, 2023. Notably, three of our PhD researchers, Abhishek (B2), Supradipta (A6), and Shruthi (A5), participated in the congress, with the latter two presenting the results of their diligent work on posters. And the hard work was rewarded! Shruthi won the prize for the best poster. Well done Shruthi and congratulations!!!

Among the distinguished attendees were some of our PIs, including Prof. Dr. Sven Hammerschmidt, Prof. Dr. Anca Dorhoi, Dr. Ulrike Seifert, and Dr. Clemens Cammann. They graced the congress with their presence and delivered insightful talks.

This year's conference delved into compelling themes such as host-pathogen metabolism, colonization resistance, microbial networks, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) evolution, and innovative antimicrobial strategies. The plenary lectures were delivered by esteemed scientists from the international research community.

A highlight of the event was the presence of Steffanie A. Strathdee, Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences, Distinguished Professor at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics. She was honoured with the prestigious „Lecturer of the Year Award“ and captivated the audience with her remarkable presentation on pioneering phage therapy as a potent weapon against superbugs.

The young investigators convened for their second scientific retreat in Hamburg, embarking on a captivating journey. The Pros visited the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. On a guided tour, Sara & Saleh from the Helminth immunology group led by Prof. Minka Breloer gave insights into their PhD projects.

Also on their list was the prestigious Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) campus, where the PhDs got an excellent opportunity to explore the cutting-edge research facilities of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) and the Hamburg Advanced Research Centre for Bioorganic Chemistry. They were introduced to structural biology techniques from cryoEM, light microscopy, x-ray crystallography and much more! After their scientific pursuits, the Pros explored the Hafen City.

We are glad to announce one of our RTG-PRO fellows, Ole Schmöker (B3), was awarded the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biologie e.V. (GMB_eV) prize for his Master thesis entitled, "Biochemical investigations of structure and function of bacterial CE clan-related pathogenicity factors with potential acetyltransferase and deubiquitinase activity."

On behalf of the RTG-PRO family, we congratulate Ole for his achievement and wish him the best and more success!

The female PhD-researchers of RTG-PRO attended Dr. Christine Kohistanis's workshop on self-marketing and strengthening self-awareness. We learned strategies to expand our networks, foster connections and amplify our influence as female scientists. Reflection on skills and crafting our scientific brand were just a few game-changing insights gained! We thank Dr. Kohistani for granting us tools to navigate the academic landscape with confidence and purpose.

Together with the Akademie der Wissenschaften in Hamburg (www.awhamburg.de, @awhamburg on Twitter) and the Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald (www.wiko-greifswald.de, @wiko_greifswald on Twitter), we had the great opportunity to organize the symposium titled “Anti-infective Strategies of the Future”. Under the three big pillars of Prevention, Diagnostics and Therapy the interdisciplinary symposium took place from 09 - 11 Feb 2023 at the Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg in Greifswald with interesting talks by renowned scientists from academia and the industry. 

Besides great talks with lively discussions during the day, two plenary lectures were given in the evening which were open to the public. On Thursday the president of the Robert-Koch-Institute Prof. Lothar Wieler spoke about the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis and its challenges. On Friday, the CSO of the Dutch-based diagnostics company BaseClear Prof. Alex van Belkum gave his lecture on the future of diagnostics. Since he already joined our ceremonial Opening Retreat in May last year as a member of RTG PRO`s Scientific Advisory Board, we were very happy to have him in Greifswald again for this event!

Both plenary lectures by Prof. Lothar Wieler and Prof. Alex van Belkum were live-recorded and are freely available to watch on the website of the Krupp Kolleg:

Prof. Lothar Wieler - “Future Challenges of AMR - the ongoing pandemic”
https://www.wiko-greifswald.de/mediathek/beitrag/n/future-challenges-of-amr-the-ongoing-pandemic/

Prof. Alex van Belkum - “Future diagnostics today!”
https://www.wiko-greifswald.de/mediathek/beitrag/n/future-diagnostics-today-151739/

A big thank you goes out to all organizers in front and behind the scenes who made this fantastic symposium possible!
We as RTG-PRO are humbled to have contributed to this exciting and succesful event.

Copyright Disclaimer: All rights for photographic material are owned by Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald.