The PhD program includes seminars and courses on cognitive research. Each semester, IRTG offers a wide range of lectures and workshops. The curriculum is complemented by external lectures, seminars and summer schools led by world-leading experts who come to Magdeburg to discuss the latest scientific trends.
Since theory is followed by practice, we organize technical workshops including experimental training, where the students are given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Our students also have the opportunity to take soft skills courses to advance their professional future – such as project management, professional presentations and conflict resolution.
- Technical Workshops
- IRTG Lecture Series
- External Courses & Workshops
- Summer & Winter Schools
- IRTG Retreats
- IRTG Coding Club
- Brainhack
- Outreach
- Awards & Achievements
- Nature Masterclasses
Technical Workshops
Practical trainings to acquire new methods and novel technologies are organised by CRC 1436 project leaders.
If you want to register for the upcoming workshops, please send an email to
NEURAL CIRCUIT ANALYSIS TO TRACE ENGRAMS
Instructors: Dr. Michael Kreutz, Dr. Anna Karpova, Dr. Prof. Alexander Dityatev, Prof. Dr. Magdalena Sauvage, Prof. Dr. Oliver Stork.
Detailed information and the schedule of the workshop can be found here.
Schedule may change last-minute. Please check the information below for the most up-to-date information.
Theoretical Sessions
Date: 29. February 2024 I 09:00 a.m. – 13:00 p.m.
Location: IBIO – Room 001
| Time | Topic | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| 9.10 – 9.50 | Functional circuit analysis with engram technologies. | Dr. Michael Kreutz |
| 9.50 – 10.30 | From mGRASP to SynapShot: exploring basic principles of molecular tools and applicability for defined questions. | Dr. Anna Karpova |
| 10.50 – 11.30 | Implementation of engram labelling in behavioral research using the robust activity marking (RAM) technology | Prof. Dr. Oliver Stork and Sara Enrile |
| 11.30 – 12.10 | Emergence and fate of memories: engram mapping based on Immediate-Early Gene (IEG) expression. | Prof. Dr. Magdalena Sauvage |
| 12.10 – 12.50 | Imaging engrams using two-photon calcium imaging. | Prof. Dr. Alexander Dityatev |
Practical Sessions
Registration for the practical session will take place on-site at the conclusion of the technical session.
Location: The practical sessions will be held in the laboratory of the respective Professor/Instructor.
| Date | Topic | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| 5.-6.03.2024 | Engram mapping based on Immediate-Early Gene (IEG) expression | Magdalena Sauvage |
| 28.03.2024 | Implementation of engram labelling in behavioral research using the robust activity marking (RAM) technology | Sara Enrile Lacalle |
| 14.03.2024 | Imaging engrams using two-photon calcium imaging. | Stepan Aleshin |
| 7.03.2023 | From mGRASP to SynapShot: exploring basic principles of molecular tools and applicability for defined questions. | Anna Karpova |
2023
TOOLS AND PARADIGMS FOR PROBING COGNITION ACROSS SPECIES
Date: 04 – 05. May 2023 I 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Anne Albrecht, Prof. Dr. Frank Angenstein, Prof. Dr. Markus Fendt, Prof. Dr. Kristine Krug, Dr. Janelle Pakan, Prof. Dr. Thomas Wolbers
Location: IBIO – Room 203
Detailed information and the schedule of the workshop can be found here.
Advanced MRI Methods
Practical Sessions
Workshop: “Multimodal neuroimaging data analysis: an example for a fMRI-PET study”
Date: 22 February 2023 I 10:00 a.m. – 02:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Anne Maass
Location: DZNE – Room 121
Workshop: “7 Tesla MRI visit”
Date: 12 January 2023 I 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
16 January 2023 I 3:30 p.m. – 05:00 p.m.
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Speck
Location: Haus 92 – 7 Tesla MRI
Workshop: “Software and tools to infer brain-behaviour correlations based on structural MRI data”
Date: 3 November 2022 I 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Nico Lehmann
Location: PC pool in OvGU building 40 D – Room 08
Workshop: “Perivascular Spaces Segmentation (PVS)”
Date: 28 October 2022 I 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Instructor: Jose Bernal Moyano
Location: IBIO – Seminar room: 001
Theoretical Sessions
Date: 04 October 2022
| Time | Topic | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Introduction to MRI | Oliver Speck |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | fMRI and PET | Anne Maass |
| 14:15 – 15:15 | Structural MRI | Marco Taubert |
| 15:15 – 16:15 | Vascular MRI | Stefanie Schreiber |
2022
Foundations of Bayesian Inference
Date: 05-07 October 2022 – Dirk Ostwald
| (0) Introduction | |
| (1) Foundations | |
| (2) Conjugate inference | |
| (3) Numerical inference | |
| (4) Variational inference |
.
State-of-the-art – EEG/MEG Analysis Workshop
Date: 13-17 June 2022
| Topic | Instructor |
|---|---|
| Introduction to FieldTrip, EEGlab – Preprocessing I | Max Stenner, Christian Merkel, Korka |
| Preprocessing II & III | Max Stenner, Christian Merkel |
| Spectral analysis | Stefan Dürschmid |
| SSVEP | Christian Merkel |
| Statistics | Max Stenner |
| Source analysis | Max Hopf |
| Multivariate analyses | Radoslaw Martin Cichy, Reichert |
| Connectivity analyses | Stefan Dürschmid |
| Visit to MEG labs | Nönnig, Knape |
| What to keep in mind when designing EEG/MEG research | Mandy Bartsch |
.
Neuro-image Modelling Workshop
Date: 21-24 March 2022
| Date | Topic | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| 21-22 March 2022 | Introduction to fMRI Analysis (GLM) | Dirk Ostwald |
| 23-24 March 2022 | Basics on Predictive Modelling | Gabriel Ziegler |
IRTG Lecture Series
These lectures are mainly aimed at our PhD students and postdocs. They serve as an educational module for them to develop a deep understanding of the theoretical concepts of cognition and to connect the basic micro, meso and macro levels of the research area.
Students are highly encouraged to attend lectures on CRC 1436 relevant topics as concepts of cognition, cellular & molecular mechanisms of aging and super-aging, transferable enhancement of cognitive functions, systemic imaging technologies on brain aging, sleep deprivation, vascular reserve, and cognitive adaptations to acquire a common basic knowledge and learn state-of-the-art methods and techniques. Our young researchers are also regularly informed about the lectures of other graduate programs.
CRC 1436 – IRTG Lecture Series / Biweekly Thursdays, 12:00 – 13:30
IRTG Lectures 2023
Proteastasis and cellular senescence
Date: 22.06.2023
Instructor: Daniela C. Dieterich
Cognitive Neurology
Date: 08.06.2023
Instructor: Emrah Düzel
Coordination dynamics in neural systems
Date: 25.05.2023
Instructor: Frank Ohl
Causal interventions in brain circuits for cognition in primates
Date: 11.05.2023
Instructor: Kristine Krug
Noradrenergic system – why relevant in dementia?
Date: 20.04.2023
Instructor: Dorothea Hämmerer
Cellular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex of rodents
Date: 30.03.2023
Instructor: Volkmar Lessmann
The role of sensory cortex in sensory-guided decision making
Date: 16.03.2023
Instructor: Max Happel
MR-Methods for structural and functional brain imaging
Date: 02.03.2023
Instructor: Oliver Speck
Cognitive flexibility in laboratory rodents: experimental paradigms and neural basis
Date: 16.02.2023
Instructor: Markus Fendt
Ethical aspects of research with humans
Date: 02.02.2023
Instructor: Björn Schott
Functional neuroanatomy of temporal attention
Date: 19.01.2023
Instructor: Toemme Noesselt
IRTG Lectures 2022
Using sMRI Pattern Analysis in Ageing and Neurodegeneration
Date: 27.10.2022
Instructor: Gabriel Ziegler
Testing cognition and probing neural circuits in rodents
Date: 03.11.2022
Instructor: Oliver Stork
Beyond Peaks and Troughs: Multiplexed Performance Monitoring Signals in the EEG
Date: 17.11.2022
Instructor: Markus Ullsperger
Beyond Peaks and Troughs: Multiplexed Performance Monitoring Signals in the EEG
Date: 17.11.2022
Instructor: Markus Ullsperger
Functional neuroanatomy of attention control
Date: 01.12.2022
Instructor: Stefan Pollmann
Previous IRTG Lectures (2021-2022)
Loosen the corset – brain ECM dynamics and cognitive flexibility
Date: 04.11.2021
Instructor: Constanze Seidenbecher
Spatial Cognition – a unique window into mechanisms of ageing and dementia
Date: 18.11.2021
Instructor: Thomas Wolbers
Cognitive Reserve
Date: 02.12.2021
Instructor: Gabriel Ziegler
Excitation-transcription coupling: An unexplored neural resource
Date: 20.01.2022
Instructor: Michael Kreutz
Mechanisms and emerging concepts of vascular cognitive impairment
Date: 03.02.2022
Instructor: Stefanie Schreiber
Neuropeptides controlling emotion and cognition
Date: 17.02.2022
Instructor: Anne Albrecht
Neural resources for spatial, temporal and event memories
Date: 03.03.2022
Instructor: Magdalena Sauvage
Training-induced plasticity in the human brain
Date: 17.03.2022
Instructor: Marco Taubert
Effects of Alzheimer’s Pathology on memory dysfunction in ageing
Date: 31.03.2022
Instructor: Anne Maass
Molecular mechanisms of neuroplasticity
Date: 14.04.2022
Instructor: Alexander Dityatev
External Courses & Workshops
Professionalism training courses serve to acquire key competences in scientific management and soft skills, e. g. in scientific writing, grant application, good scientific practice, data management, oral presentation, conflict management, animal handling.
Additionally, transferable skills training courses are offered to students for various future career paths. These courses enable integration into a multidisciplinary and collaborative research field and successfully overcome the boundaries between academic and industrial paths.
2024
Workshop “Career Path Development”
2 sessions:
- first session: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
- second session: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Date: 05.12.2024 and 17.01. 2025 | ZOOM
Instructor: Dr. Matthew J. Betts
Workshop “Grant Writing”
2 sessions: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Date: 21.11.2024 and 02.12.2024 | ZOOM
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Schiller
2023
Mental Strategies – Stress Management Seminar for Doctoral Students (in cooperation with TK)
5 sessions: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
25.05.2023 Stress and its effects | in person
01.06.2023 Protect yourself from stress | ZOOM
08.06.2023 It’s all in the mind | ZOOM
15.06.2023 Manage stress successfully | ZOOM
29.06.2023 My doctoral journey | in person
Workshop “Advanced Python – Analysis and Visualization of Scientific Data”
Date: 13.-15.03.2023
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Britz
Workshop “Solving Conflicts in the Lab”
Date: 01.03.2023
Instructor: Dr. Imke Lode
Workshop “Oral Presentation Skills”
Date: 15.-16.02.2023
Instructor: Dr. Imke Lode
2022
Workshop “Advanced Python – Analysis and Visualization of Scientific Data”
Date: 19.-21.11.2022
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Britz
Workshop “Writing Scientific Publications”
Date: 24.-25.11.2022
Instructor: Dr. Anne Wolfes
Workshop “Writing Scientific Publications”
Date: 10.-11.11.2022
Instructor: Dr. Anne Wolfes
Workshop “Time Management”
Date: 24.08.2022
Instructor: Dr. Anne Wolfes
Workshop “Entrepreneurship”
Date: 24.08.2022
Instructor: Dr. Gerald Böhm – TUGZ
Workshop “Designing Skills for Papers”
Date: 24.08.2022
Instructor: Philipp Jordan
Workshop “Mental Health during PhD”
Date: 23.08.2022
Instructor: Suzanne Maureen Jones
Workshop “Poster Design”
Date: 23.08.2022
Instructor: Philipp Jordan
Workshop “Research Data Management”
Date: 21.-22.02.2022
Instructor: Katarzyna Biernacka
German Language Courses
Date: 25.10-31.12.2022
Workshop “Research Data Management”
Date: 24.-25.01.2022
Instructor: Katarzyna Biernacka
2021
Workshop “Good Scientific Practice”
Date: 22.11.2021
Instructor: Dr. Andrea Kliewer
Workshop “Good Scientific Practice”
Date: 19.11.2021
Instructor: Dr. Andrea Kliewer
Workshop “Research Data Management”
Date: 26.10.2021
Instructor: Katarzyna Biernacka
Workshop “Good Scientific Practice”
Date: 08.10.2021
Instructor: Barbara Witter
German Conversation Clubs
Date: 01.10.-31.12.2021
IRTG Neuroscience Summer School
Our first summer school, organized by our PhD students, took place from August 22nd to 24th, 2022 in Festung Mark and enabled more than 60 young researchers to expand their knowledge in neuroscience and to network with their peers.
We hosted Prof. Dr. Martin Fuhrmann (DZNE Bonn – Germany), Prof. Dr. Marloes Henckens (Donders Institute – Netherlands), Dr. Christian Schnell (Cell Press-UK), Dr. Chiara de Lucia (King’s College London – UK), Dr. Nahid Zokaei (University of Oxford – UK), Dr. Eider Arenaza Urquijo (Barcelona Beta Brain Research Center – Spain), six high-profile scientists from across Europe. We appreciate their exciting lectures and the opportunity to expand our knowledge at all levels of neuroscience!
Moreover, we had great highlight workshops on Poster Design, Open Data & BIDS, Mental Health during PhD, Design Skills for Scientific Papers, Time management and Entrepreneurship.
In our panel discussion „Growing up in Science“, Prof. Dr. Anne Albrecht, Dr. Chiara de Lucia and Dr. Philipp Jordan gave valuable insights into their experiences inside and outside of academy and exchanged perspectives on future career opportunities for young scientists.
We thank all our invited guests for sharing their valuable research experiences and for the inspiring career tips they gave to the young researchers. Finally, we would like to thank our organising committee for the great success, who stayed motivated from start to finish and took care of every detail individually.
For more information check our flyer and the schedule.
Speakers
Keynote Lectures:
- “How AD affects the brain from sub cellular to network level – lessons from animal experiments” – Prof Dr Martin Fuhrmann – DZNE Bonn – Germany
- “Inter-individual differences in stress susceptibility: what can we learn from animal models?”– Prof Dr Marloes Henckens – Donders Institute – Netherlands
- “Negative results” – Dr Christian Schnell – Cell Press
- “Adult neurogenesis across time” – Dr Chiara de Lucia – King’s College London – UK
- “Memory and Attention” – Dr Nahid Zokaei – University of Oxford – UK
- “Cognitive Reserve” – Dr Eider Arenaza Urquijo – Barcelona Beta Brain Research Center (BBRC) – Spain
Panel Discussions:
Workshops:
- Poster design – Dr Philipp Jordan
- Open Data & BIDS – Prof Dr Dirk Ostwald
- Mental Health during PhD- Suzanne Jones
- Designing skills for scientific papers – Dr Philipp Jordan
- Entrepreneurship – Dr Gerald Böhm
- Time management – Dr Anne Wolfes
IRTG Retreats
IRTG retreats take place annually outside of Magdeburg. We use this opportunity to review the current status of our educational activities and the research results of the students. The students of each project present and discuss their recent research outcomes, as well as technical challenges and possible collaborations.
IRTG Retreat / 01.-03. June 2022
Hotel Wasserschloss Westerburg
This year our IRTG Retreat took place in the Hotel Wasserschloss Westerburg. We took opportunity to review the current status of our educational activities and the research results of our members. The PhD students, MD fellows and postdocs of each project presented and discussed their recent research outcomes, as well as technical challenges and possible collaborations.
IRTG Kick-Off Meeting / 01.-03. September 2021
K6 Seminar Hotel, Halberstadt
We welcomed our new PhD students and postdocs of CRC 1436 at our Kick-Off Meeting. We took the opportunity to get to know each other and introduce the IRTG graduate program. In addition, students gave presentations on their research topics and made initial contacts for future collaborations.
IRTG Coding Club
The IRTG Coding Club, organised by students for students, gathers every 3rd Wednesday of the month (with occasional exceptions) to offer support with coding challenges in an easygoing environment. Whether someone is new to coding or familiar with it, everyone is welcome to join for a relaxed, question-friendly space to collaboratively address coding issues.
Participants are also welcomed to invite speakers to address specific topics and learn new methods
No registration required.
For more details regarding the location and upcoming dates:
Brainhack Magdeburg 2024
The IRTG was the organiser of the 2024 edition of Brainhack Magdeburg!
The Brainhack is a format of event that encourages everyone to learn and practice coding in their specific field of interest in a collaborative environment. Our event focused on analysing block-design human fMRI , neuronal recording and protein expression datasets. Three IRTG students (Avinash Kalyani, Anwesha Das, Aditya Nemali) lead the working groups and presented the results on the last day of the event.
During the two days, Dr. Gabriel Ziegler introduced participants to the basics of fMRI analysis and Dr. Davide Ciliberti discussed real-time detection of hippocampal replay patterns for closed-loop experiments.
For more details on the datasets used please visit the brainhack website:
Details & Registration
The organisers provided also documentation for the participants to ensure their laptop were ready to go for the event!
Dataset 1 – Protein expression Setup Guide
Dataset 2 – Neuronal recording in mice Access to the dataset & Setup Guide
Dataset 3 – Human fMRI Setup Guide
The organisation team: Anwesha Das, Martin Matke, Avinash Kalyani, Aditya Nemali, Margarita Darna
To connect to the interested public, all IRTG members are encouraged and trained to participate in scientific outreach activities such as “Pint of Science”, “Science Slam” and “Long Night of Science.”
May 13-14, 2024
The Pint of Science took place in Magdeburg for the very first time!
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Sara Lacalle and two IRTG members, Marina Leimann and Sebastian Samer, the Pint Of Science festival became a reality in Magdeburg for the first time. The IRTG was delighted to be an official supporter of this initiative, a global science festival held in pubs and bars worldwide to make science more approachable and enjoyable for everyone. In this inaugural edition at Hyde Pub, four engaging speakers presented in English or German, ensuring that everyone felt included in the fun and learning experience.
April 5, 2024
Parthiban Saravanakumar won the 2nd UMMD Science Slam!
The IRTG doctoral candidate Parthiban Saravanakumar won the 2nd UMMD Science Slam with his talk “Life Of a Lab Gerbil”!
“Initially, I felt quite apprehensive since it was my first public talk. Despite delivering my speech in English, I briefly commenced with an introduction in German, prompting applause from the audience. This moment bolstered my confidence, resulting in a rewarding experience overall. Ultimately, I was pleased to see that everyone grasped the substance of my presentation.”
Photographer: Melitta Schubert/UMMD
January 20, 2023
CRC 4136 Spokesperson Prof. Dr. med. Emrah Düzel lights up the stage at the first UMMD Science Slam Competition
SFB 1436 speaker Prof. Düzel brought his neuroscience knowledge to the stage in a captivating Science Slam presentation that blended entertainment with education.
His participation demonstrated the importance of engaging with diverse audiences in innovative ways.
Achievements, prizes and awards of our IRTG students
- Christoph Knoll – MED doctoral scholarship by Commission for the Promotion of Young Scientists of the Medical Faculty of Otto von Guericke University. The doctoral scholarship will run from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024
- Parthiban Saravanakumar – 2nd prize in the Flash talk at ENCODS (24th June 2024, Vienna)
- Bahrd Philip Bernard – Granted the Alzheimer’s Doctoral Scholarship from the Hans and Ilse Breuer Stiftung – Starting February 2024
- Anwesha Das – travel grant and NCM award for April 2024 at NCM (Society for Neural Control of Movement) meeting in Dubrovnik
- Anna Felsberg – travel grant by the Nachwuchsförderung of the Med OvGU for attending the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) conference
- Joans Marquardt – travel grant by DZNE Stiftung for attending AAIC
- Vockert, Niklas – conference registration fellowship (August 2022)
- Marina Leiman
- LOM doctoral scholarship by the Medical Faculty of Otto von Guericke University. The scholarship is for the best performance-oriented researchers
- FME Doctoral Scholarships
- Travel grant for 4th Workshop on Research Definitions for Reserve and Resilience in Cognitive Aging & Dementia (Bethesda, USA)
Subscription for IRTG students
As part of our commitment to supporting the professional development of our graduate students, starting October 2024, the IRTG provided one-year subscriptions to the Nature Masterclasses on-demand training platform for participants of our recent retreat.
Nature Masterclasses offers training from world-class experts with research background and leading Nature Portfolio Editors. All courses are designed to help researchers learn at their own pace and grow their research skills, confidence, and careers, from research design to writing, publishing and sharing research, to effective networking, collaboration and career development and with certificates awarded after completion.
You are an IRTG student who participated in the last IRTG retreat?
Contact the IRTG coordinator by 15/11/2024 to claim your subscription!
Not sure which Nature Masterclasses course to take?
Take a moment to take the quiz to find out which course are recommended for your phase of PhD.
Please note that the licenses will be valid from October 31, 2024, to October 30, 2025, regardless of when you claim and subscribe. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your research skills!
Current list of available courses:
- Building a strong online researcher profile
- Writing a Research Paper: 2nd Edition
- NEW! Writing and Publishing a Review Paper: 2nd Edition
- Publishing a Research Paper
- Research Integrity: Publication Ethics
- Focus on Peer Review
- Experiments: From Idea to Design
- Persuasive Grant Writing
- Finding Funding Opportunities
- Managing Research Data to Unlock its Full Potential
- Data Analysis: Planning and Preparing
- Data Analysis: Conducting and Troubleshooting
- Interpreting Scientific Results
- Narrative Tools for Researchers
- Effective Science Communication
- Advancing Your Scientific Presentations
- Creating Successful Research Posters
- Getting an Academic Research Position
- Networking for Researchers
- Introduction to Collaboration
- Participating in a Collaboration
- Leading a Collaboration
