From 18 to 20 August 2026, the doctoral candidates of our Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) came together for this year’s Summer School, held at Festung Mark in Magdeburg. Over three packed days, the program combined scientific exchange with hands-on training in the transferable skills doctoral researchers need beyond the lab.
Day 1: Progress reports and a choice of hands-on workshops
The Summer School opened with a welcome and introduction by Prof. Dr. Dr. Anne Albrecht, followed by a full morning of progress report presentations from our PhD students, split into two groups and chaired by members of the IRTG. After a lunch break, participants chose between two parallel afternoon workshops: a hands-on session on Bayesian regression and its applications, or an entrepreneurship workshop exploring AI. The day rounded off with a social evening at Moonlight bar.
Day 2: From data to a compelling poster
Day two was dedicated to scientific communication, led by Dr. Alexander Schiller. In the morning session, “Poster Design & Structuring Your Message,” participants learned how to turn data into a clear visual story, covering content, structure, and visual hierarchy for effective posters. In the afternoon, students put that training into practice at a guided poster walk with structured peer feedback. The day closed on a creative note with “Creativity in Science,” a session using LEGO Serious Play to explore new ways of thinking about research.
Day 3: Presenting with impact and managing the PhD journey
The final day began with an Oral Presentation Workshop on structuring, wording, and delivering research talks with impact, again led by Dr. Alexander Schiller, followed by a short feedback survey. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to “Managing Yourself & Your Project,” covering time management and practical project management for PhD life. The Summer School concluded, fittingly, with a potluck barbeque.
Our thanks go to all speakers, chairs, and organizers who made this Summer School possible, and to our PhD students for their active participation and excellent presentations throughout the three days.
Copyright @ Christoph Knoll