International Max Planck Research School for ComputationalThe IMPRS-CBSC Biology and Scientific Computing

- a brief introduction -

International Max Planck Research School for and Scientific Computing | page 1 International Max Planck Research School

● The IMPRS is …

„an initiative to promote junior scientists. These Schools offer especially gifted students from Germany and abroad the possibility to work towards the Ph.D. exam in a structured program providing excellent research conditions“

● currently 61 IMPRS in Germany

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 2 International Max Planck Research School

● Initiative between Freie Universität Berlin, MPI-MG and the PICB Shanghai ● Associated faculty members at > Charité > Robert Koch Institute > Humboldt University > Zuse Institute > University of Potsdam

● 17 faculty members > speakers: Martin Vingron and Knut Reinert

> coordinators: Kirsten Kelleher and Fabian Feutlinske

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 3 The Dahlem Research School

● Umbrella organisation for structured graduate programs at Freie Universität

> ensures quality standards (mentoring) > administrative support (Welcome Centre, soft skills, application procedure) > German courses

● Currently 24 programs from humanities, social sciences, natural sciences

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 4 Research Campus Berlin-Dahlem

● „German Oxford“ ● Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Science → , now 4 institutes in Dahlem ● Freie Universität Berlin, since 1948

● Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 5 Research Campus Berlin-Dahlem

● „German Oxford“ ● Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Science → Max Planck Society, now 4 institutes in Dahlem ● Freie Universität Berlin, since 1948

● Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 6 Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics

● founded in 1964 with two directors ● ~ 250 employees (administrative and scientific) ● ~ 60 PhD students, 22 at the IMPRS-CBSC ● Formerly 4 Departments:

Developmental Computational Vertebrate human molecular genetics genomics genetics

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 7 The Future of the IMPRS at MPI-MG

● in 2017, the current IMPRS-CBSC shall be merged into a new, broader IMPRS uniting „wet“ and „dry“ lab > unique focus covering genetics, genomics and computational biology

● new IMPRS will open up new possibilities for collaboration

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 8 PhD and Preparatory Programs

● Scientific courses are provided by the curriculum of the master courses in and Scientific Computing at the Freie Universität

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 9 Selection and Admission

● Since 2005 there has been an annual international call for applications > Interviews in May, new PhD students start in September (negotiable) > 2015: 89 applications from 32 countries

Application Admission deadline assessment Advertise Preparation of visa, Start PhD program program Evaluate applications, temporary housing, invite candidates FU registration

February March April May June – August September October

● 3-8 students per year, 2 students max. into preparatory program

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 10 The IMPRS Students

Gender

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0 Women Men

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 11 The IMPRS Students

PhD students' countries of origin

1 1

1 Germany 7 1 Italy Mexico China 1 Romania Russia 1 Ethiopia Canada Croatia

2

3 2

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 12 The IMPRS Students

Academic backgrounds of current PhD students

1 2

8 Bioinformatics 3 Computer Science Mathematics/Statistics Engineering Physics Biology

3

5

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 13 Graduation

● English thesis

> Thesis is submitted in English to the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Freie Universität

● „Doctor of Natural Sciences”

> Successful candidates are awarded doctoral degree „Doctor of Natural Sciences“ (Dr. rer. nat.), equivalent to Ph.D.

● 35 graduates so far

> Academia: Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Humboldt University, ETH Zürich, EBI Cambridge, Dana Farber Cancer Institute...

> Business: Merck, Illumina, BASF...

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 14 Recently Completed Theses

“Reaction-diffusion “Inferring proteolytic “Statistical analysis of dynamics in biological processes from mass high-throughput systems” spectrometry time series sequencing count data” data” - Johannes Schöneberg - Stephan Aiche - Michael Love

„Next-generation sequencing “Identification of potential drug targets in algorithms: From read mapping to kinetic networks described by ordinary variant detection” differential equations” - Anne-Katrin Emde - Marvin Schulz

“Metabolic networks, „Linear programming and „Prediction of transcription thermodynamic integer linear factor co-occurrence constraints, and matroid programming in using rank based theory” bioinformatics” statistics“ - Arne Reimers - Sandro Andreotti - Alena van Bömmel

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 15 Duties of IMPRS Students

● 24 credit points

scientific agenda soft skills tutoring

12 ECTS 6 ECTS 6 ECTS

- lectures - scientific writing - bachelor/master - summer school - presentation thesis supervision - leadership - tutorial assistant - time management - grant writing

● plus IMPRS colloquium presentation

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 16 Privileges of IMPRS Students

● Funded PhD ● Cooperations: > Collaborations between MPI and university for courses and research

● Mobility: > Financial support for conference travel and research stays abroad

● Supervision guaranteed: > Regular meetings with your PhD committee consisting of advisor and mentoring team

● Administrative support: > Help dealing with university administration > Help settling in Berlin

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 17 MPI-MG FUB K. Reinert M. Vingron Algorithmic Gene Regulation Bioinformatics A. Bockmayr P. Arndt Mathematics Evolut. Genomics in Life Sciences

E. Klipp Sequence Proteomics H. Siebert Discrete Theoretical Systems Molecular Biology analysis Biomathematics dynamics and modelling R. Herwig W. Huisinga Bioinformatics Comp. Physiology

P.N. Robinson C. Schütte Computational Biocomputing Biology Biological Stochastic F. Noe H-R. Chung networks processes Comp. Molecular Epigenetics Biology

A. Marsico P. Imhof Bioinformatics E. Schulz H. Siebert Comp. Biophysics Regulatory Biomathematics Networks

International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing | page 18