GRK 296:  Genetics of Cellular Systems

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 1997 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271671

The research programme is based on the wide variety of topics in cell and molecular biology investigated by the basic research groups in Cologne. The main areas covered include basic cell and molecular biology, neurobiology, developmental biology, immunolgy and evolution.The programme includes a number of activities intended to encourage students to critically analyse their own progress, the work of their colleagues and that of other scientists. The students are trained to give clear presentations of their experiental work, both in writing and in talks. All activities are held in English. The students organize their own seminar series in which they invite and host internationally renowned scientists. This allows them to keep up with the most exciting new developments outside their own areas of research and to establish new contacts.The programme begins with a rotation period in which students spend half a year on projects in 4 different labs chosen from among the participating groups before deciding on their actual Ph.D. project. This gives them an overview of research topics and experimental approaches and establishes valuable interactions between them and the various research groups.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Spokesperson: Professorin Maria Leptin, Ph.D.
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Jürgen Dohmen; Professor Dr. Jonathan Charles Howard; Professorin Dr. Sigrun Korsching; Professor Dr. Thomas Langer; Professorin Dr. Angelika A. Noegel; Professor Dr. Mats Paulsson; Professor Dr. Siegfried Roth; Professorin Dr. Karin Schnetz