The Research Training Group 2155 “ProMoAge – Protein Modification: A Key Mechanism for Ageing” can continue its work for another four years. The DFG is funding the second phase with approximately 5.5 million euros. The GRK is managed by the Medical Faculty of the MLU together with the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.

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The Senate of the German Research Foundation (DFG) decided on Friday to establish the new Research Training Group “Beyond Amphiphilicity: Self-Organization of Soft Matter Via Multiple Noncovalent Interactions (GRK 2670)” at MLU. In the first funding phase until 2025, about 4.5 million euros will be available for the doctoral program.

(from MLU press release No 157/2020 from November 9, 2020)

Research Training Group “Beyond Amphiphilicity: Self-Organization of Soft Matter Via Multiple Noncovalent Interactions (GRK 2670)” spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Dariush Hinderberger (funding 2021-2025) (link)

Amphiphilicity is a well-established qualitative concept contributing to the understanding of self-assembly processes of molecules composed of two inherently incompatible units (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) in aqueous systems. Polyphilic molecules are more complex molecules, from small molecules to macromolecules, that have interaction patterns with at least two types of interactions, one of them based on amphiphilicity. Self-assembled soft matter systems attain their complexity through noncovalent interaction patterns of their molecular constituents with their environment, solvents, biomolecules, membranes, and surfaces.

This lecture is about the prevalence of mental health illness in general and academic populations, about signs and symptoms and the science underlying the causes and treatments of mental illnesses, with an emphasis on depression and anxiety.

Our speaker will be Wendy Marie Ingram, PhD. She is a scientist, mental health advocate, consultant and speaker. She is a Founder and CEO at Dragonfly Mental Health, a Global Consortium for Academic Mental Health, established in 2019.

The talk will cover the following topics:

• the prevalence of mental health illness in general and academic populations
• an overview of signs and symptoms highlighting those seen in academic settings
• the science underlying the causes and treatments of mental illnesses, with an emphasis on depression and anxiety
• what to do and when to get help

We are happy to announce the iDiv Summer School 2020 “Pollination Ecology”, 6 to 11 July 2020, in Leipzig, Germany. This iDiv Summer School is led by Tiffany Knight and Amibeth Thompson, iDiv research group Spatial Interaction Ecology.

During the six summer school days, participants will be immersed into the field of pollination ecology with lectures, computer labs using the programming language R, fieldwork, plant and insect identification, and data analysis (Species Accumulation Curves, Linear Regression, NMDS, Network Metrics). In addition, students will have opportunities to attend iDiv Seminars and exchange with iDiv researchers.

The summer school aims to attract early career scientists (bachelor, master, or PhD level) from around the world with an overall interest in pollination ecology and interest in fieldwork.

The application deadline is Sunday, 5 April 2020.

For more information and the link for application, please visit summerschool.idiv.de.