Program overview

• Our program includes an initial workshop “Rules of good scientific practice and environmentally friendly and sustainable research activities” exclusively for the BIGS BIO students to build the fundament for a successful research project.
• Your research project is accompanied by regularly and personalized meetings with your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) to ensure its quality and progress.
• Meet the BIGS BIO community in the regularly Summer and Winter meetings and visit the lab of one of your colleagues to learn about new techniques and methods.
• The active participation in seminar series and conferences is likewise important to build a network with other scientists.
• Participation in a wide range of soft-skill workshops will finally lead to the acquisition of versatile, transferable skills to support your professional and personal growth. 

Mentoring

• In order to monitor and support the successful progress of your project, your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC), which consists of your direct supervisor and at least one second person from the group of BIGS-BIO members, meets with you every semester to discuss your project results.
• In addition to your TAC you can also choose a mentor from the BIGS BIO members supporting your scientific carreer and personal development. 

Lab visit

• You should familiarise yourself with the working environment of other doctoral students through a one-week laboratory internship in another working group during the first year.
• Learn new methodologies and establish contacts with other scientists at an early stage.

Workshops

• Participate in the initial workshop “Rules of good scientific practice and environmentally friendly and sustainable research activities” exclusively designed for the BIGS BIO students by the members of the BIGS BIO.
• As a BIGS BIO PhD student you will participate in scientific and soft-skill workshops.
• A wide selection of in person and online soft-skill workshops are offered by the University Bonn. Choose one workshop per semester to attain versatile, transferable skills to bolster your career growth.

• • Doctorate plusBIGS qualification programme.
  • Doctorate plus qualification programme at the Bonn Graduate Centre.
  • The University of Bonn's Career Service
  • Workshops of another institutions, ask for recognition.

Seminar series

Winter and Summer Meetings

Get-together in a relaxed atmosphere!

Winter meeting:

• First meeting with your PhD colleagues
• Learn more about our program
• Get to know BIGS BIO students from other research groups
• Introduction of the Principal Investigators
• Elect your representative and their deputy to the BIGS BIO board

Summer meeting:

• Meet the BIGS BIO community
• Join poster presentations and talks by selected BIGS BIO PhD students
• Discuss scientific results and methods
  
  

Conference stay

• You should actively participate in at least one national or international conference.
• Select a conference that matches your area of research expertise.
• Present your research results by a talk or poster.