Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session I: Agentic AI for Scientific Research
Dr. Christophe Jung, GeneCenter Munich
Recent progress in artificial intelligence has led to a new type of system called agentic AI. These systems combine language models with tools and data, and can solve tasks step by step. This workshop will start with a short introduction to what agentic AI is and why it is useful for scientific research.
I will then present several practical prototypes developed at our institute. These include a document assistant (docGPT) to access internal information, a literature agent to search and extract findings from PubMed, a gene screening system that combines CRISPR data with literature, and a prototype virtual lab where multiple AI agents help to generate and evaluate research ideas.
The workshop will show what these systems can do today, but also their limitations and challenges, and how they could be used in real research settings. There will also be a few hands-on interactive moments during the talk.
Christophe studies physics and chemistry in Strasbourg and passed a state exam to become a teacher. After teaching for five years in secondary schools in France, he moved to Munich to do his PhD on the topic of “Single Molecule spectroscopy” in the group of Prof. Bräuchle at the LMU. He then obtained a position of Microscopy Facility Manager at the Gene Center, and worked for 11 years in Ulrike Gaul’s Systems Biology laboratory. Beside teaching imaging, he supervised PhD students, developed new microscopy systems and methods, and programmed high-end image analysis pipelines. Christophe helds the QMB lectures since spring 2024.
Breakout Session II: AI in Daily Research – Sharing What Works (and What Doesn’t)
Life Science GraduateNetwork Munich & Dr. Tobias Straub, BMC Bioinformatics Core Facility, LMU Munich
tbd
Breakout Session III: Transferable Skills - Recognizing Their Value For Your Career
Dr. Nicola Bauer, JoyWorks Training
During a doctoral journey, early career researchers develop far more than specialized expertise - they continuously strengthen a whole range of transferable skills. While mostly taken for granted by doctoral researchers, these competencies are highly valued in various careers both inside and outside academia.
This interactive workshop is targeted at experienced doctoral researchers, supporting them to identify and gain awareness of the valuable transferable skills they possess for their upcoming career transition. Through guided reflection, practical exercises, and peer exchange, participants will learn how to recognize and confidently communicate these strengths. Consequently, also their view is widened on how transferable skills can be applied across different career paths and professional contexts.
Dr. Nicola Bauer is a trainer and systemic coach for doctoral researchers and postdocs with focus on purposeful career development, self-awareness and mental health.
After a doctorate in stemcell biology at the MPI-CBG und BioTec in Dresden, she spent several years in pharmaceutical business consulting followed by second studies in Psychology. Having co-created and worked at the career center of Helmholtz Munich for six years, Nicola founded JoyWorks Trainings in 2023, now working self-employed to support early career researchers to build a successful and fulfilling career and life.
Breakout Session IV: Making Impact Visible: Exploring Change, Contribution and Development
Dr. Isolde von Bülow, GraduateCenterLMU
This breakout session explores how 'impact' can be understood and developed during a PhD journey. Moving beyond a purely linear or product-oriented perspective, we will introduce impact as a process that unfolds through inputs, outputs, outcomes and broader societal change.
A central focus is placed on the often overlooked dimension of personal transformation during a PhD. Through short interactive exercises and peer exchange, participants will identify their emerging competencies and “impact moments”. The session will highlight how impact can arise from research results, methodological contributions and shifts in professional practice or discourse.
Isolde von Bülow is a biologist and former Director of the GraduateCenterLMU, the central unit for doctoral education at LMU Munich, a position she held from 2007 to 2026. Following a career in research and research management, she led the strategic development of doctoral education, quality assurance, and innovative qualification programmes for early career researchers. She has extensive international experience through her work with the European University Alliance EUGLOH, the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the European Commission, and the Karolinska Institutet. Today, she supports universities and research organisations as a trainer, consultant, systemic coach and mediator.
Breakout Session V: Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship - Learning from Founders
Dr. Tanja Vukićević & Dr. Mark Teese, DataCatalyis, Dr. Frank Wallrapp, Twogee-Biotech
From corporate employee to running my own startup - A brief overview of what this journey actually looked like – finding the courage to take the first step, understanding customers and markets, raising funds, meeting with investors and customers, and tackling the mountain of administrative work that nobody mentions in the job description.