Training of PhD Students

Lecture Series

PhD Students have to attend 30 optional talks by external speakers per year. "External speakers" means that the speakers may not come from Ulm University. Many talks by external speakers are announced on our homepage. The lectures given during the Spring and Fall Meetings of the Graduate School and those given on the PhD Selection Days also count. The attended lectures have to be listed in the list of visited lectures. 

Improve your Textbook Knowledge

The lecture series Improve your textbook knowledge is a general introduction into different aspects of Molecular Medicine. It is compulsory for all first-year students of the PhD Programme. Students have to attend at least 85 % of the sessions.

There are no lectures during the semester break. The programme for summer term 2012 can be found here.

Starting date for summer term 2012: April 26, 2012

Venue: Multimedia room 2.059, Life Science Building N27

Journal Club

The Journal Club is a seminar offered by the institute where the PhD work is carried out. If an institute does not offer a Journal Club, PhD students can attend the Journal Club of their second supervisor's institute. Regular attendance of the Journal Club must be demonstrated for the registration for the intermediate examination.

Progress Report

Progress Report is a biweekly seminar where PhD candidates present their research results to the other students. Each student has to present his/her progress report 1-2 times per year. The first supervisor should be present when his/her PhD candidate gives a presentation. The seminar is compulsory for all PhD students.

There are 3 seminar groups:

Students are assigned to one of the 3 groups by the students' representative. At least 85 % of the sessions have to be attended. However, missed sessions can be caught up by attending sessions of the other groups.

Spring and Fall Meetings

The attendance of the Spring and Fall Meetings organized by the Graduate School is compulsory for all PhD students. The talks of external speakers on the meetings can be included in the 30 talks you need to attend per year.

Optional Activities

Students have to attend two optional activities per year. These can be workshops, excursions, scientific meetings, summer schools, retreats, mini symposia or key competence seminars. Activities not organized by the Graduate School also count. The optional activities must be listed in the list of activities; confirmation of participation in two optional activities must be provided for the registration for the intermediate examinations. If you are not sure if an event will be accepted as an optional activity by the Graduate School, please contact the coordination office. 

Further information about optional activities organized by the Graduate School can be found here:

• Key Competence Seminars
• Retreats
• Excursions
• Summer Schools

Information about workshops, minisymposia and other events organized by the Graduate School or by institutes of Ulm University can also be found in our Events Calendar.

Practical Trainings

Each PhD student has to attend 3 practical training sessions before the end of the second study year. The practical training has to cover 10 working days in total and must be completed in 3 different institutes. Practical training can also be completed in the institute of the second or third supervisor or in industry. The practical training sessions must be listed in the list of activities; confirmation of participation in 3 practical training sessions must be provided for the registration for the second intermediate exam.

Good Scientific Practice

Good Scientific Practice is a block course which has to be attended by all PhD students during the first 6 months of PhD studies. It covers 12 hours and takes place every semester. A detailed course description with reading suggestions can be found here.

Information about the next course can be found here:

E-Learning

The Graduate School owns a licence for the web portal Henry Stuart Talks. This website publishes animated audio visual presentations by leading experts of many disciplines in the field of biomedicine and life sciences. As a registered user you can search for topics and both listen to and download the experts' talks. Please contact Bettina Braun to obtain the Graduate School's login data for the website.