PhD Training 2019: Excursions and NRW PhD Day

In July and October, the PhD students in the FocusLabs had the opportunity to gain insights into the bioeconomy-relevant industry through excursions to BAYER Crop Science (Monheim) and B.R.A.I.N. Biotech (Zwingenberg). On 30 October, the fourth NRW PhD Day „Future bioeconomy“ took place in Düsseldorf-Neuss.

Photos: Forschungszentrum Jülich

At BAYER Crop Science and B.R.A.I.N. the PhD students were familiarised with the corporate strategy in the context of bioeconomy and were able to gain deeper insights into some departments through guided tours and lectures. However, both dates were also linked to the improvement of their own lecture competence and feedback on their own research work. The visit to BAYER was followed by a one-day independent workshop in which the PhD students, coached by Dr. Silvia Löhken, a proven communications expert, learned to communicate their research content briefly, concisely and specifically to a very heterogeneous audience. The feedback of the PhD students on this workshop was enthusiastic.

During the visit to B.R.A.I.N, some of the PhD students were able to apply their knowledge directly, as they had the opportunity to present their research to the company employees. Stefanie Brands (RWTH Aachen, Biotechnology), Carl Brehl (RWTH Aachen, Process Engineering), Fabienne Hilgers (HHU Düsseldorf, Molecular Enzyme Technology) and Jungho Lee (HHU Düsseldorf, Microbiology) presented their work in the FocusLab CombiCom. Lora Tsvetanova (University of Bonn, Food and Resource Economics) presented her results in the FocusLab AP³, Liudmyla Goncharenko (RWTH Aachen, Biotechnology) presented her work in the FocusLab greenRelease and Mohamed Labib (Forschungszentrum Jülich, IBG-1 Biotechnology) spoke about his results in the FocusLab HyImPAct. The subsequent lively discussion between the PhD students and the company employees was regarded by all participants as particularly helpful and constructive. All participants agreed that such a meeting should be repeated.

The NRW PhD Day 2019 took place in Düsseldorf-Neuss, organised by BioSC, CLIB, CEPLAS and the MPI for Plant Breeding Research Cologne. More than 60 PhD students discussed the topics „Value creation in agriculture“ and „Molecules and active compounds“ with the speakers. In his welcoming address, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr presented the pilot region „BioökonomieREVIER Rheinland“. Dr. Frederike Körber gave an overview of her work at Hild Samen GmbH and the importance of resistance breeding. Dr. Jens Uhlemann (BAYER Crop Science) informed about BAYER's bioeconomy strategies and explained the use of formulations e.g. of pesticides in the field.

Dr. Frank Kensy then explained the vision of b.Fab., a company founded in 2018. The company combines electrochemistry with biotechnology by generating formic acid with energy from different resources and using it for the production of feed additives, chemicals and biofuels. The last speaker of the day was Dr. Martin Bellof, who explained the importance of palm oil for the industry. In his work for the company Autodisplay Biotech, he deals with the recycling of residues from palm oil production and gave an overview of the associated challenges.

In the afternoon, the students were able to discuss their questions and ideas with the speakers in three World Café sessions. After the intensive discussions, Prof. Dr. Ingar Janzik thanked all participants for their active contribution.