Career & Funding
CTNR Young Neuroscientist Programme
The CTNR Young Neuroscientist Programme includes the financial support of early career scientists in theoretical, preclinical, clinical or non-medical subjects with a neuroscientific focus (preferably related to HealthTechMedicine — Neurosciences). The proposed project should contribute to the strategic aims of the CTNR: the expansion of existing or new local national or international cooperation by the initiation of cooperative research projects.
Deadline: closed
Proposals and Apendences have to be submitted in a PDF document to ctnr{bei}med.uni-rostock.de
Current CTNR-funded projects:
Influence of the retrocochlear status of the auditory system on postoperative speech intelligibility in patients with cochlear implantation
Dana Kathrin Dohr
08/2023 - 07/2024
My name is Dana Dohr, I am 32 years old and a scientist at the department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Körner" in Rostock. After got my master's degree in medical biotechnology, I am now about to finish my PhD in the field of experimental otolaryngology. I am very pleased to receive funding from the CTNR Young Neuroscientist Programme. Our study will focus on the changes in the auditory pathway of patients with cochlea implantation using the functional imaging methods DTI and fMRT.
Supervisiors:
Prof. Robert Mlynski and Dr. Lichun Zhang, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, ”Otto Koerner“, University Medicine Rostock
Neuronal correlates of sensory perception in harbor seals
Dr. Kenneth Sørensen
09/2024 - 02/2025
I am originally from Denmark but moved to Rostock in 2021 after completing my PhD in Biology. Currently, I am based at the Marine Science Center in Rostock, with the Neuroethology group of Prof. Dr. Frederike D. Hanke. Here, we are establishing methods to non-invasively study the brain of harbor seals via fMRI and EEG. I am particularly interested in where and how visual information is processed in the harbor seal brain, while also documenting the learning processes during the acquisition of visual tasks.
Mentors:
Prof. Dr. Frederike Diana Hanke, Institute of Biosciences, Marine Science Center, University of Rostock and Dr. rer. hum. Christoph Berger, Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence, University Medicine Rostock
Noradrenaline as a modulator of adult neurogenesis
Dr. rer. hum. Franz Markert
09/2024 - 08/2025
Mentors:
Prof. Dr. med. Alexander Storch, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock and Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Markus Kipp, Institute for Anatomy, University Medical Center Rostock
The functional role of Argonaute2 in excitatory neurons during brain development
Yunxiao Li
10/2024 - 10/2025
My name is Yunxiao Li, I am a scientist working in the Molekulare Neurobiologie group at the Sektion für Translationale Neurodegeneration "Albrecht Kossel". After I joined the Molekulare Neurobiologie group as a PhD student, I applied the in vivo Ago2-floxed mouse model to study the functional role of Ago2 during brain development. With the support of the CTNR Young Neuro Scientist Program, our project will focus on combining the in vivo mouse model and in vitro cell culture system to investigate the mechanisms of Ago2-induced brain development defects.
Supervisiors:
PD Dr. Jiankai, Luo and Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Hermann, Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht Kossel", Dept. Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock , University Medicine Rostock
CTNR Clinician Scientist Programme in Neurosciences
The CTNR offers two Clinician Scientist positions in the Neurosciences for the research protected time of two years within the specialist/subspecialist training time to conduct a theoretical research project in the field of Neurosciences. The programme consists of an individual clinical, scientific and soft skill educational curriculum and runs under the regulation of the Rostock Academy of Science (RAS, see below).
Call: closed
- Application Guideline
- Template Project Description
- Template CV
Rostock Academy of Science
To improve the recruiting of Clinician Scientists and to support their specific challenges concerning compatibility of research and clinical work, the University Medicine Rostock (UMR) established a Rostock Academy of Science (RAS). In order to create efficient incentives for an academic/research career besides medical training, positions for an advanced training in a clinical specialty/subspecialty (ärztliche Weiterbildungsstellen) are advertised. The key element of the program is the research protected time of two years within the specialist/subspecialist training time to conduct a theoretical research project.
The Medical Scientist Programme includes the financial support of positions for Medical Scientists. Medical Scientists are (non-physician) medical researchers in theoretical, preclinical and clinical subjects, as well as non-medical researchers in other fields (natural/life/engineering/social science).
CTNR Best Paper Award
The “CTNR Best Paper Award” honours the best publications in the field in Rostock. The prize money (€5,000) is used to support projects that build on the award-winning publication.
Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers of subjects with a neuroscientific focus (preferably related to HealthTechMedicine) and whose host institution is a member of the CTNR are eligible to apply.
The submitted paper requires a first authorship or a shared first authorship by the applicant and must have been published within the last two years (status at least "in print") in a peer-reviewed journal.
The application includes:
- Proposed journal publication as a PDF
- Curriculum Vitae
The application may only be submitted electronically by e-mail to ctnr{bei}med.uni-rostock.de until May 31th and November 30th of each year.
Award winner
2024
Dr. Newshan Behrangi, Institute of Anatomy: Behrangi N, Heinig L, Frintrop L, Santrau E, Kurth J, Krause B, Atanasova D, Clarner T, Fragoulis A, Joksch M, Rudolf H, Meuth SG, Joost S, Kipp M. Siponimod ameliorates metabolic oligodendrocyte injury via the sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 5. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Oct 4;119(40):e2204509119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2204509119. Epub 2022 Sep 26. PMID: 36161894; PMCID: PMC9546621.
2023
Dr. Barbara Szewczyk, Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht Kossel": Szewczyk B, Günther R, Japtok J, Frech MJ, Naumann M, Lee HO, Hermann A. FUS ALS neurons activate major stress pathways and reduce translation as an early protective mechanism against neurodegeneration. Cell Rep. 2023 Jan 24;42(2):112025. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112025. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36696267.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease leading to loss of motor neurons, paralysis, and death. One of the ALS forms is caused by mutations in the FUS gene, encoding the FUS protein, which is vital for multiple cellular processes. How exactly mutations in FUS lead to neurodegeneration is not clear. Our recent paper used FUS ALS patient-specific neurons to study this. We showed that mutations found in FUS ALS patients cause a constant overactivation of critical stress response pathways, leaving the cell permanently alert. This heightened alertness might be helpful early on in the disease, but as time goes by, it could become less effective or even harmful due to excessive activation, causing neurodegeneration. We also showed that when neurons cannot activate the stress response pathways, they are unable to handle the accumulation of faulty proteins, which is a hallmark of neurodegeneration and is associated with cell death. Our study highlights the intricate connection between FUS mutations, disrupted stress responses, and proteotoxicity. This perspective deepens our understanding of how the disease works on a molecular level, offering potential leads for future treatments.
Do your Master Thesis or Doctorate at the CTNR
HealthTechMedicine - Neurosciences
The Centre for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR) represents one scientific area at the University Medical Centre Rostock. The overall aim of the CTNR is to identify and target mechanisms in neurodegeneration to implement innovative therapeutic concepts for primary and secondary neurodegenerative processes.
Our topics
- Mechanisms of resilience and their interplay with neurodegenerative processes
- Precision medicine to establish predictors for cerebral resilience in primary and secondary neurodegeneration in humans
- Adoption of continuous bi-directional translation pathways for development of new treatments and preventions in neurodegenerative disease
Our research labs & working groups
Joint applications
Be part of it
- MD and PhD candidates
- Research in a medical or natural / life / engineering / social scientific field with a focus on neurosciences
International students
We would like to offer young scientists from abroad the opportunity to conduct their PhD training within the CTNR framework. To this end, we offer support for interested students to apply for a DAAD or ERASMUS+ grant in Rostock.
DAAD Research Grant
Who can apply?
Excellently-qualified young academics and scientists who have completed a Master's degree or Diploma by the time they begin their grant-supported research.
How long lasts the funding?
A maximum of four years; the length of the grant is decided by a selection committee of the DAAD and depends on the project in question and the applicant's work schedule. The grants are initially awarded for a maximum of one year. Extensions depend on whether the selection committee considers the previous award period to have been successfully completed.
What is funded?
Monthly payments of € 1,200.- for doctoral candidates. Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover. One-off research allowance. Travel allowance.
How to apply?
- Send us your letter of intent (max. 1 page), your research interest and your diplomas
- We look internally for an appropriate supervisor
For international students
- The supervisor will contact you and you will prepare a project proposal under his/her supervision
- You will submit the proposal to the DAAD
- Once the proposal is positively evaluated you can plan your research period together with your supervisor
ERASMUS+
Traineeship
Erasmus+ supports traineeships (work placements, internships, etc) abroad for students currently enrolled in higher education institutions in Programme countries at Bachelor and Master level as well as for doctoral candidates. These opportunities are also open to recent graduates.
Higher Education (teaching staff)
If you work in higher education, you can spend time teaching at an institution.
United Neuroscience Campus Lund - Rostock
The CTNR signed an agreement with the Faculty of Medicine in Lund (Sweden) to enhance the exchange of students and scientists between Lund and Rostock in the field of Neurosciences.
ERASMUS Office Rostock
If you are intrested in an exchange programme please contact the ERASMUS office of the University Medical Centre Rostock.
Finding Scholarships
General Search
Avicenna-Studienwerk
Bayer Foundation
Begabtenförderung
Deutschlandstipendium
FAZIT-Stiftung
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Friedrich Naumann Stiftung
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Hans Böckler Stiftung
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
CTNR Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) Programme
The CTNR provides the framework for an educational programme for doctoral candidates of CTNR members. The doctoral researcher get the possibility to be supervised by a Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC aims to provide guidance for both the doctoral candidate and their supervisors, in order for them to reach a successful end of the project.
- The TAC consists of 3 CTNR members (supervisors).
- The TAC Meetings will be organised by the doctoral candidates.
- Typically, the TAC meets twice in the 1st year and once per year thereafter (initial and annual report meetings).
- For each TAC meeting, a written report and an oral presentation has to be prepared by the doctoral candidate.
- The meetings focus on the evaluation of the report, presentation, research performance and theoretical knowledge, the evaluation of the thesis project and work done so far, and recommendations for the following year.
Templates
For each TAC meeting, a written report and an oral presentation (max. 30 minutes) has to be prepared by the doctoral candidate.
The results of the meetings are filled out and summarized by the supervisors during the meetings in the evaluation report.
Initial Report MeetingFirst Annual Meeting | Second Annual MeetingThird Annual Meeting |
Pool of CTNR TAC members
The doctoral candidates are free to choose the supervisors faculty wide. As a selection, the CTNR provides a pool of potential TAC members who have declared their willingness to join. Doctoral candidates can choose and contact them as potential supervisors (also unrelated to the subject).
University Medicine Rostock:
- Dr. rer. nat. Carsten Holzmann, Institute of Medical Genetics
- Prof. Dr.med. Dr.rer.nat. Markus Kipp, Institute of Anatomy
- Prof. Dr. med. Timo Kirschstein, Oscar-Langendorff-Intitute of Physiology
- Prof. Dr. med. Rüdiger Köhling, Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology
- Prof. Dr. med. Michael Kölch, Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence
- Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Peter Kropp, Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology
- PD Dr. rer. nat. Angela Kuhla, Rudolf-Zenker-Institute for Experimental Surgery
- Prof. Dr. med. Carsten Spitzer, Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine
- Prof. Dr. med. Alexander Storch, Department of Neurology
- Prof. Dr. med. Birgit Völlm, Forensic Psychiatry
- Prof. Dr. med. Uwe Zettl, Department of Neurology
Funding opportunities in neurosciences
The monthly newsletter provides information about news and announcements of the CTNR, current national and international funding opportunities and training events in the field of neurosciences.
National and international funding bodies
Alberta Innovates
Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung
Alzheimer Forschung Initiative e.V. (AFI)
Alzheimer’s Research UK
Association of German Foundations
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds
DAAD
Damp Stiftung
ELFI
Else Kröner Fresenius Stiftung
EMBO
EUREKA
European Academy of Neurology
European Commission
European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)
European Research Council
Federal Funding Advisory Service
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
Fritz Thyssen Stiftung
German National Contact Point
German Research Foundation (DFG)
- Walter Benjamin Programme
- Emmy Noether Programme
- Clinical Trials
- Individual Research Grants
- Research Fellowships
GlaxoSmithKline
Hertie Stiftung
HORIZON EUROPE
International Brain Research Organization
Joachim Herz Stiftung
- Perlenfonds: Bundesweite Förderung von Dritt-Projekten
- Add-on Fellowships for Interdisciplinary Life Science
- Begegnungszonen: Förderung interdisziplinärer Veranstaltungen in den Naturwissenschaften
Leopoldina
NCL-Stiftung
Randala Foundation for ALS Research
Rostock International House
- Funding Opportunities for students and scientists (scholarships and international programmes)
Stiftung Hirnforschung
University Medicine Rostock
- Intramural Funding Opportunities at the UMR
- Rostock Academy of Science (Clinician & Medical Scientist)
University of Rostock
Volkswagen Stiftung
Contact
Forschungsschwerpunkt Neurowissenschaften
Centre for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR)
Universitätsmedizin Rostock
Zentrum für Nervenheilkunde
Gehlsheimer Str. 20
18147 Rostock