Program
Monday, September 8 – Thursday, September 11, 2025
Horizons in Molecular Biology Symposium
Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPI-NAT), Am Faßberg 11
- Scientific Keynote Lecture by Nobel Prize Laureate Thomas Südhof
- Scientific Talks, including featured talked from our Molbio and Neuro alumni
- Career Talks
- Alumni posters welcome (Abstract submission deadline: 31 July 2025)
Friday, September 12, 2025
25 Years Molecular Biology & Neurosciences (MSc/PhD) – Day 1
(Registered guests only)
University Aula, Wilhelmsplatz 1
- 14:00-15:00: Admission to the venue, registration (early arrival recommended!)
- 15:00-16:00: Scientific Keynote Lecture “Genes, cells and discovery in basic science and disease”
- Nobel Prize Laureate Randy Schekman
- 16:00-16:30: Break
- Water dispenser in the Foyer; coffee and catering not possible for logistic reasons!
- 16:30-18:30: 25th Anniversary Ceremony
- President of the University of Göttingen Axel Schölmerich
- Spokesperson of the UMG Board Wolfgang Brück
- Lower Saxony Minister for Science and Culture Falko Mohrs
- President of the Max Planck Society Patrick Cramer
- Musical contribution 1 Molbio/Neuro members and MPI-NAT Choir
- IMPRS Molecular Biology Speaker Marina Rodnina
- IMPRS Neuroscience Speaker Nils Brose and Program Speaker Martin Göpfert
- PhD Students Spyridoula Sagropoulou (Molecular Biology) and Svilen Georgiev (Neurosciences)
- PhD Alumni Sinem K. Saka (Molecular Biology) and Benjamin Wilhelm (Neurosciences)
- Musical contribution 2 Molbio/Neuro members and MPI-NAT Choir
- Concluding remarks
Alte Mensa, Wilhelmsplatz 3
- 18:30-19:00: Transfer Aula - Alte Mensa
- 19:00-20:00: Dinner
- 20:00-22:00: A 25-Year Scientific Journey – Part 1 (scientific exchange and posters)
Saturday, September 13, 2025
25 Years Molecular Biology & Neurosciences (MSc/PhD) – Day 2
(Registered guests only)
Forum Wissen, Berliner Str. 28 (former Zoology building, next to the train and bus stations)
- 10:00 – 12:00: Various 45-minute guided tours at the Göttingen science museum Forum Wissen
Stadthalle Göttingen, Jina-Mahsa-Amini-Platz 1 / Albaniplatz 2
- From 12:00: Admission to the venue, registration (early arrival recommended!)
- 13:00-15:30: Alumni Career Forum
- Organized around 8 thematic clusters, each representing a distinct professional field
- Each cluster features four 30-minute sessions, starting with alumni pitch talks, offering insights into diverse career paths
- 10-minute breaks between sessions to move between clusters.
- 15:30-16:30: Vision Talks – Part 1
- Christian Stegmann, Chief Scientific Officer, Absci, Zug, Switzerland
- Bettina Goerner, Chief Data Officer, Eterno Health, Berlin, Germany
- 16:30-17:00: Coffee Break
- 17:00-18:00: Vision Talks – Part 2
- Florian Hauer, Co-Founder & CEO, MyImmune, Berlin, Germany
- Yaisa Andrews-Zwilling, VP, Global Program Team Leader, Annexon Biosciences, Brisbane, CA, USA, together with
Daniel Zwilling, Principal Scientist, Pharmacology-Neuroscience, MSD, West Point, PA, USA - 18:00-18:45: Panel Discussion # Next Generation Scientist– Visions and Challenges
- With Vision Talk speakers
- Chair: Viola Priesemann
- 18:45-19:00: Group Photo
- 19:00-20:00: Dinner
- 20:00-22:30: A 25-Year Scientific Journey – Part 2
- A diverse program of contributions from current and former members of the Molecular Biology and Neuroscience programs.
- 23:00: End of event
Sunday, September 14, 2025
Alumni Networking
(Registered PhD and MSc alumni and their relatives only)
- 10:00-14:00: Alumni Brunch