Young Scientists
The graduate concept of the ScienceCampus Phosphorus Research Rostock (P-Campus) is directed to an excellent, structured graduate education of young researchers in the field of phosphorus research along with an extending internationalization. It integrates Bachelor, Master and Doctoral studies and the scientific work of postdocs. In addition to the individual (BSc, MSc) and bilateral (PhD) tutoring by the workgroup leaders and scientists responsible for the projects, a thematic programme is offered. The Phosphorus Graduate School (PGS) with doctoral students forms the core of the concept. In addition, other thematically related doctoral students can be associated to the PGS and thereby use the offered programme, which is also in large parts open to thematically related MSc and BSc-students and postdocs.
As the Leibniz Association's funding for the P-Campus Graduate School expired on March 31, 2024, the Graduate School is currently dormant. However, we are seeking new funding within the framework of a DFG Research Training Group and a Leibniz Research Alliance. If you would like to become a member of the P-Campus or if you are currently interested in a qualification thesis on the topic of phosphorus, please contact the P-Campus coordination office. We can put you in touch with other researchers on the topic of P or possibly also arrange supervisors for your qualification work.
In the first funding phase (2015-2019), the graduate school comprised 11 and in the second funding phase (2019-2024) 15 dissertation projects with new and innovative phosphorus research topics as cooperation projects between the partner institutions of the ScienceCampus. All PhD students were supported by supervisors from two different partner institutions of the P-Campus. The graduate school offered opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange and training. With an excellent research-intensive environment, the target group-oriented program offered doctoral students optimal conditions for a doctorate and preparation for the time after graduation, both for academic and other career paths.
Key aspects are
- Acquisition and improvement of skills for research and interdisciplinary work
- Deepening of methodological skills
- Acquisition of key skills/competences for further career development
The programme emphasizes particularly approaches to promote interdisciplinarity. These approaches are based on the teaching of social and communication skills. The curriculum of an increasing level of self-serving organization, joint participation in a summer school, interdisciplinary seminars and workshops and the prevention of scientific misconduct support that goal.
The Phosphorus Graduate School (PGS) is embedded in the Graduate Academy of the University Rostock. The Graduate Academy offers complementary education of soft skills and career development in a broad range (courses only partly in English).
The Projects of the Graduate School II of the Leibniz ScienceCampus Phosphorus Research Rostock
| Project Title | Participating Partners (leader is listed first) | PhD student | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|
| I.1 Risks and benefits of rewetting coastal wetlands after agricultural use | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde | Dr. Sate Ahmad (project completed) | I |
| I.2 P Pools and mobilization potential in lowlands and coastal regions | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Catalysis | Julia Prüter (dissertation completed) | I |
| I.3 Analysis of glyphosate and glufosinate in sea water and as indicator compounds for industrial cropping | Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, University of Rostock | Marisa Wirth (dissertation completed) | I |
| II.1 P recycling in animal husbandry | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology | Felix Gumpert (project completed) | II |
| II.2 Efficiency of recovered phosphorus for monogastric animals | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology | Mohammad Mahdi Seyedalmoosavi (dissertation completed) | II |
| II.3 P efficiency of forage legumes and their capacity to utilize P from recycling products | Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, University of Rostock | Yue Hu (project completed) |
II |
| III.1 Synthesis of novel P-based ligands for complexes to activate small molecules | Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, University of Rostock | Jan-Erik Siewert (dissertation completed), Dr. Fabian Dankert | III |
| III.2 Application of P-based organocatalysts and biocatalysts for the resolution of racemic carbonates | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Catalysis | Constanza Terazzi (dissertation completed) |
III |
| III.3 Synthesis of potential anti-tumor and adhesion-promoting agents by P-based organocatalysis for oncology and biomedical engineering | Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Rostock University Medical Center, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology | Jan Tönjes (dissertation completed) | III |
| IV.1 Gene expression in biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in biological soil crusts of sand dunes of the Baltic Sea | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde | Sandra Kammann (project completed) | IV |
| IV.2 Sustainability of potato production: Cloning and sequencing of candidate genes improving P acquisition efficiency to reduce fertilizer inputs | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research | Julian Kirchgesser (project completed) | IV |
| IV.3 The role of inorganic phosphate supply on the development of cyanobacterial summer blooms in the Baltic Sea | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde | Mariano Santoro (project completed) | IV |
| IV.4 Phosphorus as a metabolic regulator during environmental stress in animals | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology | Linda Adzigbli (dissertation completed) | IV |
| IV.5 Molecular mechanisms of phosphate homeostasis and osteoimmunological processes and their consequence for health and welfare | Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Rostock University Medical Center | Maruf Hasan (dissertation completed) | IV |
| V. Governance options for closed P cycles - the GAP 2020 revision | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde | Katharine Heyl (dissertation completed) | V |
The Projects of the Graduate School I of the Leibniz ScienceCampus Phosphorus Research Rostock
| Project Title | Participating Partners (Leader is listed first) | PhD Student | Cluster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanisms of P mobilization in the rhizosphere involving weeds and crop plants | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research | Anika Zacher (dissertation completed) |
II |
| Genetic regulation of phosphatase production and activity to increase P uptake from deficient soils | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research | Katrin Wacker (project completed) |
II |
| Phosphatases – Development of new quantitative assays along terrestrial-aquatic gradients | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde | Iris Schaub (dissertation completed) |
I |
| The P cycle and its application in land-based integrated aquaculture systems | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology | Sebastian Strauch (dissertation completed) | I, II |
| Genetic and nutritional effects on the efficiency of P use of monogastric animals | Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, University of Rostock | Christian Gerlinger (project completed) |
II |
| Quality, quantity and transformation of P losses from diffuse sources to the Baltic Sea | Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, University of Rostock | (project completed) | I, II |
| Processing of alternative P sources for fertilization in agriculture | Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, University of Rostock | Sina Jahanbakhsh (dissertation completed) | II, III |
| Synthesis of new heterocyclic ring systems containing P | Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, University of Rostock | (project completed) | III |
| Large scale application of P based organocatalysts in batch and flow for the synthesis of fatty acid derived cyclic carbonates | Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, University of Rostock | Johannes Steinbauer (dissertation completed) | III |
| Political-legal P governance by means of certificate markets and charges | University of Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde | Jessica Stubenrauch (dissertation completed) |
I, II |
| Natural and anthropogenic organic P compounds – inositolphosphates, phospholipids and glyphosate | Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, University of Rostock | Constantin Lohrer (dissertation completed) | I, II |
The programme includes the following phosphorus research related activities:
- International P-Campus Symposia (e.g. IPW8 - International Phosphorus Workshop 2016)
- Colloquia: will be organised by the P-Campus at least twice a year; invitation of external scientists with phosphorus research topics.
- Thematic Workshops: to stimulate exchange between internal and external scientists once or twice per year on current research themes as well as theories or methods of phosphorus research (e.g. Innovative analytical methods in P research or Technology transfer opportunities)
- Lecture Series
- Summer School
- Group Seminars (doctoral students of the PGS present and discuss their work)
- "Phosphorus-Breakfast" from and with doctoral students of the P-Campus
The ScienceCampus Phophorus Research Rostock strives to promote the regional, national and international networking among graduate students and scientists. During research work all students are embedded in the manifold networks of the supervisors and hosting institutes and actively participate in thematic P oriented networks or expand existing ones (e.g. ESPP - European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform). Furthermore, they will be encouraged to present intermediate results at international conferences. Finally, the doctoral theses represent cumulative works consisting of a number of peer-reviewed publications in highly-ranked international journals. Therefore, members can request support for publication costs as well as for travel expense reimbursement.
As members can apply:
- Doctoral students from the partner institutions of the P-Campus working on a thesis that deals substantially with phosphorus research
- BSc and MSc students from the partner institutions of the P-Campus working on a thesis that deals substantially with phosphorus research
- Postdocs from the partner institutions of the P-Campus, whose research exhibits a substantial part on phosphorus research
- Visiting undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs that are working on phosphorus topics