Reinhard Schomäcker

CEICS Forum 2011

Tarragona, 9th November, 2011

Berlin International Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Engineering (BIG-NSE): The PhD program of the Cluster of Excellence „Unifying Concepts in Catalysis (UniCat)

BIG-NSE in a few words

BIG-NSE= Berlin International Graduate School of

Natural Sciences and Engineering

• Pilot project offering a structured PhD program

• Founded in May 2007 (DFG grant from Nov. 07)

• First scholarships awarded in Oct. 2008

• Offering about 10 new scholarships every year

• Now 30 scholarship holders and 32 associated members=> 62 PhD students

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UniCat: the consortium of institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für KolloidforschungPotsdam (MPI-KGF)

Universität Potsdam (UP)

Host University:Technische Universität Berlin (TU)

Humboldt-UniversitätBerlin (HU)

Freie UniversitätBerlin (FU)

PolyAn

Fritz-Haber-Institutder Max-Planck

Gesellschaft (FHI)

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Participating Disciplines & Crosslinking Analytical Methods

• Chemistry (Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Theory…)

• Biology (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics…)

• Physics (Gasphase Species, Surface Science… )

• Chemical Engineering (Multiscale Modeling, Reactor

Design, Miniplant…)

Scientific Members & Topics

• First funding period: 11/2007 – 10/2012

• In total 48 Research groups, 21 PIs, approx. 250 scientists– 5 new full professorships (Biological Catalysis, Structural Biology, Functional Materials, Theoretical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry)

– 6 new junior research groups– approx. 65 PhD and post-doctoral positions

• Additional core support by the participating institutions

• Research topics:– Activation of methane– Production and utilization of hydrogen– Catalytic methods for the synthesis of antibiotics

UniCat: Organization of the Research Program

„Intelligent“natural

and artificialenzymesArea B

Complexreaction

engineeringArea C

Bridging the materials gap in complex

catalysisArea A

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UniCat: Research program of the first period

B

C

A

…. to catalysts in complex environments

� molecular catalysts

� nature-inspired catalysts

� pre-organized heterogeneous catalysts

� hierarchically organized catalysts

From model systems such as

„naked“ metal atoms, clusters, complexes

� either in the gas phase...

� ...or on surfaces and films

� Learn to understand how catalysts work

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UniCat: Research program of the first period

From the basics of natural bio-catalysts …..

� Redox enzymes

� light-stimulated enzyme complexes

� charge stimulated enzyme complexes

…. to artificial enzymes with new functions

� biological hydrogen production

� enzymatic fuel cells

� sensor-catalyst-complexes for diagnostics

� bio-electronic compounds

B

C

A

� Learn to understand und use biocatalysts

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UniCat: Research program of the first period

Integrated processes …..

� (Bio-)catalyst design

� Reactor and process technology

� Test reactor: methane to ethene

…. and their modeling

� molecular dynamics and micro-kinetics

� macro-kinetics and thermodynamics

� process simulation and evaluation

B

C

A

� Learn to apply complex catalysts in processes

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Competence Areas MERGED into Research Areas I and II

Activationof Methane

Activationof CO2

Activationof H2, O2, H2O

ChemBioMedTargets

βα γ δ

…Creating Four Research Bands

A B

C

Further steps toward unifying & added values

Why a Graduate School on the Area of Catalysis?

• Establishing and maintaining a high level and broad educational program for students in UniCat

• Offering excellent conditions within the bounds of UniCat(Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Engineering)

Catalysis Research is a Future Technology

Mission of BIG-NSE

• recruit the most talented students worldwide

• facilitate and foster the scientific integration of therecruited young researchers within the UniCat-Cluster

• provide an excellent educational program to ensure an outstanding training of the students

• continuously support and advise the PhD students at allstages of their study at BIG-NSE

Active Support to the Fellows

• Intensive support during the „Initial Phase“

• Continuous support and mentoringregarding all kind of professionaland social aspects

• Regular lectures presented by renownedguest scientists from all over the world

• Summer and Winter Schools organised by the fellows

• Financial support (fellowships, travel expenses etc.)

Curriculum: 3 years

1. „Initial Phase“ (3,5 months)

• Stay of all new students in the sameoffice area

• Preparation of an own studyschedule and research proposal by each student

2. Research Phase

• Joining of a research group to perform anindividual research project

• Soft skill training, excursions to industry partner sites…

BIG-NSE: a structured PhD program

Final evaluation,Defense

First evaluation

Second evaluation

Presentation of work plan

Regular evaluation of work progress

Intensive support at start

“Buddy”program

Dual career support

Family support

Regular scientific andnon scientific program

Participation in conferences world-wide

UniCatColloquium

Block courses

Summer schools

Soft skill courses

Language courses

Sports & activities

Initial phase

Careful choice of the work group

Careful choice of the PhD subject

Introductory program

0 1 2 3

yearsFirst year

Second year

Third year

Pre-arrival

Two PhD supervisors

Regular presentations in front of UniCatfaculty

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BIG-NSE „Initial Phase“

• Frequency: once a year; starting program of each 3-year long PhD

• Duration: 3,5 months (Oct.-mid Jan.)

• Participants: PhD students from the new selected batch

• Program:

− Daily lectures (all aspects of catalysis) and soft skill courses(languages, presentation techniques etc.

− Excursions to all institutions of UniCat

− Social program: sport, social evenings, lunch together etc.

− Preparation of PhD work plan for BIG-NSE workshop

A daily program 3,5 months long

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Program plan Initial Phase WS11

- Cluster-Presentations: 6 hours

- Basic Lectures: approx. 60 hours

- UniCat colloquia, „block“ courses and conferences

- Excursions: 7 days (to the 6 partner institutions)

- Training presentations: 30 h

- German, English, French courses

- „Softskill“-Courses: 36 h

- Preparation PhD workplan: approx. 60 h

- Social events every two weeks

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BL1: Biocatalysis 3 sessions @ 3 h

BL2: Homogeneous Catalysis 3 sessions @ 3 h

BL3: Heterogeneous Catalysis 3 sessions @ 3 h

BL4: Theory/Models/Computationals 1 session @ 3 h

BL5: Materials/Structures 3 sessions @ 3 h

BL6: Chemical Engineering 6 sessions @ 3 h

19 sessions, 57 h

Initial Phase: introductory lectures

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Recruitment – Applications

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Application deadline (for scholarship)January 15 every year

• Online upload through BIG-NSE application portal

• A Master’s degree in a field relevant to catalysis:chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry,biophysics, biology, physics, material sciences….

Recruitment – Application prerequisites

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• A Master’s degree in a field relevant to catalysis:chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry,biophysics, biology, physics, material sciences….

• Excellent marks and awards

Recruitment – Application prerequisites

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• A Master’s degree in a field relevant to catalysis:chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry,biophysics, biology, physics, material sciences….

• Excellent marks and awards

• A very good English proficiency(i.e. TOEFL PBT:550, CBT: 213, iBT: 79)

Recruitment – Application prerequisites

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• Two recommendation letters

Recruitment – Application prerequisites

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• Two recommendation letters

• Possible advantage: some international experience

Recruitment – Application prerequisites

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• Two recommendation letters

• Possible advantage: some international experience

• At least one of the UniCat professors should show some interest in a candidate as a precondition for his/her invitation to an interview in Berlin

Recruitment – Application prerequisites

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Recruitment

Applications for a BIG-NSE scholarship:

• Deadline for applications: January 15 every year;

• Approx. 100-130 full applications each year, for 5 to 10 grants

• Interview sessions in February-March

• PhD start in October

In addition to scholarship holders: Associated members (with external funding:

Erasmus-Mundus, Industry, DAAD, DFG, national programs, Berlin universities…).

May 07 SS07 batch: 14 associated members

Oct. 08 WS08 batch: 7 scholarship holders

3 associated members

April 09 SS09 batch: 4 scholarship holders5 associated members

Oct. 09 WS09 batch: 5 scholarship holders 6 associated members

Oct. 10 WS10 batch: 9 scholarship holders 6 associated members

Oct. 11 WS11 batch: 5 scholarship holders6 associated members

Presently 30 scholarship holders + 32 ass. memb. ���� 62 students

Overview “batches” BIG-NSE students

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Geographical origin BIG-NSE students

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• 60% of all students have a non-German origin

• Students from: India (5), China (7), Iran (3), Jordan (2),Poland (2), Vietnam (2), Austria, Colombia, England, France,Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Serbia,Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Venezuela

Gender BIG-NSE students

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Now 39% women

Research areas BIG-NSE students

31

• 12 PhD students finished

- in a shorter time

- with a higher fraction of „summa cum laude“

- with more publications

than in the usual procedure.

First results

Berlin International Graduate School of NaturalSciences and Engineering

Promotion of Young Researchers

UniCatcolloquia, courses

Seminars, Schools by

CRC‘s, RTG‘s…

Unifying platform forexcellent education programmes

within the consortium

BIG-NSE