CoPILOT Retreat 2024

CoPILOT Retreat 2024

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From December 02-04, 2024, the  CoPILOT Annual Retreat took place at the scenic Kloster Seeon in the south of Bavaria.

The program started with a welcome address by Markus Sperandio and Katrin Kierdorf who gave an overview on the upcoming CoPILOT curriculum and a short outlook for 2025.

In the afternoon Karin Schuller and Felix Engel from the PILOT INF Team led a workshop on Research Data Management (RDM). The workshop started with an overview of basic topics in Research Data Management, including data publication, file formats, and metadata. In the second part, participants explored practical modules on tools like eLabFTW, OneNote, Git, and Jupyter Notebooks for managing and sharing data effectively. The workshop focused on best practices, tools, and strategies for effective management of research data, offering valuable insights for PILOT young researchers.

In the evening, participants attended an insightful keynote lecture on integrins by the invited guest speaker Markus Moser (TU Munich), a renowned expert in the field. The presentation explored the role of integrins in cell biology, their mechanisms, and their significance in science and medicine and was followed by a lively discussion.

Day 2 of the retreat started with an important and timely topic: Mental Health. Dominique de Marné (Mental Health Crowd; Munich) led a workshop that combined an insightful lecture with group work. The session explored the impact of mental health on researchers and emphasized strategies for managing mental health in academic settings, fostering resilience, and supporting well-being. The workshop concluded with a Mental Health Walk, allowing participants to reflect and connect in the peaceful and scenic surrounding of Kloster Seeon.

In the afternoon of day 2 and in the morning of day 3, all doctoral researchers had the opportunity to present their research in Slam Talks. This format allowed the participants to condense their complex research topics into brief, engaging presentations and offering an exciting overview of the diverse research within the PILOT Consortium.

After all Slam Talks, the doctoral researchers voted for the two best presentations. Congratulations to Merve Göcer (A02) and Anna-Lena Ullrich (A01), the winners of this competition.

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Winners Slam Presentations: from left to right: Markus Sperandio (Speaker CoPILOT), Verena Kochan (Coordinator CoPILOT), Anna-Lena Ullrich (A01), Merve Göcer (A02), Katrin Kierdorf (Vice Speaker CoPILOT)

To conclude the retreat, the CoPILOT board members provided a brief outlook on the upcoming year, highlighting the PILOT Symposium in April 2025 and the opportunity to invite external guest speakers. Participants were also invited to share suggestions for future workshops and contributing valuable ideas for the continued development of the initiative.

This retreat has again demonstrated the importance of facilitating personal exchanges and promoting collaborations among early-career researchers within the TRR359.

Thanks to all organizers of this retreat – especially to Clarissa Döring (B03) and Jonas Pes (A01) who contributed greatly to the success of the CoPILOT Retreat 2024!