IMPRS Afternoon – Exchange, Insights, and Community Building

It was an afternoon of exchange, information, and networking. This year's IMPRS Afternoon welcomed doctoral researchers from the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS), our graduate school jointly run by Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences. The event offered valuable insights for a successful PhD journey, providing practical guidance and creative exchange in the World Café.

Orientation, exchange, and support
IMPRS spokesperson Stefan Hollands opened the event with a warm welcome to all participants, and especially to the new doctoral researchers. He provided an overview of the structures, procedures, and key regulations relevant for pursuing a PhD in mathematics, computer science, or theoretical physics in Leipzig.

A particular focus was placed on the new doctoral regulations for Mathematics/Computer Science. Our sincere thanks go to Tobias Finis, Chair of the Doctoral Committee, who took the time for an extensive Q&A session and addressed many of the participants’ questions. This was followed by an introduction to the defining features of the IMPRS — including the rights and responsibilities that come with being part of our program.

We are also grateful to Juliane Gebhardt from the Graduate Academy Leipzig, who presented the university’s wide-ranging support and training opportunities.

World Café: In-Depth Exchange
A central feature of the afternoon was the World Café, which encouraged lively discussions. In small groups, participants explored topics related to doctoral studies in Leipzig, including mental health and work–life balance, the procedures of Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings, and the planning and organization of the IMPRS Retreat. The open atmosphere fostered intensive exchange between doctoral researchers from different years and research groups.

PhD-Net: Networking Beyond the Institute
Finally, Nicolas Weiss, Felix Lotter, and Nat Kendal-Freedman presented the work of the PhD-Net – the nationwide network of Max Planck doctoral researchers in Germany. Many thanks for this exciting insight!