Martin Bagic
Spokesperson
Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
As a doctoral researcher at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Jena I study evolution of aging with the aim to explain why some organisms live long and others short – more specifically, how environmental and demographic factors shape the aging process over generations, across the tree of life. I study aging because it is the most potent risk factor for disease and disability.
Academia is both invaluable and in need of reform. For me, being a spokesperson is an opportunity to talk to doctoral researchers and decision-makers to understand what works, what doesn’t and why – and then advocate for reforms that promote the flourishing of both science and scientists.
Contact: spokesperson[at]leibniz-phd.net
Gabriel de Oliveira Ragazzo
Spokesperson
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)
Hi, my name is Gabriel de Oliveira Ragazzo. I’m 27 years old and I was born and raised in Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil. Since I was young, I’ve been curious about how things work and why they are the way they are. I’ve always been very motivated to learn, engaging in activities that stimulated me to think and reflect. Thus, this passion for knowledge led me to pursue a career in science.
Nowadays, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the Federal University of São Carlos, a Master’s in Biology in Agriculture and Environment from the University of São Paulo and a MBA in Business Management, also from the University of São Paulo. Since February 2022, I’ve been a doctoral researcher in the Molecular Plant Nutrition working group at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gatersleben. And I have to say that this small village in Sachsen-Anhalt has been the stage for my biggest adventures, fun, and challenges.
In January 2023, I became an elected member and vice-chair of the PhD Board at IPK. This allowed me to engage in various discussions relevant to doctoral researchers, organize events, and foster networking among PhDs. These experiences motivated me during the Leibniz PhD Network General Assembly in October 2023 to run for the position of Spokesperson. Now, I am thrilled about this opportunity and aspire to be a good PhD representative for all Leibniz institutes.
My primary goal in the Leibniz PhD Network is to strengthen the connection between PhD researchers and the Leibniz Association, ensuring our voices to be heard and respected. Additionally, to discuss the establishment of mechanisms to prevent and address cases of power abuse, enhance mental health initiatives in academia, improve overall well-being and performance, and implement sustainability measures in institutes to promote eco-friendliness. I firmly believe there’s always room for improving working conditions, mental health, and enhancing research quality in Leibniz research institutes.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, issues, or suggestions for our work in the Leibniz PhD Network.
Contact: spokesperson[at]leibniz-phd.net
Katjana Schwab
Treasurer
Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
Contact: treasurer@leibniz-phd.net
Mitja Musberg
Section A Spokesperson
Leibniz-Forschungsmuseum für Georessourcen
I am a doctoral researcher at Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum – Leibniz-Forschungsmuseum für Georessourcen. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Archaeological Sciences and my master’s degree in Pre- & Protohistory and Economic & Raw Material Archaeology at the Ruhr University Bochum.
I’ve been fascinated by ancient mining and metallurgy practices since the beginning of my studies, and I am passionate about studying prehistoric societies and their interactions with the environment using archaeological and archaeometric research methods.
In the context of my doctoral thesis, I would like to attempt to reconstruct a prehistoric lifeworld in southwestern Sardinia on the basis of archaeological remains that are intended to serve as proxies for production (e.g., stone tools & technical ceramics) and consumption (e.g., metal objects) in early societies.
During my second term on the Steering Committee in 2023/2024, I would like to continue my efforts on prevention of power abuse in academia. I would also like to continue working on further improvements to communication between the individual sections of the PhD Network in order to facilitate active cooperation between doctoral researchers within the Leibniz association.
Contact: section_a[at]leibniz-phd.net
Johnson Kansiime
Section B Spokesperson
Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)
I’m Johnson Kansiime, a doctoral researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO). I completed my Bachelor’s in Agriculture at Gulu University in Northern Uganda and worked with various International NGOs supporting smallholder farmers and improving the livelihoods of rural people. Inspired by this concrete field-level experience and the need to put myself in a better position to support rural development programmes, I undertook to pursue a Master’s in Rural Development at Ghent University, which I completed in late 2021. After my master’s dissertation, I felt there was something in connection with research that I had not yet finished, and this informed my decision to undertake doctoral studies in 2022. My passion for researching rural livelihoods and making rural areas a better place prompted me to opt for a doctoral dissertation that focuses on the quality of life of rural people, particularly in East Germany and Germany in general. I, among other aspects, study how existing policies that supposedly target rural quality of life have performed.
I’ve been actively involved in the PhD Council at my institute and the Leibniz PhD Network’s Working Group Survey in recent years, co-authoring the 2021 Survey Report. This collaborative experience inspired me to take on the role of Section B spokesperson in the 2023/2024 Leibniz PhD Network Steering Committee. I sincerely appreciate the work of our predecessors; interacting with most of them helped me to appreciate that while a lot has been done already, there is still a lot to do, hence the need for continuity. I stepped forward to offer precisely this.
I aim to propel this valuable work further, prioritising doctoral researchers’ interests and advocating for better working conditions. I envision a supportive scientific community where doctoral researchers thrive and contribute significantly to science. I appreciate Section B’s mandate and look forward to collaborating with you all to enhance the situation of doctoral researchers within Leibniz. I thank you.
Contact: section_b[at]leibniz-phd.net
Selma Yagoub
Section C Spokesperson
Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung Potsdam-Rehbrücke
Hi, I´m Selma and I am currently a 4th year PhD candidate. I started my academic journey in Algeria where I studied human nutrition for my bachelor´s degree at University Hassiba Ben Bouali. Then, I moved to France to do my Masters in neuroscience then nutrition and graduated from University of Bordeaux in 2020. The brain always fascinated me because how strange and cool to think of an organ trying to understand itself (maybe too philosophical). So, for my PhD, I wanted a topic that is a gap between neuroscience and nutrition which brings me to Germany and why I decided to move to Berlin (during a pandemic AND even if I don’t speak German). I started my PhD back in 2020 on a topic that is really interesting for me, how can maternal diet shape brain development? So, I´ve spent the majority of the last 4 years trying to answer this question (still a work in progress).
Beside science, I enjoy reading books mainly in English and French but also in Arabic. I also like listening to music, discover new artists and go to live concerts. I play guitar and Ukulele when I have time. I enjoy spending time with my friends and discover new places in Berlin, go to beach/lakes and longboarding in summertime. But enough of that and let´s move on to why I wanted to be the section C (life sciences) spokesperson? Last year, I enjoyed being a PhD representative at my institute. I liked meeting people and chat with them, hear about everybody´s PhD experience and create a safe space where everyone is welcomed and represented. As a member of the steering committee, I would like to have the same approach based on communication and understanding in order to improve the PhD experience within the network. During our term, I would like to participate to keeping the network active and connected. Thanks for reading so far and please do not hesitate to drop me an email for any question.
Contact : section_c[at]leibniz-phd.net
Atmika Bhardwaj
Section D Spokesperson
Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V.
I have long been fascinated by the elegance of physics, especially when expressed through sophisticated mathematical equations. Therefore, after finishing my master’s degree in theoretical physics at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, I started my Ph.D. journey at the Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V. Apart from academia, I enjoy various activities such as cooking, solving puzzles, and engaging in board games.
Coming from a middle class family in India, I try to find a balance between Asian and Western cultures. The differences and the similarities never cease to amaze me, and I approach them with a non-judgmental perspective. I speak Hindi and English fluently and am steadily improving my Deutsch.
As a member of the Leibniz Ph.D. network, my commitment lies in enhancing the experience of doctoral candidates by creating a welcoming and secure space for them to fully embrace this phase of their academic journey. I believe that this dedication will not only result in better scientific output but, more importantly, contribute to reducing mental health issues and nurturing a healthier scientific community.
Please feel free to reach out at any time for discussions on any topic or issue you would like to raise. Together, let’s build a thriving and supportive community for doctoral researchers!
Contact : section_d[at]leibniz-phd.net
Isabel Zentgraf
Section E Spokesperson
Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
Hi, I am currently working as a doctoral researcher at the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), near Berlin. My passion for soil science has led me down the path of exploring agricultural soils and how nutrients turn over. Currently, my focus is on how fertilizer nitrogen transforms in various soil and plant settings.
Being part of the Steering Committee means a lot to me. I want to be the voice for the PhDs of the Leibniz institutes in Section E. My goal? Creating great work environments where researchers can thrive. I’m all about building strong connections and keeping those communication channels wide open – they’re crucial for a supportive academic community.
As Section E’s spokesperson, I’m actively involved in the Survey and Communication Working Groups, as I got a keen interest in empirical studies, and I genuinely believe that effective communication can help solve most of today’s challenges.
I’m excited about collaborating, advocating, and getting involved with our community. Together, we can steer towards a more sustainable and connected future!
Contact: section_e[at]leibniz-phd.net