The Junior Scientist Zoonoses Meeting (JSZM) took place in 2016 from 1 to 3 June in the German
Primate Center (DPZ) in Göttingen. This special venue provided the 32 participating young scientists from different departments and research institutions in Germany with an adequate setting for an exciting and varied programme.
Numerous speakers from all over Germany
The speakers were Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed (University of Göttingen), Dr. Linda Brunotte (University Hospital Münster), Dr. Franziska Dahlmann (Fraunhofer ITEM), Dr. Daniel Eibach (Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg), Dr. Werner Espelage (Robert Koch Institute, Berlin), Prof. Dr. Ilse Jacobsen (Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll Institute, Jena), Prof. Dr. Franz-Josef Kaup (DPZ), Andreas Keller (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ), Ms. Dr. Ulla Kopp (German Aerospace Center), Prof. Dr. Johannes Krause (Max Planck Institute for Human History), Dr. Dirk Motzkus (Boehringer-Ingelheim), Dr. Leslie Reperant (One Health Platform), Henning Rockmann (German Rectors' Conference), PD Dr. Carola Sauter-Louis (Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Riems) and Dr. Christiane Stahl-Hennig (DPZ).
A varied programme by and for young scientists
As in previous years, the meeting was organized by committed young scientists from the Zoonoses Platform on the initiative and with the organizational support of the staff of the Riems site.
The first day of the JSZM 2016 was dedicated to round table discussions in which the participants presented their research work in the form of a poster. After a guided tour to the local primate enclosures of the DPZ, the day ended with a joint dinner. The following days offered a varied programme with competent speakers on various topics such as mycotic zoonoses, dual use research of Concern and the development of a mobile diagnostic laboratory. Thanks to the excellent technical equipment and on-site support, it was possible for the first time to hold a video conference within a JSZM. Dr. Ulla Kopp from DLR briefly presented the announcement of the research network for zoonotic infectious diseases and answered the questions of the auditorium. With regard to individual career planning, Prof. Dr. Johannes Krause from the Max Planck Institute for the History of Mankind offered an insight into his professional career. Subsequently, current developments in the promotion of young researchers (at university level) were comprehensively presented, the alternative of a career in industry and problem areas in the professional situation of young researchers in Germany were discussed. The lively and constructive discussion on this topic was then deepened in a joint dinner. The event concluded with motivational presentations, a unique selling point of the JSZM event series, whose originality, humor and openness inspired the participants.
Within the framework of the JSZM 2016, Dr. Jan Schinköthe (Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Riems) was elected as the new representative of young scientists on the Internal Advisory Board of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses.
Finally, we would like to thank Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann as host and the DPZ organisation team, especially Dr. Thomas Ziegler, for the excellent support on site.
Based on the submitted evaluation results, this year's JSZM represented a highlight in an already popular series with regard to the satisfaction of the participants in all relevant areas.
The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) in Langen (Hessen) is planned as the venue for the JSZM 2017.
