Project G: Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG)
In the Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG), we closely connect training and research aspects. The demands society places on natural scientists will be conveyed to doctoral researchers through appropriate academic and transferable education modules. Given the enormous economic importance to society of the rare-earth elements, adequate communication of the use of these elements to the public is also crucial. In this way, future executives for the academic and industrial sectors will be trained in such a way that they are optimally prepared for a variety of future and sometimes already foreseeable challenges, which will arise at the beginning of their professional lives.
The scientific part of the proposed Research Training Group revolves around rare-earth chemistry and physics. The educational program stands on the following pillars: special lectures, guest lectures, teaching on research data management (RDM), soft skills, spring seminar days and fall workshops, laboratory rotation – methodological competence, and international contacts. Established online tools allow the simultaneous involvement of doctoral researchers from all institutions.
As central components of both the scientific and the social area of educational offerings, interdisciplinary strategies for problem solving will also be developed within the Integrated Research Training Group.
Project leaders:
Prof. Dr. Peter W. Roesky (KIT)
Prof. Dr. Florian Weigend (KIT)
IRTG manager:
Dr. des. Christian Ritschel (AOC, KIT)
News
The CRC Spring Seminar Days 2025 for our doctoral researchers were held in Wildberg on April 7 and 8. The event, attended by more than 40 participants, was organized by project leaders Prof. Stefanie Dehnen and Prof. Manfred Kappes, along with our IRTG manager Christian Ritschel (AOC, KIT). Over the course of two days, doctoral researchers from various CRC projects delivered a series of presentations and discussions on physics and chemistry of 4f elements.
The program was further enriched by talks such as “Engagement in Science Inside and Outside the Laboratory” by Prof. Kappes and “Family and Academic Career (as a Woman): Is That Compatible?” by Prof. Dehnen. A networking session with professionals from various industrial and business branches provided an opportunity to explore career opportunities. In addition, Dr. Olya Vvedenskaya from Dragonfly Mental Health gave an insightful guest lecture on Mental Health Literacy.
The CRC Spring Seminar Days 2024 were held in Pforzheim on March 21 & 22.The two days, organized by JProf. Dr. Schirin Hanf, Dr. Alexander Hinz and our IRTG manager Dr. Xiaofei Sun, were filled with enriching talks and discussions on 4f chemistry - not only by the doctoral and postdoctoral researchers of the individual CRC projects, but also including the unique opportunity to connect with young professionals from industry.
On the occasion of the CRC Fall Workshop 2023, a one-day IRTG session was organized by project leaders Prof. Dr. Karin Fink and Prof. Dr. Wim Klopper who also gave tutorials on Wave function- and Density-Based Electronic-Structure Theory, respectively. Additionally, Dr. Maike Bergeler (BASF SE) gave a great guest lecture "Why does BASF invest in quantum-chemical modelling?" (all linked PDF files are password-protected, they must only be used in the context of our CRC and should be treated as confidential).
The first CRC Spring Seminar Days for doctoral researchers were held on March 20 & 21, 2023. The photo below shows the group of participants on KIT Campus South.