On March 12, 2026, the first orientation event for the YOUNG RESIST program took place in a hybrid format. The initiative brings together a total of 95 young RESIST researchers, including doctoral candidates, early-career postdocs, and clinical scientists, with the goal of strengthening networking among early-career researchers in the RESIST Cluster of Excellence, promoting their development, and creating additional opportunities for active participation.
The participants were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Head of Immunology and Spokesperson for the RESIST Cluster of Excellence. Project Coordinator Dr. Eugenia Gripp led the program. At the start of the event, the cluster’s trio of spokespersons — Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Prof. Dr. Lars Dölken, and Prof. Dr. Gesine Hansen — was introduced, along with the cluster’s coordination team.
Later in the event, participants gained insight into the structure and responsibilities of a Cluster of Excellence, as well as into RESIST’s network of partner institutions. The cluster’s science community currently comprises around 180 scientists, including clinical scientists, postdocs, doctoral candidates, and project leaders.
A key focus of the event was the opportunities and benefits of YOUNG RESIST membership. These include, among other things, an annual budget of up to 120,000 euros for scientific projects initiated by YOUNG RESIST members. The YOUNG RESIST Board will decide on the allocation rules in the future. In addition, members benefit from mentoring and coaching opportunities as well as training sessions, workshops, and courses tailored to the community’s interests. Regular meetings and joint activities are also intended to strengthen exchange within the network.
In addition, key programs and activities of the cluster were presented, including the weekly RESIST seminars, scientific symposia and retreats, as well as formats such as the Bioinformatician Summer School. Topics such as diversity, equality, and inclusion also play an important role in the cluster. Among other things, programs were presented to provide support during and after pregnancy, such as a re-entry program and a maternity leave program, supplemented by paid gender and diversity training.
In addition to its scientific work, RESIST is also actively involved in science communication. This includes, for example, annual participation in the IdeenExpo, podcast formats, and other outreach events. At the same time, great importance is placed on exchange within the community, for example through internal team-building activities such as the summer party or regular get-togethers.
At the conclusion of the event, the results of an online survey on project-related course offerings and soft-skill training were presented. In addition, the candidates for the future YOUNG RESIST Board were introduced before the participants were called upon to vote. The participants unanimously approved the candidates. RESIST welcomes the newly formed YOUNG RESIST Board!
This successful kickoff underscores the importance of YOUNG RESIST for promoting young talent within the cluster. The organizing team looks forward to supporting the members in the future, fostering new ideas, and further strengthening scientific collaboration.