Workshops and Lectures
Lectures
Challenges in Immunosciences is a lecture series organized by the Master's program in MedImmun and is open to our PhD students. It is a great opportunity to get to know the PIs of the Graduate School/Cluster of ImmunoSensation.
You can find the schedule here.
When?: Thursdays 17:15-18:45
Where?: Lecture hall, Teaching Building (building 10)
Please find here the information of the summer Research Ethics series. Please feel free to select these ones which are interesting for you.
When?: Friday, June 12, 2026 10 am – 11:30 am
Where?: Tba
Please register in eTraining
Embarking on a PhD is an exciting yet challenging journey. Stress, perfectionism, imposter syndrome and burnout are common struggles - often influencing research progress and well-being without us realizing it.
This 90-minute introductory lecture will provide initial insights and practical reflections to help you foster mental health and productivity throughout your doctoral experience.
What to expect:
✔ A clear overview of the connection between mental health and academic performance
✔ Insights into common challenges such as burnout, perfectionism, and work-life imbalance
✔ An introduction to evidence-based strategies: mindfulness, self-compassion, and cognitive restructuring
✔ Practical tips for building resilience through boundary-setting and time management
This session is designed to spark awareness and provide a foundation for further exploration—helping you cultivate balance, resilience, and clarity during your PhD journey. Join us for inspiration and actionable insights!
Workshops
Time: September 7 and 8, 2026, 9am - 5pm
Location: Teaching Building (Building 10), Venusberg-Campus 1, Room A010.1.07
Please register via eTraining
Program Overview:
Day 1:
Introduction and Welcome
From Images to Numbers
From Numbers to Images
LUNCH BREAK
Multi-Dimensional Data,
Region of Interest and Segmentation
Pre- and Post-processing for a better Segmentation
How Filters work
Day 2:
Measurements: Counting and Locating Dots
Measurements: Lengths
Measurements: Area
Measurements: Volume
LUNCH BREAK
Batch Processing
Measuring Dynamics
Intensity Changes
Position Changes
Manual Tracking
Automated Tracking
Additional information:
Depending on the progress, the topics might be covered at a shifted time. Please prepare your own laptop/desktop computer, and install the latest version of Fiji in advance.
For further information, please contact MCF: https://btc.uni-bonn.de/mcf/
Time: September 3rd, 2026
Location: Online via zoom
Please register in eTraining
Program Overview:
1. Introduction to the Microscopy Core Facility
2. Principles of Light Microscopy
- Properties of Light
- Optical Elements of Microscopes
- Imaging with Microscopes
- Confocal Microscopy
- Advanced Microscopy Techniques (FRET, FLIM and FCS)
3. Quantitative Image Analysis
Additional Information:
The course will be held by Dr. Gabor Horvath (gabor.horvath@uni-bonn.de)
More information can be found here: https://btc.uni-bonn.de/mcf/
Time: March 29th to October 2nd, 2026 (including breaks)
Location: Venusberg-Campus, Teaching Buidling (Building 10), Room: tba
Please register in eTraining
The 4-days course „Hands-on Introduction to R“ introduces the R programming language which is
commonly used in bioinformatics data analysis and visualization. The course covers data types and
structures, data manipulation such as subsetting and merging, data import and export and visualizations.
No prior knowledge of R or programming is assumed.
Time: October 6th to 8th, 2026 (including breaks)
Location: Venusberg-Campus, Teaching building (Building 10), Room: tba
Please register in eTraining
Prerequisite: The course requires basic knowledge of R or participation in the introductory 4-days R course
The 3-days course “RNA-seq Data Analysis with R” covers general aspects like sequencing, alignment, quantification and quality
control and focuses on R/Bioconductor tools (e.g. DESeq2) for normalisation, differential expression and visualisation.
R data structures like the Summarized Experiment-class will be explained.
Time: March 24th, 2026, 10am - 12am
Location: Venusberg-Campus, Teaching building (Building 10), Room: A010.1.09
This 2-hour short workshop aims to raise awareness on the topic and provide you with useful information to further your understanding and education in this area.
We will explore various aspects of GSP through a case study, discussing how these principles apply in real-life situations. This workshop will also be a great opportunity for open discussions, where you can ask questions and clarify any uncertainties.
This workshop can be added to your curriculum. It is especially useful for those of you in the first year of your PhD, though advanced PhD students are, of course, also welcome to join.
Time: Feburary 23rd, 2026, 10am - 11am
Some of the topics we can include:
- What is mandatory and what is optional within the Curriculum?
- What can be added to your curriculum?
- Which email lists are useful for staying informed?
- What offers are got to know at the university?
- Where can you find support, counseling, or coaching if needed?
Please register in eTraining
Time: January 28th, 2026, 9am - 5pm
Location: Life & Brain, Ground Floor, Venusberg-Campus 1
Time: January 20th 2026, 09:00 – 17:00
Location: Online (via Zoom)
Brief content overview:
- Ethical considerations for AI tool usage in research contexts
- Strengths and weaknesses of AI models
- Exploring the multifaceted applications of AI in research
- Evaluating specialized AI tools for streamlining literature research, data extraction, and data analysis
- Leveraging APIs and local LLMs
Organizer: TRR259
Trainer: Dr. Daniel Friedrich
Language: English
Upcoming Events in 2026
The Cluster Science Days 2026 is a 2-day symposium held at the Biomedical Center (BMZ) in the University Hospital Bonn.
On November 3rd and 4th 2026, the 14th edition of Cluster Science Days takes place in Bonn. The symposium provides the ideal platform to share your research with the ImmunoSensation immunology community in Bonn. We offer insightful talk sessions covering diverse fields of immunology, interactive poster sessions and interesting networking events.
Registration will open soon. Places are limited!
The 2026 International School of Advanced Immunology will take place from November 10 to 15 on Awaji Island, Japan.
This marks the 5th installment of the school, a collaborative event organized by the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation at the University of Bonn and the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) at Osaka University.
The school is held annually alternating between Japan and Germany and offers a unique learning environment for early-career scientists while strengthening the collaboration between the two institutions. In a 4-day intensive course, 50 selected international PhD students and early postdocs have the opportunity to engage with a faculty of 15 world-renowned experts, exchanging ideas, insights, and expertise.
Save the Date – Winter School 2026
We are pleased to announce that the next Winter School is planned to take place from December 9 to 11, 2026 in Bonn, Germany.
In the framework of lectures, open discussion rounds, think tank workshops and “Meet-the-PI” table rounds, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their skills across all areas of immunology, learn about different career paths of participating PIs, and network with colleagues.
Further information, including details on speakers, application procedures, and deadlines, will be announced soon.
We are looking forward to your application and a great time in Bonn!
The DGfI Translational Immunology School (TIS) 2026 is taking place June 25 to 27 in the Kongress Hotel in Potsdam.
The 3-day program will cover a range of topics, including advancements in diagnostics, new research technologies, innovative immune interventions, and emerging immunotherapeutic principles. Participants will also delve into the latest developments in stem cell therapy, gene therapy, tumor immunotherapy, and strategies for achieving transplantation tolerance.
PhD students, MD students and Postdocs working in a Cluster group can apply for fellowships for the DGfI TIS 2026. The fellowship covers the registration fee including courses, accommodation and full board.
If you want to apply, please contact alexandra.kraemer@uni-bonn.de
Application deadline: May 20, 2026
More information on the event can be found here: dgfi.org
For more information on all our events and seminars, please visit our homepage at immunosensation.de/events.
Travel Grants
The next round for the ImmunoSensation Travel Grants is open now!
Deadline is April 28th, 2026
Here is some general information:
Travel Grant 1: Technical Exchange are for BIGS Immunosciences and Infection members and Postdocs, who are working in a group of a Cluster member.
Travel grant 2: Meetings and Seminars are for BIGS Immunosciences and Infection members only!
If you are PhD student within the Cluster, but not a graduate school member, you should consider applying for a membership. Contact alexandra.kraemer@uni-bonn.de for further information.
Travel Grant 3: Social Media Support is for Non-BIGS Immunosciences and Infection members (e.g. other students and postdocs) who want to help the ImmunoSensation Social Media Team creating content for the Cluster channels. Funding is available up to 500€ per application. Please be aware that ImmunoSensation Travel Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and there is no guarantee for funding. Financial support granted by the Cluster can usually only be used for reimbursement. That means, travel costs and meeting fees have to be paid in advance by the applicant (or the applicant's PI/lab).
It is also possible to apply for a travel grant retrospectively after the trip.
Application Forms
