Mathematics: Graduate school promotes networking and excellence
This week, the Cluster of Excellence Mathematics Münster and the mathematical institutes of the University of Münster have inaugurated the "Mathematics Münster Graduate School" (MMGS).
“With the new graduate school, we are bundling our competencies to offer doctoral students an excellent scientific training and to strengthen them for their future career success,” said MMGS spokesperson Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Winter at the official welcome event. It is particularly important to promote networking and communication between mathematical subdisciplines, he said.
PhD student Timo Siebenand also sees this as an advantage: “At MMGS it is now easier for us to establish contacts beyond our working groups.” PhD student Maike Frantzen said, “The members profit mainly from the exchange, cooperation and mutual support.”
After being welcomed by Cluster spokesperson Prof. Dr. Christopher Deninger, the approximately 40 doctoral students who had already enrolled in MMGS met the deputy MMGS spokespersons Prof. Dr. Caterina Zeppieri and Prof. Dr. Steffen Dereich and the outstanding female PhD students who were rewarded within the Ada Lovelace programme. Furthermore they received information about the wide range of organisational and financial support available during their doctoral studies.
Afterwards the doctoral students were introduced to professors who, in addition to their supervisors, will be available as mentors. "The mentors support the doctoral candidates as neutral contact persons beyond the research topic," explained Wilhelm Winter about the programme.
A number of measures are anchored in MMGS with the aim of broadening students’ horizons and helping them become familiar with other mathematical fields. Such measures include an annual scientific retreat, the option to participate in mathematical seminars outside of one's own research focus and in international conferences, and the co-organisation of scientific events.