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The <interact> symposium is organized exclusively by PhD students. It aims to bring together PhD students from all over Munich to promote interdisciplinary exchange. The yearly <interact>  symposium, now in its 5th edition, is THE event among PhD students in Munich.

All the exceptional research facilities in Munich make it an attractive location to pursue research for graduate students from all over the world. This year, the symposium will also be open to postdocs and Master’s students to offer junior scientists an opportunity to interact within Munich’s young research community and to highlight career opportunities in Munich.

Keeping with the tradition from previous years, students from the three Max Planck Institutes, the MPI of Biochemistry, MPI of Neurobiology and MPI of Psychiatry, as well as the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the two renowned universities, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) and Technische Universität München (TUM), will come together for this event. Furthermore, this year, IMPRS students (International Max Planck Research Schools, the PhD programs of the Max-Planck-Society) from all over Germany will be invited, thereby expanding the Munich PhD network to other gifted students.

Presentations and posters by PhD students and talks by renowned guest speakers, such as Nobel Prize winner Tim Hunt in 2009, will highlight the symposium, during which young researchers and students are encouraged to openly discuss science and to build new networks. Building on the successful concept of a one-day symposium, this year’s <interact> will include a pre-event with one keynote speaker in an inspiring atmosphere. A special methods session will also be part of this year’s program to further strengthen cooperation and interdisciplinary exchange, the ideas <interact> was based on.

Every year, <interact> proves to be a highly successful and popular event among young scientists thanks to the fascinating keynote lectures and because it offers an opportunity for young scientists to share their research, exchange ideas, and gain valuable input. Supported by both industry and academia, <interact> serves to provide a venue for all of Munich’s young researchers to meet and discuss science, and has become an integral part of Munich’s student community.

<interact> 2012 Innovations

• Now open to postdocs and masters students
• Invitation of IMPRS students from all over Germany
• Methods session
• Special pre-event