Interaction—indoors and outdoors: The retreat program offered a mix of lectures and free time. (Photo: N. Radde/TUM)
This year’s retreat of the e-conversion Cluster’s graduate program took place at the end of January at Hotel Alpenrose in Bayrischzell. Dedicated PhD students and inspiring speakers from industry and research came together in a relaxed atmosphere. The exchange among participants was highly inspiring for everyone involved. As the Student Board, we were especially thrilled with the consistently positive feedback, as it shows that careful planning, a diverse program, and engaging, approachable guests made for an all-around successful retreat.
Big thank you to all speakers
The speakers provided valuable insights once more: from the academic sector, we heard from Prof. Dario Leister (LMU), Prof. Jennifer Rupp (TUM), Dr. Esma Ugur (LMU), and Prof. Knut Müller-Caspary (LMU). Furthermore, Prof. Karl J. J. Mayrhofer (Director of the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg) highlighted potential career paths outside of traditional university settings. These insights were complemented by Franz Rabe from the company Ryze Power. Another highlight were the flash talks by the PhD students, where the attending doctoral researchers presented their current research projects in short, concise presentations. The organizing team would like to express its sincere gratitude to all speakers for their presentations, which made the retreat’s program highly engaging and varied.
Preparation for future leadership roles and relaxed networking
Alongside the academic presentations, there was also an interactive workshop on “Leadership” by Dr. Philipp Gramlich, who provided the doctoral students with important tools and skills for future leadership positions. Thanks to the fantastic alpine location around Hotel Alpenrose, there were also plenty of opportunities for informal exchange while skiing or hiking. Overall, the Winter Retreat 2026 was not only intellectually enriching but also strengthened personal connections among participants once again.
The Student Board organizing team would like to express its sincere thanks to all speakers for their contributions, which made the retreat program highly engaging and diverse.
(Nico Radde)