Science meets hiking: Together on the Wendelstein Männlein Weg.
Following last year’s successful Winter Retreat in Garmisch. This year, the e-conversion Graduate Program took place in Bayrischzell at Hotel Alpenrose from 10 to 13 March. The event has welcomed 18 PhD students and 9 invited speakers from academia and industry.
Beyond the academic setting, the retreat provided a valuable opportunity for PhD students to connect personally – sharing their research projects and the individual paths that brought them into science. Once again, the retreat highlighted a vital truth: the PhD students of e-conversion are not just an abstract group of 108 people but a vibrant community of individuals – each with their own personality, journey, and future possibilities.
A big thank you to all the speakers
The e-conversion Student Board was delighted with the participants’ positive feedback and the event’s overall success. Speakers from academia – Prof. Jennifer Rupp (TU Munich), Prof. Svein Sunde (NTNU, Norway), Prof. Frank Ortmann (TU Munich), Prof. Jan Torgersen (TU Munich), and Prof. Katharina Krischer (TU Munich) – provided fascinating insights into their current research. In addition, Cell Force and Clariant representatives offered inspiring perspectives on potential career paths beyond academia. Several PhD students also contributed by presenting their projects in short and focused quick talks. The organizers would like to express their sincere thanks to all speakers for contributing to the vibrant and engaging atmosphere of the retreat.
Hands-on and outdoors
Complementary to the scientific talks, the program included two practical workshops: one on career planning after the PhD and one on how programming can support scientific research. Making the most of the retreat’s alpine surroundings, participants also enjoyed various outdoor and social activities. These included hiking in the beautiful mountains, a cozy evening roasting marshmallows by the fire, and even a fun round of Eisstockschießen. Overall, the Winter Retreat 2025 was intellectually enriching, fostered strong personal connections among the e-conversion community, and left participants energized for what lies ahead.
