Structural framework

1. The Graduate Schoolat the IPKScientific coordinator: Prof. Dr. Nicolaus von WirénAdministrative coordinator: Dr. Britt Leps The IPK Gatersleben and Martin-Luther University establish a graduate school entitled “Yield Formation in cereals – overcoming yield-limiting factors”. The school has been funded under the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation 2012 program by the Leibniz Association, and represents the IPK and MLU’s goal of establishing a joint graduate school which takes advantage of both institutions’ academic excellence in crop plant research. The graduate school is a structural component of the newly established “Science campus Halle plant-based bioeconomy”.

2. Structural framework ScienceCampus Halle „Plant-based bio-economy“ Other Leibniz- Graduate Schools Graduate Programs ofthe Martin-Luther University Leibniz-Graduate School Facultyfor Natural SciencesI (Biology) Facultyfor Natural SciencesIII (AgriculturalSciences) Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

3. Development of the IPK graduate school Leibniz-funded graduate school “Yield formation in cereals – overcoming yield-limiting factors” (8 PhD candidates) PhD program at the IPK with PhD seminars, PSSC conference, workshops etc. (total > 80 PhD candidates) IPK Graduate School (open to all PhD candidates)

4. Goals of the graduate school • to provide the basis for a target-oriented and structured progression of the doctoral study • to offer a wider range of technical and scientific support as well as personal assistance • to ensure a high quality of scientific work within the framework of the doctoral study • to establish a mutual responsibility between the PhD student and the supervisor • to better recognize the individual potential and to adapt training and educational needs to individual skills and qualifications • to promote besides scientific excellence also personal competences

5. Elements of the educational concept Common elements • Lecture series • Technical/methodological courses • PhD Seminars • Progress seminars/lab meetings • Conferences and excursions • Non-scientific lectures (“soft skill courses”) Individual elements • Thesis committee • Research proposal • 1st and 2nd year report • Lab rotations  documentation in the study record book

6. The Study RecordBook Purpose • facilitates the organisation of the PhD study • documents the progress of PhD work • documents the participation in coursework  basis for obtaining a “PhD certificate” independent of the PhD regulations (“Promotionsordnung”) of the university • every PhD student will maintain her/his proper study record book

7. Lectures Date: 14th March 2013; 10.00 a.m. Place: Conference room; Genetic department „Chip-based expression analysis“ (Dr. L. Altschmied/ Ag HET) Date: 18th March 2013; 10.30 a.m. Place: Conference room; Genetic department „Barley Grains- Development and tissue structure“ (Dr. W. Weschke/ Ag SE) Date: 20th March 2013; 10.00 a.m. Place: Conference room; Genetic department „Evaluation of transcriptome data“ (Dr. N. Sreenivasulu/ Ag SGN) Subject to modifications

8. Scientific (technical) courses Date: 12-15th November 2012 „Hands-on histology and electron microscopy in plant research“ (Dr. M. Melzer/ SZB) Deadline for application: 11th November 2012 Date: 18-22nd March 2013 „Microdissection and expression analysis of developing seed tissues“ (Dr. W. Weschke; Dr. J. Thiel; S. Kohl/ SE) Deadline for application: 11th March 2013 Date: 10-14th June 2013 „Hands-on confocal microscopy in plant research“ (Dr. M. Melzer/ Ag SZB) Deadline for application: 1st June 2013 Further information you will find under: http://www.ipk-gatersleben.de/promotion/graduate-school/ Subject to modifications