We at the MDC

The MDC aspires to provide all employees with an attractive work environment – through an outstanding infrastructure and through collaboration with leading researchers, but also by being a place where tolerance, respect, and good interpersonal relations are paramount. It doesn’t always succeed in equal measure at attaining these aims. Our series introduces you to people who are engaged in this field. It also sheds light on internal processes that seek to ensure a positive organizational culture. And it provides tips for an attentive togetherness.

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Teaserbild Ingo Curdt
Institute & Campus

SPOT: Giving start-ups a head start

With its spin-off support program SPOT, the MDC is giving a helping hand to teams looking to start a company. Three of the most promising projects have now been selected. For our series “We at the MDC” we spoke with Dr. Ingo Curdt, coordinator of the funding program.
Herbstbäume auf dem Campus
Institute & Campus

“No one can achieve sustainability alone”

In July 2020, Dr. Michael Hinz became the MDC’s first Sustainability Officer. In an interview for the “We at the MDC” series, he describes his vision of a sustainable MDC – and a sustainable campus.
Daberkow-Nitsche
Institute & Campus By Christina Anders

“We are always guided by the ‘3Rs principle’”

Six animal welfare officers ensure that the MDC observes all the rules when conducting animal experiments for medical research. Nadja Daberkow-Nitsche, head of the MDC animal house and her colleagues also help MDC researchers to submit animal experimentation applications to the relevant authorities.
Sicherheitshinweise im Foyer H84
Institute & Campus

Keeping research going - at a distance

Whether it was new circulation paths, social distancing markers or room occupancy signage – a number of changes had to be made at the Max Delbrück Center as a result of the corona crisis. Facility Manager Sven Falk and Department Manager Carsten Oehme report on the center’s state during the pandemic as part of “We at the MDC” series.
LabHive Sketch
Institute & Campus By Christina Anders

Project brings voluntary help into the lab

LabHive is one of 1,500 projects born out of the federal government’s #WirVsVirus hackathon. Team leader Dr. Tobias Opialla of the MDC presents the new online platform, which is intended to bundle laboratory capacity and enable more SARS-CoV-2 tests.
TA Representatives
Institute & Campus

“We were invisible”

Staying in the background and not calling attention to themselves – that has long been part of everyday life for technical assistants at the MDC. In April 2019 they formed a group to represent their interests. In an interview for the “We at the MDC” series, three of the TA Representatives discuss their achievements so far and what they plan to do next.
Sylvia Sibilak und Andrea Salerno-Schwarz
Institute & Campus

Two women for all occasions

Sylvia Sibilak and Andrea Salerno-Schwarz are in charge of the Welcome & Family Office at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC). Their job is to facilitate a smooth start in Berlin and at the MDC, especially for new employees from abroad. A new installment of “We at the MDC.”
Udo Heinemann
Institute & Campus

“We are counselors to people who are worried about something”

Professor Udo Heinemann serves alongside Jens Reich as Ombudsperson for Good Scientific Practice. He was elected by the Scientific Council in September 2019. We spoke with him about rules and misconduct in research and how he perceives his role as an adviser in conflict situations.
stress
Institute & Campus

7 reasons why we get stressed during our PhD

Doing a PhD is challenging, no doubt about it. But we can only find strategies to cope with anxiety and detect stress sources if we start the debate about mental health. This is not admitting defeat, this is taking care of ourselves. Let’s break the taboo!
Sonnenaufgang
Institute & Campus

Mental health: what to do if we can't cope on our own

Sometimes our life needs some structure to help us manage the stress of a huge project without clear goals. There are so many creative ideas such as inclusion of routines, going to stress reduction courses, practice meditation, as well as regularly seeing a therapist or a life coach. Some of these ideas can improve your life tremendously. However, what works for some does not work for others, that’s why I encourage you to find your way, you can start by the resources below.