Alumni Relations
DKFZ Alumni events and initiatives support long-lasting personal and scientific relationships between present and former members of DKFZ and to maintain the exchange of ideas in this world-wide community at the national and international level.
Alumni Activities
- DKFZ Connect networking platform: exclusive social media platform for current and former employees including events, mentoring, jobs, Alumni Digest - e-Newsletter, and much more
- Alumni e-mail first.lastname(at)alumni.dkfz.de forwarding address
- Career Advice Tool "CareerCheck"
- Career Events like Career Days, Career Coffee, etc. and access to training courses
- Scientific meetings at the DKFZ and abroad eg Science@DKFZ
- DKFZ magazines “Intern” and “einblick”
- Supportive social and cultural activities for visiting scientists and members of the DKFZ, for example Annual DKFZ & Alumni Reception
DKFZ Connect Platform
DKFZ Connect is the online platform for all current and former DKFZ employees. You can join per private email or sync with your LinkedIn profile in just 2 minutes: www.dkfz-connect.de
DKFZ Connect provides jobs, events, news, groups, photos, mentoring and much more
For more information email us. (alumnirelations@dkfz.de)
DKFZ Careers & Alumni Relations on LinkedIn
You may also be interested in joining our DKFZ Careers & Alumni Relations page on LinkedIN.
To get started, we recommend the Job Hunting Handbook (also available in German). You can enhance your skills with LinkedIn learning and find thousands of job offers.
Did you know that DKFZ students, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers can list DKFZ Education as well as Employer? By listing DKFZ under Education, you will be able to view Alumni statistics on the DKFZ LinkedIn Page.
DKFZ Alumni Advisory Board
What is the Alumni Advisory Board and what can it do for you?
The DKFZ Alumni Advisory Board was established in 2024 to strengthen Alumni engagement and provide strategic support to the Alumni program. Six Alumni from around the world, representing diverse genders, career stages and sectors, meet online twice a year to share perspectives and ideas. The board acts as a sounding board multiplier, connects regional Alumni networks and strengthens DKFZs international profile. Above all, it brings credibility, transparency and inspiration to the Alumni community. All board members are approachable ambassadors for the Alumni community and happy to listen to your ideas, questions and suggestions.
Current Board Members
Previous Alumni Board Members
Upcoming Events and Gallery
DKFZ Alumni Reception
- 2026 Western Africa
Past Alumni Receptions
Since 2014 it has been a DKFZ Alumni tradition to host an annual reception focusing on a specific region for current and former DKFZ employees. Once per year the DKFZ & Alumni Reception invites Alumni back to the DKFZ to network with current researchers, at the same time celebrate the cultural diversity of the DKFZ community. The event is organised by the DKFZ Alumni Relations team with the support of DKFZ colleagues and Alumni from a specific region.
DKFZ Local get-togethers
These events are about more than nostalgic memories about Heidelberg or simply keeping in touch. They´re about building meaningful connections that support you where you are now. Within a friendly and trusted network, you can learn from others' career paths, exchange ideas, and find support: whether you´re exploring a new position, settling into a new city or organisation or even looking for future collaborators. Above all, they offer a space to connect with like-minded people who share your interests and experiences.
With 65% of DKFZ Alumni based in Germany in 2026 our Careers Advisors are planning to meet you in Mainz and Freiburg. Internationally our Alumni Board Members are hosting a gathering in Vienna and we´re also planning Alumni meet-ups in Budapest during the EACR meeting and San Francisco at the GAIN conference later this year.
Will you be attending one of these conferences or would you simply like to reconnect with fellow Alumni in your area? Join us and be part of the conversation.
2026:
- 11 May - Vienna: Alumni Get-Together
- 19 May - Mainz: Alumni Get-Together
- 9 June - Freiburg: Alumni Get-Together
- 8 - 11 June - Budapest: Alumni Get-Together
- 21 - 23 August - San Francisco: Annual GAIN Conference
Alumni Project Week - Global Digital Health
The Alumni Project Week “Global Digital Health – Interdisciplinary Challenges from International Perspectives” took place from 20–26 November 2025 in Cologne and Heidelberg. It brought together 25 international Research Alumni and researchers from six German partner institutions (including DKFZ, KIT, the Universities of Cologne, Münster, Siegen and Heidelberg University).
Participants from developing, emerging, and industrialised countries engaged in interdisciplinary exchange through lectures, panel discussions, lab visits, and a cultural programme. The aim was to foster international scientific exchange, strengthen collaborations, and enhance alumni networks.
The programme focused on global challenges and opportunities in digital health, particularly in areas such as prevention, diagnostics, healthcare, and AI.
Out of nearly 100 applications, 24 alumni were successful with their scientific projects. They represented all partner institutions and came from a wide range of countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Tanania, Turkey, Hungary, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Funded by
The project Global “Digital Health - Interdisciplinary Challenges from International Perspectives” is supported by the DAAD with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Public Lectures
M. CRISTINA POLIDORI
Thur 20 Nov 2025, 6.30-7.30 p.m., University of Cologne
M. Cristina Polidori is Full Professor and Head of Ageing Clinical Research at Cologne University Hospital and a leading expert in gerontology, geriatrics, and healthy ageing. Her research focuses on innovative approaches to healthy ageing, including digital solutions, and she is widely recognized for her contributions to person-centered medicine.
MERLIN GREUEL
Mon 24 Nov 2025, 6.00-7.30 p.m., DKFZ Heidelberg
Merlin Greuel is a global health researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, focusing on digital tools and storytelling approaches to promote health knowledge and behaviour. Alongside his research, he works in biotech as a Director at Bioscience Valuation and CFO of the startup Bioptamers.
EVA WINKLER
Wed 26 Nov 2025, 2.00-3.00 p.m., DKFZ Heidelberg
Eva Winkler is Professor of Translational Medical Ethics at Heidelberg University and oncologist at Heidelberg University Hospital. Her work focuses on ethical issues in research, clinical practice, and public health, and she holds leading roles in several national and international ethics bodies.
| Project Partners | |
| Universität Heidelberg Research Alumni Netzwerk | Jella Friedrich & Silke Rodenberg |
| Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) DKFZ Careers Service & Alumni Relations | Sally Böhm mit Dr. Barbara Janssens & Marion Gürth |
| Universität zu Köln Research Alumni | Frank Hasenstab |
| Universität Siegen Forscher-Alumni-Programm | Dr. Susanne Padberg & Dr. Nina Fenn |
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Research Alumni Network | Oliver Kaas |
| Universität Münster Research-Alumni Strategy | Audrey Busch |
Archive
Financial Support
You are welcome to financially support Alumni activities. This donation is tax deductible within Germany ("Spendenbescheinigung" will be provided if you specify your address).
Sparkasse Heidelberg
IBAN: DE98 6725 0020 0005 0000 50
BIC (SWIFT): SOLADES1HDB
You can also send your donation directly by using the online donation form.
Please fill in ‚M018 Alumni Relations' as purpose (Verwendungszweck) in both cases.
Kontaktieren Sie uns
Sally Böhm
Manager für Career Tracking und Alumni Relations