Postdoc Network - German Cancer Research Center

Main Topics of the PDN

Our website and mailing list provide general information about the PDN and offer a platform for Postdocs to communicate with each other and discuss issues important to them.
The PDNC represents the Postdoc voice within the DKFZ, and to other organizations such as the Helmholtz Network and the Health+Life Science Alliance throughout Germany.

In collaboration with the DKFZ Advanced Training Center, the PDN organizes seminars and workshops tailored to Postdocs' needs.
Together with the Career Service the PDN organizes Career Days. The aim is to provide postdocs at our institute with insights into different career paths in specific fields. We invite alumni and other (postdoctoral) researchers to briefly share their personal career paths. The participants are given ample time to join round table discussions and to network with invited guests.

The Annual Symposium aims to encourage scientific and social interactions between Postdocs in order to improve the research and personal experience of scientists.
The Lunch Talk Series was started by the PDN and the BioMed X Innovation Center to provide a platform for intellectual exchange between researchers working in diverse fields of life science research in Heidelberg.
The “Research Lounge – let’s talk science” encourages scientific collaboration and discussion within the DKFZ.

IARC-DKFZ Cancer Prevention Conference in Lyon, France

We are excited to announce the opportunity to earn a travel grant to attend the upcoming IARC-DKFZ Cancer Prevention Conference, which will take place from 3–5 December 2025 at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of WHO) in Lyon, France.

This conference is being organized as a collaborative effort between IARC and DKFZ and it aims at bringing together early-career researchers (PhDs and Postdocs) to exchange ideas, present work, and explore collaborative opportunities in cancer prevention research.

To apply for the travel grant, please submit an abstract for a poster or oral presentation until 30 September 2025. Here is the link: https://indico.dkfz.de/event/1418/

Your travel and stay will be reimbursed if your abstract is selected. If your abstract is not selected or if you don’t plan to present, you are still welcome to attend. Please speak with your supervisor or division regarding cost coverage.

Please also select the topic where you think your abstract fits the best to (see "Conference Topics" below).

Who can apply for the travel grant?

PhD students who have completed or will complete their 1st TAC meeting before 3 December 2025
Postdocs with an active DKFZ contract before the start of the conference

What does the travel grant cover?

Round-trip transportation between Heidelberg and Lyon
Hotel accommodation and meals during the conference

How to earn a travel grant:

Submit your abstract for a poster or oral presentation
If your abstract is selected by IARC, you will be awarded the travel grant!

What are next steps?

Submit your abstract before 30 September 2025
Abstracts will be reviewed and selected by IARC (our DKFZ team will review and select IARC abstracts in parallel).
Communication of awarded travel grants will be done around mid-October.
Registration for the conference will be opened. As mentioned, attendees without a travel grant are still welcome to join, but costs will have to be covered by their division.

As a reminder about the contents of the conference:

Conference Topics:

Epidemiology & Prevention Strategies
Models of cancer
Molecular & Biomarker-Based Detection & Prevention
Cancer surveillance
Novel Interventions & Public Health Impact
Data science for cancer biology

Conference Highlights:

Scientific sessions (15-minute talks + Q&A)
Poster sessions with flash presentations
Structured networking between early-career researchers and senior scientists
Thematic workshops in small, interactive groups

Why attend?

Strengthen your international network with WHO scientists
Discover collaborative research opportunities
Share your work through poster or oral presentations
Enhance your networking and presentation skills
Win a competitive travel grant

We look forward to seeing you in Lyon!

The PostDoc Networking Committee

We are always looking for new enthusiastic PDN committee members!

Join the PDN committee today by subscribing to the PDN committee mailing list by emailing to PDN-committee(at)dkfz.de and by attending the fortnightly committee meetings.

Improve communication and spread information between Postdocs
Participate in the organization of events and seminars
Welcome incoming postdocs by providing them with relevant information concerning their work at the DKFZ and their life in Heidelberg
Share and discuss career-related issues

If you are interested in keeping up to date with Postdoc news and events, please subscribe to the Postdoc Network mailing list (PDN@dkfz.de) by emailing postdoc(at)dkfz-Heidelberg.de.

A diverse group of ten individuals stands on a staircase, smiling and posing together. They represent a collaborative research environment, likely related to an academic or scientific program, emphasizing teamwork and community within the postdoctoral network at DKFZ.

Current Members

Dr. Fiona Brown

Speaker
Dr. Mohammad Abukhalaf
Mariam Amghar
Dr. Sophie Bromberger
Dr. Jaydeep Bhat

Active Member
Laura de Cubas Landaluce
Kyra Fuchs
Dr. Thomas Kerzel-Gnaneswaran
Dr. Simon Linder
Dr. Alexandra Lipka
Dr. David Schmidl

Postdoc

Show profile
Tanwei Yuan

PhD Student

In the past: Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW)

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) happened (15.-19.09.)!

Alongside the German-wide program of events (paw-germany.de), we had a fantastic lineup here in Heidelberg co-organized by the Postdoc Network Committee of DKFZ and Heidelberg University Postdocs.

Tuesday, Sept 16

Headshots |
Seminar: Overcoming Inner Barriers – Typical Obstacles in Shaping Your Own Career
Speaker: Dr. Susanne Scheer (heiTRACKS).
ice-cream in front of the TP area

Thursday, Sept 18

ice-cream on in the foyer at the DKFZ main building

Friday, Sept 19

CV Cover/Letter Checks |
One-on-one feedback on your CV and cover letters from the DKFZ Career Center.
Postdoc Lunch |
A chance to connect with fellow postdocs over a free lunch.

In the past: Heidelberg Postdoc Symposium 2025

The image features four individuals associated with a postdoctoral program: Letitia Parcalabescu and Felix Hartmann presenting at the top, and Joshua Stevenson-Hoare, Ekaterina Pylaeva, and Sabrina Lewis holding certificates at the bottom. They appear engaged in a professional and collaborative environment.

The Heidelberg Postdoc Symposium 2025 on June 27th at the DKFZ communication center, was a vibrant day full of lively discussions, exchange, and delicious coffee. We want to thank our keynote speakers Letitia Parcalabescu for sharing how LLMs can be used for scientific research and Felix Hartmann for showing us how single cell metabolomics can impact cancer treatment. A shoutout to all speakers and poster presenters with special congratulations for the award winners: Joshua Stevenson-Hoare (1st place short talk), Sabrina Lewis (2nd place short talk), Ekaterina Pylaeva (3rd place short talk), Erwin Kupczyk and Mohamad Saoud (1st place poster), Maria Bekker-Nielsen Dunbar (2nd place poster), Noémie Lejeune (3rd place poster), and Tanja Kuhm (4th place poster)! This event was generously sponsored by InVivo Biotech and PromoCell.