Two Microbiology Master’s Students Awarded Wübben Science Foundation Student Grant
Two Master’s students in the M.Sc. Microbiology program at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Samira Quanz and Emily Reichel, have been awarded the prestigious Student Grant from the Wübben Science Foundation. The fellowship enables outstanding students to fully concentrate on the final phase of their studies.
The Wübben Science Foundation Student Grant is aimed at exceptional Bachelor’s and Master’s students at German universities who are in the final two semesters of their program and have been nominated by the spokespersons of Germany’s Clusters of Excellence. The grant provides €1,000 per month for one year. Each year, up to 55 students are supported. The program seeks scientifically talented students who demonstrate a strong interest in the big research questions of their field, think creatively, and ideally have international experience.
Both students were nominated by researchers from the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse": Prof. Bas E. Dutilh and Dr. Luzia Gyr supported the application of Samira Quanz, while Prof. Kai Papenfort nominated Emily Reichel.
Supporting the next generation of scientists is a core mission of the Cluster. By nominating outstanding students for prestigious fellowships such as the Wübben Science Foundation Student Grant, the Cluster aims to foster curiosity, innovation, and excellence in microbiology research. “Encouraging young researchers and providing them with the resources to fully pursue their scientific interests is central to our work,” emphasizes Prof. Bas E. Dutilh.
Emily Reichel, currently in her second semester, will conduct her Master’s thesis in the Theoretical Microbial Ecology Group led by Prof. Rosalind J. Allen, focusing on the formation of small-colony variants in Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates. "It is a wonderful recognition of her hard work, talent, and dedication," says Dr. Papenfort. "I am very proud of her success and excited to see all that she will accomplish in the future."
Samira Quanz, also in her second semester, will dedicate her Master’s research to exploring the ecological role of structural color in deep-sea marine Flavobacteria. "Samira did excellent work during her time as a student assistant in my group," notes Dr. Luzia Gyr. "She is a very quick learner and was extremely pleasant to work with." Her advisor Marcel Bäcker at the VEO Group adds: "She showed great curiosity, a sharp mind, and an ability to connect experiments to the bigger picture." Prof. Bas E. Dutilh highlights: "Samira has a genuine interest and talent in science and research. She formulates original research questions and proposes innovative approaches for investigating them."
The Wübben Science Foundation Student Grant recognizes academic excellence while providing financial support and resources for young scientists to dedicate themselves fully to their research and academic development.