Microverse Season's greetings by Illustrator Hannes Naumann
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Closing 2025, Shaping 2026
As we conclude an extraordinary year for the Microverse Cluster, this final newsletter of 2025 looks ahead to the opportunities, encounters, and initiatives that will shape the start of the coming year. A visual anchor of this transition is our Microverse Wimmelbild, created for the holiday card and Advent calendar, which celebrates the people behind our scientific progress and community life. The full illustration and its stories can be explored on our website.
The beginning of 2026 will open with strong scientific impulses and numerous opportunities for engagement. This issue highlights the next Jena Excellence in Microbiology Seminar featuring Yen-Ping Hsueh, as well as further Microverse Seminars that continue our tradition of international research exchange. Alongside these academic highlights, we draw attention to calls that support scientific excellence and career development, including the LIFE Talent Award and a broad range of national and international funding opportunities.
Beyond research, the coming months invite active participation across the breadth of our community—from international science communication initiatives such as the EC2U Science Contest, to diversity and culture activities within the Microverse, and public dialogue formats like the L³ lecture series. A curated overview of upcoming events, key dates, and recent publications rounds off this issue, reflecting the diversity, openness, and momentum with which the Microverse enters the new funding phase.
We wish you a peaceful holiday season, restful days at the end of the year, and a successful start to 2026. Thank you for being part of the Balance of the Microverse—your commitment, curiosity, and collaboration continue to shape our shared journey.
Warm holiday wishes,
The Microverse Management Team
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Portrait Yen-Ping Hsueh (Photo: Academia Sinica)
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SAVE THE DATE: JEMS in Feburary 2026
We are excited to announce the upcoming talk in the Jena Excellence in Microbiology Seminar (JEMS) series:
JEMS brings together leading experts to share cutting-edge research and foster collaboration within the microbiology community.
The seminar is open to all interested members of the Microverse Cluster and beyond. No registration is required.
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LIFE Talent Award (Image: AI generated by Dania Rose-Sperling)
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Apply for the LIFE Talent Award - Recognition for Excellence in Life Sciences
Deadline: January 31, 2026
The University of Jena's LIFE profile area invites applications for the prestigious LIFE Talent Award, honoring exceptional achievements in the life sciences across all career stages.
Who Can Apply?
Early-career researchers from the University of Jena or local institutions, including Jena University Hospital.
Award Details:
- Amount: €5,000 per category
- Categories:
- Doctoral work
- Postdoctoral work
- Independent work (habilitation candidates, junior faculty, non-tenured)
- Up to four awards available
Application Requirements:
Submit by January 31, 2026:
- Cover letter (max. 2 pages)
- CV with publications
- Letter of recommendation (for doctoral candidates and postdocs)
Apply here and showcase your research excellence! Questions? Contact Dania Rose-Sperling: Dania.rose-sperling@uni-jena.de.
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Further Information
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EC2U Science Contest 2024 Linz (Photo: Andreas Roebl | University of Linz)
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Call for Participation: Join "Team Jena" for the EC2U Science Contest in Turku!
Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
The University of Jena is currently seeking five enthusiastic researchers to form "Team Jena" for the upcoming EC2U Science Contest in Turku, Finland.
Members of our Cluster Excellence "Balance of the Microverse" deal with complex biological systems and interdisciplinary questions every day. The University is looking for exactly this kind of expertise to represent Jena on an international stage. If you enjoy breaking down complex scientific topics for a broad audience and answering questions in an entertaining, spontaneous way, this call is for you.
Who is the University looking for?
The search is on for five team members who meet the following criteria:
- Role: Professors, Research Assistants, or Doctoral Candidates at the University of Jena.
- Language: High proficiency in English is required.
- Spirit: Candidates should have a passion for science communication and enjoy interacting with an audience.
The Event: EC2U Forum in Turku
Selected participants will travel to Finland to compete against and collaborate with teams from other European universities.
- Date: The Science Contest takes place on 20 May 2026.
- Travel Schedule: Arrival on Monday, 18 May 2026; Departure on Thursday/Friday, 21/22 May 2026.
- Program: In addition to the contest, the agenda includes a team-building activity with international colleagues on May 19 and participation in the wider EC2U Forum.
Funding and Organization
Successful applicants will receive a mobility grant to cover travel and accommodation costs. A selection of five team members will be made in early February, followed by at least one virtual preparatory meeting to build team cohesion before the trip.
How to Apply
To join "Team Jena," please submit your application via the link below. You will be asked to provide your contact details, subject area, and a brief motivation statement.
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Microverse Diversity and Culture
Diversity Committee Meeting
January 13, 2026 | 12 pm | Leibniz HKI, Nucleus Cafeteria, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena
You're warmly invited to join our next Diversity Committee meeting on Tuesday January 13 at 12 pm, in the Nucleus Cafeteria. We’ll chat about Microverse diversity topics in a relaxed setting — feel free to join just once or regularly!
Please note: food and drinks aren’t provided, so you're welcome to buy something at the café.
Hope to see you there!
Your Diversity Committe
Rosalind Allen, Merle Hammer, Silvia Kolossa & Johannes Zimmermann
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Picture: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)
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Invitation to Public Lecture & Exchange: L³ Format (LIGHT–LIFE–LIBERTY)
The L³ lecture series (LIGHT–LIFE–LIBERTY) features an upcoming event that brings science, society, and personal perspectives into dialogue.
Participants can look forward to a public lecture by Prof. Sebastian Seiffert (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), followed by an exclusive discussion session for students.
Public Lecture
- Prof. Sebastian Seiffert
“Chemistry Professor and Climate Realist: Acting Instead of Hoping” (German)
January 14, 2026 | 5:15 pm
Lecture Hall, Institute of Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry, Humboldtstraße 8, Jena
The lecture is part of the L³ lecture series (LIGHT–LIFE–LIBERTY) and is open to the public.
Exclusive Student Exchange
Following the lecture, a limited number of students will have the opportunity to take part in a personal and in-depth exchange with Prof. Sebastian Seiffert.
In a small-group setting, there will be space for discussion, questions, and further reflection.
- January 15, 2026 | 9:30 to 10:30 am (approx.)
Goethe Laboratory, Fürstengraben 26, 07743 Jena
Maximum 15 students
Places are limited – registration is required.
Registration for students: https://indico.rz.uni-jena.de/event/303/
We are pleased to share this information and encourage interested students and members of the public to take part in the L³ lecture series.
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Open Calls
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Upcoming Events
- Sustainable Campus Café: Sustainable Mobility & Internationalization
January 13, 2026 | Thuringian University and State Library (ThULB), Bibliotheksplatz 2, 07743 Jena (barrier-free)
Read more
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Workshop "Persönliche Sichtbarkeit stärken: Selbstbewusst auftreten in männerdominierten Arbeitsumfeldern" (only available in german language)
January 28 to 29, 2026 | International Center (Haus auf der Mauer), Large Hall, Johannisplatz 26, 07743 Jena
Read more
- PhD and Postdoc Day 2026
January 29, 2026 | Rosensäle, Fürstengraben 27, 07743 Jena
Read more
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Microverse Seminar with Karina Xavier
March 17, 2026 | Leibniz-HKI – Seminar Room Pasteur, Building A8, Beutenbergstr. 11a, Jena
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More dates from the Microverse
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Selected Publications
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Vogt LN, Gomariz MV, Siemers M, Papenfort K, Fröhlich KS. An RNA sponge directs the transition from feast to famine in Caulobacter crescentus. Nature Communications, 2025;16(1), 9478.
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Günther M, Herbst R, Ueberschaar N, Hildebrandt D, Reimer L, Stallforth P. Global profiling of polyketide synthases in facultative multicellular eukaryotes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025;122(45), e2515852122.
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Fiedler J, Richter I, Dornblut K, Scharf A, Hertweck C. Inactivation of the Burkholderia Toxin Malleicyprol by Enzymatic Cyclopropanol Ring Opening. Angewandte Chemie, 2025;e21105.
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Kallscheuer N, Carlstedt KL, Hammer J, Haufschild T, Benndorf R, de Beer ZW, [et int ] Jogler, C. Tundrisphaera macrotermitis sp. nov., a novel member of the family Isosphaeraceae isolated from the gut of a fungus-growing termite. Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1), 39213.
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Kapitan M, Niemiec MJ, Millet N, Brandt P, Chowdhury MEK, Czapka A, [et int.] Jacobsen ID. Synergistic interactions between Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis promote toxin-dependent host cell damage. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025;122(46), e2505310122.
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Vogler BT, De Angelis G, Zhao Z, Eggeling C, Reina F. Parameter optimization for MINFLUX microscopy enabled single particle tracking. Communications Biology, 2025;8(1), 1573.
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Kabuu M, Kumar G, Haufschild T, Hammer J, Jogler C, Kallscheuer N. The novel taxon Lacunimicrobium album gen. nov., sp. nov. is constituted by three planctomycetotal strains isolated from freshwater habitats in Northern Germany. Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1), 41173.
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Vogt LN, Fröhlich KS. Impact of Small RNA Sponges on Regulatory RNA Networks in Bacteria. Annual Review of Genetics, 2025;59(1), 69-89.
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Amon L, Vurnek D, Seichter A, Tchitashvili G, Kaszubowski T, Mroz M, [et int.] Dudziak D. GM-CSF and specific type 2 cytokines induce CD103+ and CD301b+ cell states in cDC1s and cDC2s. Cell Reports, 20025;44(12).
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Schrettenbrunner L, Maufrais C, Janbon G, Wallace E, Blango MG. Comprehensive mapping of the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of Aspergillus fumigatus reveals diverse mechanisms of mRNA processing including premature transcription termination. RNA, 2025;rna-080659.
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Zhang L, Marfil-Sánchez A, Kuo TH, Seelbinder B, van Dam L, Depetris-Chauvin A [et int.] Panagiotou G. Gut microbiome-mediated transformation of dietary phytonutrients is associated with health outcomes. Nature Microbiology, 2025;1-17.
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Guerra J, Jentho E, Schäuble S, Scicluna BP, Vivas W, Martínez-Alarcón D [et int.] Weis, S. Control of renal central carbon metabolism by heme oxygenase-1. iScience. 2025.
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Deckert-Gaudi T, Yao X, Darussalam E, Hornung F, Carravilla P, Zhao Z, [et int.] Deckert V. Atomic force microscopy-based topographical imaging of SARS-CoV-2 as part of a tripartite strategy for RNA virus characterization. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2024.
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All publications
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