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From Moving Boxes to Microbial Breakthroughs
May is shaping up to be a defining moment for the Microverse community. As the first research groups begin their move into the new Microverse Center Jena, a shared vision of closer collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange is becoming tangible. Corridors are filling, labs are taking shape, and with them, the foundation for future discoveries is being laid.
At the same time, the scientific life of the cluster continues at full pace. With the upcoming JEMS, new training opportunities, and community-driven initiatives such as the “Microbe of the Year,” this month offers multiple ways to connect, contribute, and engage.
Whether it’s unpacking the first boxes, exchanging ideas at seminars, or capturing the small and big moments along the way – May reflects what the Microverse is all about: a dynamic, growing community driven by curiosity, collaboration, and shared purpose.
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Portrait Michael Wagner | Photo: DeMess/ Ludwig - Schedl
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JEMS in May 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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AI generation based on a prompt from Juliane Seeber.
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Moving Microbes, Big Moments – The Move Has Begun
At the beginning of May, the first research groups are moving into the new Microverse Center Jena (Rosalind-Franklin-Str. 5, 07745 Jena) – a major milestone for the entire community. The administrative office is moving as well. The team can now be reached at the following numbers:
- Angela Köhler – Management
Phone: +49 3641 9-416 200
- Silvia Kolossa – Coordination
Phone: +49 3641 9-416 201
- Juliane Seeber – Communication
Phone: +49 3641 9-416 203
- Yann Schosser – Outreach
Phone: +49 3641 9-416 204
Reminder: Share Your Move!
A move like this is more than logistics – it is full of memorable, surprising, and sometimes chaotic moments. Help capture this milestone together.
We are looking for:
Photos, short videos, and anecdotes from your move into the Microverse Center.
Please send your contributions to: juliane.seeber@uni-jena.de
Selected submissions may be featured in the newsletter and on our social media channels.
Hashtag: #MicroverseOnTheMove
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Logo: Microverse Microbe of the Year
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Wanted: The Microverse Microbe of the Year 2026
June 27 is approaching—better known as World Microbiome Day. After last year’s inaugural title went to Candida albicans, the search is now on for a worthy successor.
The Microverse community is invited to nominate a microorganism that deserves the spotlight.
Who can be nominated?
- A microorganism connected to research within the cluster
- Ideally linked to your current work or recent projects
What to submit:
- Name of the microorganism
- Short description
- Brief justification for the nomination
- An image (e.g. microscopy)
Why participate?
- Fame & visibility: The selected microbe—and its nominator—will be featured across Microverse channels
- A reward: A curated Microverse goodie bag
Submit your nomination here: https://cloud.uni-jena.de/apps/forms/s/GJs3ACSx9Jax7Do5mk6Zyfmy
Deadline: May 24, 2026
The winner will be selected by the Microverse Scientific Community Committee and announced by June 14, 2026.
Questions? Get in touch: yann.schosser@uni-jena.de
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Microverse Diversity and Culture
Diversity Committee Meeting
May 26, 2026 | 12.30 pm | Leibniz-HKI, Nucleus Cafeteria, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena
You're warmly invited to join our next Diversity Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 12.30 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!
Workshops for Early Career Researchers – Spring 2026
Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena are invited to take part in an upcoming series of professional development workshops offered through the WKJ Network. The programme addresses key topics such as confidence-building, career development, and inclusion in academia.
Two upcoming highlights include:
- Raise Your Hand! How to Follow Your Path with Self-Confidence
May 7, 2026 | 9 am to 4 pm | Seminar Room Accouchierhaus, Jenergasse 8, Jena
A workshop for female scientists focused on recognizing limiting thought and behaviour patterns and enabling change
Details can be found here.
- You Belong in Academia: Empowering Minority Researchers to Overcome Challenges
May 20 to 21, 2026 | 9 m to 1 pm | Online
Designed for women, people of colour, international researchers, LGBTQAI+ and neurodivergent individuals, this workshop addresses systemic and psychological barriers in academia
Details can be found here.
Participation is free of charge. As places are limited, early registration via the university’s qualification portal is recommended.
More workshops and details can be found on the WKJ programme website.
Your Diversity Committee
Rosalind Allen, Merle Hammer, Silvia Kolossa & Johannes Zimmermann
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2026 Summer Semester Online Coffee Lecture Series
The Thuringian Competence Network for Research Data Management is launching a new edition of its popular Coffee Lecture series. Taking place monthly on Wednesdays via Zoom, the series focuses on the theme “Best Practices – Why reinvent the wheel?” and highlights practical tools and templates to support everyday research workflows and knowledge management.
Topics include solution-oriented approaches to data protection in research projects, the use of Obsidian for personal knowledge management, structured folder templates, and insights into the Weimar Open Source Initiative.
Dates:
- May 27, 2026 | "Your Digital Research Assistant: Obsidian for Researchers" - Nele Fuchs, (Data Science Center & DataNord, Universität Bremen)
- June 24, 2026 | "Datenschutz in Forschungsprojekten" - Tino Melzer (Thüringer Landesbeauftragter für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit)
- July 29, 2026 | "Reusable - Von Proprietär zu Offen" - Luise Matthes (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar)
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Further Information & registration
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Upcoming Events & Workshops
- Data Science Day Jena 2026
May 6, 2026 | 1 to 7.30 pm | University Main Building - Auditorium, Fürstengraben 1, 07743 Jena
Further Information
- Workshop: Introduction to Arduino Microcontrollers
May 6, 2026 | 1 to 3 pm | Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, StartUpLab, Building 4, Room 04.00.21
Further Information
- Set up: Jena | Von der Idee zum Impact
May 7, 2026 | 2.30 to 9 pm | Normannenhaus, Fortweg 12, | 07745 Jena | German Language
Further Information
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FDM@BUA Online Event: Biologische Sammlungen vernetzen: Daten, Standards, Zusammenarbeit (Connecting Biological Collections: Data, Standards, Collaboration)
May 13, 2026 | 10 to 11.30 pm | Online | German Language
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DFG Funding Opportunities for Postdocs
May 20, 2026 | 2 to 3.30 pm | Online
Further Information
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More dates from the Microverse
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Selected Publications
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Kreimeyer H, Fondevila MF, Harberts A, Raya Tonetti F, Scholer D, Munte E, Hartmann P, Llorente C, Hube B, LeibundGut-Landmann S, Starkel P, AlcHepNet I, Schnabl B. Peptide YY reduces cytotoxicity of Candida albicans in alcohol-associated liver disease. JHEP Rep. 2025;8(5):101718.
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Zhurgenbayeva G, Otrin N, Man CS, Eggeling C, Zhao Z. Protocol for microfluidic-based high-precision general polarization fluorescence microscopy of lipid packing in membrane vesicles. STAR Protoc. 2026;7(2):104525.
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Jansen PM, Hube B, Brunke S. Experimental evolution of fungal pathogens as a tool to unravel host adaptation and virulence. PLoS Pathog. 2026;22(4):e1014149.
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Kumar G, Kallscheuer N, Hammer J, Haufschild T, Jogler C. The novel genus Brakhagea gen. nov. is constituted by four planctomycetal species isolated from aquatic environments in Northern Germany. Sci Rep. 2026;16(1).
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Ehinger FJ, Hoff A, Müll M, Richter I, Bartels B, Blum A, Hoernke M, Kries H, Hertweck C. Site-specific integration of reversibly taggable furylalanine into nonribosomal peptides. Chem. 2026.
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Bruna P, Barra PJ, Garcia M, Liachko I, de la Luz Mora M, Dutilh BE, Abanto M. Unraveling plasmid contributions to phosphorus acquisition in soil microbiomes. Environ Microbiome. 2026.
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All publications
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