Graduate Research Opportunities for Women at Dresden (GROW@Dresden 2026)

Mar 26, 2026, 8:00 AM → Mar 27, 2026, 9:00 PM Europe/Berlin

Technische Universität Dresden

Türkü Özlüm Çelik (MPI-CBG)

GROW@Dresden 2026 is aimed at all students of underrepresented gender identities in mathematics, especially women, who are interested in exploring graduate programmes and research opportunities both within and beyond academia.

This two-day conference will take place at Technische Universität Dresden and is jointly organized with the mathematics community at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG). Participants will gain insight into mathematical research, academic careers, and industry pathways, while connecting with a supportive network of faculty, researchers, and peers.

The event will include research talks, panel discussions (What is mathematics research? How do I apply for a PhD in mathematics? What can you do with a mathematics PhD?), networking and mentoring sessions.

The conference is open to Bachelor and Master students from universities in Germany and neighbouring countries, including international students. It is possible to apply for funding for hotel and/or travel costs in the registration. Talks and panels will be in English, but many of the mentors/volunteers/organisers will be able to speak in German and possibly other languages.

All interested students must register beforehand (see registration tab), regardless of whether you are applying for funding. Confirmed participants will be notified by email.

For more information on the GROW conferences in Europe, please visit: https://grow-europe.github.io

Organizers: Anita Behme (TU Dresden), Türkü Özlüm Çelik (MPI-CBG & CSBD), Heather Harrington (MPI-CBG & CSBD), Andreas Thom (TU Dresden), Paula Truöl (U Glasgow), Oana Padurariu (MPIM)

 

GROWposter.pdf

Thu, March 26

1 Registration

2 Welcome

3 Research talk

Speaker: Anna Wienhard

11:00 AM Break

4 Panel: What is mathematics research like?

1:00 PM lunch

2:00 PM Transfer to MPI CBG

5 Panel: What to do with a PhD in mathematics?

5:00 PM Break

6 Research talk

Speaker: Claudia Alfes

6:30 PM Dinner

7 Lecture

Speaker: Andreas Thom

Fri, March 27

8 Research talk

Speaker: Markus Schmidtchen

10:30 AM Break

9 PhD student talk

Speaker: Yue Jiao (MPI CBG & CSBD)

10 PhD student talk

Speaker: Leon Renkin (MPI CBG & CSBD)

12:00 PM Lunch

11 Panel: How to apply for a PhD in mathematics?

3:30 PM Break

12 Research talk: "Solving equations in groups (but not teams)"

For a group or semigroup or ring G, solving equations where the coefficients are elements in G and the solutions take values in G can be seen as akin to solving systems of linear equations in linear algebra, Diophantine equations in number theory, or more generally polynomial systems in algebraic geometry.

I will give a short, nontechnical, survey about solving equations in infinite nonabelian (semi)groups, with emphasis on the free and hyperbolic ones. In particular, I will explain that the solutions to equations can be beautifully described in terms of words and languages, and that this was made possible by results coming from both geometry and computer science.

No background in computer science is required, only some basic group theory.

Speaker: Laura Ciobanu