We talked to TRA Manager Meike Brömer, who gave some interesting insights into the TRA Life and Health and its offers.
Could you share what you consider to be the most pressing topics or challenges currently addressed within the TRA?
TRA Life and Health features research on a wide range of scales: from solving structures of biomolecules at the atomic level to the analysis of intracellular regulation mechanisms, from the study of cellular networks to investigating diseases and the behavior of an organism or even whole populations – these are all research topics addressed by our members. One huge challenge is to bring all the knowledge from all these different levels together to understand the bigger picture. We have termed our research profile “Construction and Deconstruction of Life”. This means that we want to foster approaches that on the one hand create novel model systems (“construction”, for example organoid and new tissue models) to get new tools to understand mechanisms of tissue development and disease. On the other hand, we require new methods, also with the help of AI, to link highly complex datasets to behavior or disease phenotypes. Here, we work closely together with researchers from TRA Modelling, for example in projects jointly funded by both TRAs. For the coming years, we will certainly have to deal with questions of sustainability and the impact of climate change on the various areas of “Life and Health”.
How many members are involved in the TRA and what subject areas do they represent?
Currently, we have around 170 members. They are mainly from the fields of medicine, life sciences, biology, pharmacy, nutrition research, mathematics, and computer science. But we also have individual members from chemistry, psychology, ethics or law, for example. Quite some of our members are also part of the ImmunoSensation Cluster of Excellence, which further strengthens our network across the university.
What makes the TRA particularly interesting for early-career researchers, and how might they benefit from being involved?
TRA events are a great opportunity to connect to researchers from other areas and faculties. You meet people who address similar questions in their research but from a completely different angle. Or people who use similar technological approaches but for very different topics! These encounters often spark very innovative research ideas and lead to new collaborations across faculties. While formally TRA Life and Health does not offer membership for early-career researchers, you may still participate in some of our events. A great event was, for example, the hands-on workshop “Machine Learning” for early-career researchers from TRAs Modelling, Matter, and Life and Health. Importantly, for students (undergraduate and graduate) and postdocs, we work closely together with the Bonner Forum Biomedizin. The BFB has a long-standing tradition in Bonn to connect researchers across faculty borders with a focus on offers for early-career researchers in the biomedical sciences. Highlights are, for example, the “Theme Nights” with a focus on methods and technologies as well as “Job Talks”, which offer great examples for future areas of employment outside of the academic track.
If early-career researchers would like to learn more about the TRA and how to join, when and where can they meet you directly?
We just had the Bonn Organoid Day, where researchers from all career levels met and afterwards continued networking over a nice BBQ. These events are always a good opportunity also a good opportunity for us TRA managers to get in contact with people. I might also join the BFB summer party at the Botanical Garden on July 17. Otherwise, feel free to reach out to me by phone or email!