(10.08.17) The DFG Office Latin America arranged for the Research in Germany initiative to take part in the 38th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) in Rio de Janeiro. During the first week of August, congress participants had the opportunity to find out more about Germany as a place of research.

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On the third day of the congress an informative lunch session was organised, at which approximately 190 attendees were able to learn about cooperation and funding opportunities in Germany. Moderated by Maxi Neidhardt from the DFG’s São Paulo office, the event included a presentation by pharmacologist Prof. Dr. Stefan Offermanns, a director of the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim. In his presentation, he briefly introduced the Max Planck Society in general before focusing on his own institute and research work. For the doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in the audience, he also shared some valuable tips on approaching and applying to a Max Planck Institute. This information was received with great interest, as experience has shown that the main difficulty faced by international researchers is establishing personal contacts in order to enrol in a doctoral programme or secure a postdoctoral position.

The DFG was represented at the lunch session by Liaison Scientist Prof. Dr. Helmut Galle, who explained the opportunities for cooperation and funding and, by way of example, presented a number of projects from the GEPRIS database, which is also an important source of information in the search for potential cooperation partners. Maria Júlia Torres from the Rio de Janeiro office of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) also gave a presentation on the DAAD’s fellowship programmes. Prof. Dr. Mônica Santos de Freitas from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), a Liaison Scientist for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), explained the organisation’s fellowship programmes and, as a Humboldtian herself, gave the audience some useful tips on the application process.

• GEPRIS – German Project Information System

On each day of the congress, participants could also talk to staff at the information stand to find out about research and funding opportunities in Germany.

The stand team spoke to a large number of visitors from Brazil and African countries such as Nigeria, Sudan and South Africa, as well as India and the UK. In total some 170 people took advantage of the opportunity to obtain information, especially with regard to doctoral and postdoctoral posts.

The motto of the IUPS Congress was ‘Rhythms of Life’ and the wide-ranging programme gave researchers in physiology and related areas an international platform on which to discuss the latest research and developments in the field. The scientific programme included 300 presentations, including two by Nobel Prize winners.