Events

Prof. Mikko Juusola from the University of Sheffield, UK will held a talk about „Synaptic high-frequency jumping“ during the MBExC Lecture on 11 May, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the MPI-NAT City Campus, lecture hall, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3.

Host: Prof. Dr. Martin Göpfert, Uni Göttingen

Abstract: For centuries, from Robert Hooke’s Micrographia to the ideas of Charles Darwin and Sigmund Exner, insect compound eyes have been viewed as fundamentally limited by their fixed, faceted structure – producing a coarse, pixel-like representation of the world. Our new work challenges this long-standing assumption. We show that insect vision is not static but dynamically shaped by movement: both the animal’s rapid, saccadic turns and microscopic movements within the eye itself actively enhance what is seen.

When insects move, their eyes do not simply record images – they actively sample the world in bursts. These rapid shifts, combined with the physics of light detection in thousands of tiny photoreceptive units, generate especially strong and precisely timed signals. At the first synapse in the visual system, this leads to a striking effect we term synaptic high-frequency jumping: the neural signal is reshaped to carry much faster fluctuations than previously thought possible, effectively boosting temporal resolution while minimising delay. In essence, motion transforms the visual system into a high-speed encoder.

This mechanism explains how insects achieve hyperacute vision – resolving fine detail far beyond what their eye structure alone would predict – while reacting in just milliseconds during flight. More broadly, the findings point to a new principle of neural computation: perception emerges from tightly coupled dynamics between behaviour and neural processing. Rather than passively filtering inputs, the brain actively structures them in time, suggesting new ways to think about both biological and artificial vision.

Poster of the talk:

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to „Meet-the-PI“ and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Please find here the PDF of the announcement:

Hertha Sponer College Course (Internal Event/Registration required)

„Basics in Image Analysis using Python“

18–20 May 2026, 1 p.m – 5 p.m.
European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen

Supervisor: Antonio Politi, Facility for Light Microscopy, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPI-NAT)

The course prerequiste for participation in the upcoming HSC Course „Deep Leaning Image Analysis“

This course is organized by the Hertha Sponer College of the Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) and in cooperation with the Facility for Light Microscopy, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen.

Pint of Science Festival Göttingen

18-20 May 2026

Göttingen Bars

Pint of Science describes the international (non-profit) organisation of festivals that bring some of the most brilliant scientists to your local pub to discuss their latest research and findings with you. You don’t need any prior knowledge, and this is your chance to meet the people responsible for the future of science (and have a pint with them). Our festival runs over a few days in May every year, but we occasionally run events during other months.

Speakers: Leonard Drees, Mara Uhl, Tim De Coster, Anastasios Liakos, Sagnik Gupta, Chun Yin Leung, Gabriel Armas-Cardona, Yana Veitsman, Lynn M. Ostersehlt, Lars Penke, Philipp-Michael Schlöter, Sarah Langlotz, Ihsan Dereli, Eduardo Cienfuegos Pecina, Tor Rasmus Memhave (MBExC/HSC), Paola Medel, Anna Vavakou, Aliya Nova Rutsch, Siddharth Murali, Ege Özmen

Please visit the website: https://pintofscience.de/events/goettingen for further information.

The 12th Biennial Neurizons Conference will take place on 19th until 22nd May 2026, at the MPI for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Faßberg-Campus (Germany).

This year we will welcome an exceptional group of scientists from the fields of Clinical Neuroscience, Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, Systems & Cognitive Neuroscience, Theoretical & Computational Neuroscience, and Emerging Techniques in Neuroscience as our plenary speakers.
Confirmed speakers include Yukie Nagai, Ilka Diester, Sheila Nirenberg, Frank Winkler, Pieter Roelfsema, Helen Barron, and others.

As in previous years, we will host Poster Sessions and Young Scientist Talks, providing early-career researchers with opportunities to present their work and engage with peers. The conference will also include a Career Fair, bringing together professionals who have built careers outside academia, as well as professional development workshops focused on navigating and succeeding both within and beyond academia.

For the most up-to-date and official information regarding registration, schedule, speakers, workshops, and more, visit:https://www.neurizons.uni-goettingen.de/.

Joint event of Hertha Sponer College & GRK2824

Career Path – Clinician Scientist
Career prospects & Clinician Scientist Programs

26th May 2026, 5 p.m. s.t.
Heart & Brain Center Göttingen (HBCG), Conference Room
Registration required: please send an Email to heike.conrad [at] med.uni-goettingen.de

This joint event with GRK2824 adresses all persons interested in the career path of a clinician scientist. Why and how becoming a clincian scientist? Which opportunities exist at the Göttingen Campus? To solve these and more questions, representatives of the local insitutions offering Clinician Scientist positions (UMG, DZHK, EKFZ-OT) will present their program and will be available for your questions. Moreover, participants will have the opportunity to get into excange with the three Clinician Scientist role models.

Opening & Welcome
Dr. Heike Conrad, Hertha Sponer College Coordinator, MBExC
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Brügmann, Dept. of Cardiovascular Physiology, UMG & EKFZ Optogenetic Therapies, GRK2824 PI, RP2, MBExC Associated Investigator

Presentation of representatives of local Clinician Scientist programs
UMG Clinician Scientist Program – Dr. Julia Müller, Program Coordinator, UMG
DZHK Clinician Scientist Program – Dr. Annika Brien, Site Coordinator DZHK Lower Saxony & Dr. med. Laura Priesmeier, Representative of Young DZHK Lower Saxony, UMG
EKFZ OT / EKFZ Academy – Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Brügmann, Dept. of Cardiovascular Physiology, UMG & Vice speaker of Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies, GRK2824 PI, RP2, MBExC Associated Investigator

Presentation of representatives of local Clinician Scientist programs
Dr. med. Dorothea Laurence, Department of Ophthalmology, UMG – EKFZ Clinician Scientist
Dr. med. Laura Priesmeier, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, UMG – DZHK Clinician Scientist, Representative of Young DZHK Lower Saxony
Dr. med. Ahmed Wagdi, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, UMG – UMG Clinician Scientist (formerly MBExC Clinician Scientist)

Poster announcement:

Host: Jörg Enderlein (U GOE), MBExC
Local organizer: Alexander Egner (IFNANO)

Speaker: Thomas Burg, TU Darmstadt
Microsystems for cryo-CLEM

Abstract:
Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) is a powerful tool for investigating the connections between cellular structure and function. Performing CLEM on vitrified cells at cryogenic temperature (cryo-CLEM) is particularly interesting, as sub-cellular structures can be preserved very close to the native state and radiation damage is significantly reduced. However, cryo-CLEM technology still has several important limitations today. First, conventional cryofixation by high-pressure freezing or plunge freezing interrupts live-cell imaging, as it requires sample preparation and transfer between instruments. Second, only air objectives are available in cryogenic light microscopy, limiting the numerical aperture to less than one. To overcome the first limitation, our group has introduced a microsystems-based cryofixation technology that enables cryofixation of thin samples (< 20 µm) within fully operating microfluidic devices directly in the light microscope. Recently, we have been investigating applications of this approach to studies of cell biomechanics and cryopreservation. To address the second limitation, we designed a new type of light microscope and cryo-immersion objectives. I will describe recent advances towards integrating this technology into a new immersion-based correlative light and electron microscopy workflow and enabling cryo-STED microscopy with immersion objectives. We expect that, together, microfluidic cryofixation and immersion-based cryo-CLEM will be of particular interest for studying dynamic relationships between cell stimulation, function, and structure at the nanometer scale.   Please find here the PDF of the announcement:

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to „Meet-the-PI“ and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are happy to invite you to the 10th CVBE Meeting in Göttingen in 2026 and bring you all together for 3 exciting days of science in Göttingen.

CVBE Symposium 2026 in Göttingen
Thursday June 18 – Saturday June 20 , 2026
German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

We are looking forward to an exciting scientific meeting, complete with engaging discussions, and to a successful gathering with all of you!

For updates and registration information, please visit: https://dzhk.de/newsroom/events/cvbe-2026.

Here you find the PDF of the flyer: and the programm

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to „Meet-the-PI“ and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to „Meet-the-PI“ and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

MBExC Closing Symposium „Bioimaging Across Scales“

Date: Monday, 28th September 2026 and Tuesday, 29th September 2026

Location: Alte Mensa, Wilhelmsplatz, Göttingen

Organizer: MBExC