We at the MDC

Eliska Fürst organizes the running teams representing the Max Delbrück Center in the 5 x 5 km TEAM relay in the Tiergarten in mid-May. The biologist loves running and, as she reveals in our “We at the MDC” series, wants to establish a running culture at the center.

In addition to their work at the Max Delbrück Center, many people from research and administration volunteer their time. For "We at the MDC," six everyday heroes tell us how they help others and strengthen the community in their free time.

The Max Delbrück Center doesn’t just offer exciting career prospects for scientists: Here, young people can also pursue a wide variety of vocational training pathways. We’d like to introduce four of our trainees: an animal caretaker, an office manager, and two biology lab technicians.

About 30 young people are currently pursuing vocational training or a dual-study program at the Max Delbrück Center. Christiane Busch is one of their instructors. She welcomes the trainees, supports them during their time at the Max Delbrück Center, and finally sends them off into professional life.

Ulrika Beitnere joined the Max Delbrück Center as a senior scientist in Maike Sander’s group, re-establishing the lab and uncovering mechanisms in diabetes. Previously, she worked at UC Davis on a rare disorder called Angelman syndrome. Helmholtz Monthly spoke to her for its “1 in 45,000” series.

Working in Berlin-Mitte and New York – Lena Nitsch conducts research at both the MDC-BIMSB and New York University. For “We at the MDC”, the doctoral student discusses how it is to work in two labs, her experiences in the United States, and what she has learned through the “MDC-NYU PhD Exchange Program”.

Sanja Drakulic, Jean-Yves Tano and Michaela Herzig from the People & Culture department were the catalysts behind the Max Delbrück Center’s first ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Week. In this interview, Sanja and Jean-Yves share the inspiration behind the initiative along with some takeaways.

Marie Burns brings science to life at the Max Delbrück Center, collaborating closely with researchers. She shares her journey and aspirations in the field of science communication in an interview for "We at MDC."

There is more to cutting-edge research than pipettes and publications. It is often the inconspicuous everyday processes that influence success or failure. That's why employees who help shape the success of the Max Delbrück Center behind the scenes were once again honored at this year’s summer party.

The Max Delbrück Center has participated in the Berliner Wasserbetriebe relay race every summer since 2009. As part of the “We at the MDC” series, Min-Chi Ku and Tanja Butzek talk about the race and why it’s so much more than just a fun run.