PRIMER launches its research and training programme in Frankfurt

The PRIMER Doctoral Network brought its full consortium together for its first Introductory and Training Week at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Goethe University Frankfurt. All 12 Doctoral Candidates, the Principal Investigators and all three External Advisory Board members took part, marking an important step from project planning to the joint implementation of PRIMER’s research and training programme.

The Doctoral Candidates presented their research projects and discussed links and opportunities for collaboration across the network. Scientific sessions explored topics including heat-stress responses, stress priming and memory, tomato genetics and genomics, and reproductive responses to stress. The programme also included plant electrophysiology training delivered by Moritz Graeff of PRIMER Associated Partner Vivent Biosignals, alongside sessions on Open Science, research integrity, AI in science, cross-cultural communication, diversity and inclusion, and career development.

The meeting gave Principal Investigators time to coordinate experiments and identify opportunities to align methods and share expertise. External Advisory Board members offered an independent perspective on the research and training plans, while scientific discussions and informal activities helped build connections across the network. PRIMER will now focus on implementing the Doctoral Candidates’ projects, strengthening collaboration, and progressing the network’s training and secondment activities.

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