SCIENCE between the student group in the University of Muenster
developmental biology. She eagerly looks forward to her In-
and the group here at the University of Hyderabad but there
dia leg of the programme. » I collaborate with not only the
is considerable overlap, presenting collaborative research
IRTG group from India; I also interact with other groups in
opportunity. The four-year doctoral research programme
Muenster University as well as other universities and institu-
entails two or three visits to Germany and to India so that
tions that help my research in MCGS. I’m doing fundamental
the students can familiarise themselves with the particular
research but then ultimately, all this could lead to something
conditions at the institutions and in terms of lab and equip-
that could help us deal with diseases like cancer, « she says.
ment, « says Prof N Siva Kumar, who is coordinating the programme from Hyderabad. His counterpart in Muenster, Prof
The second IRTG project in India beginning this year is be-
Bruno Moerschbacher, says, » PhD students from each group
tween the Free University of Berlin and the University of Hy-
spend roughly half a year in the collaborating country as part
derabad in Functional Molecular Infection Epidemiology.
of the research programme. «
FMIE seeks to integrate expertise through interdisciplinary study in the field of infection biology, to create a link be-
The MCGS project was formally approved in 2009 and is
tween host-pathogen genomics and the variation of host re-
slated to receive funding of €1 million a year. Over the four-
sponse to vital pathogens. FMIE could be the next big thing
year period, doctoral students will be left to their research
in disease prevention, a discipline that has benefited im-
while the DFG takes care of administrative matters. The re-
mensely from the recent sequencing of the human genome.
search period could be extended for another term if coordi-
The research outcome could help discover disease suscepti-
nators deem it necessary. The first group of Indian students
bility, particularly with reference to tuberculosis.
spent the summer of 2010 in Muenster and a German group is expected in India in November. The challenge is not com-
The Department of Science and Technology and the Indian
munication, as everyone speaks English, says the professor,
National Science Academy are working with the DFG to cre-
but there are minor cultural differences. He is referring to
ate a climate of innovation, having signed MoUs in this re-
the Indian approach to teamwork, where the team is happy
gard. The scale and scope of scientific research today far
to follow the leader whereas Germans see the team leader
exceeds that of earlier days when data and tools were lim-
as guide and accept equal responsibility. To tide over this,
ited. The sequencing of the human genome is just one exam-
workshops are conducted by a person of Indian origin – born
ple of the bank of information available for further research.
and brought up in Germany – who helps Indian team mem-
In that sense, the 21st century is experiencing a paradigm
bers » g et acclimatised to the situation here, « he says. So the
shift in the way we approach research – there is now really no
exchange programme is a learning experience in more ways
alternative to teamwork and collaboration across borders.
than one. » I began the first instalment of the programme in
Bringing together scientists from different disciplines and
Germany and was there from April to July this year. I would
geographical locations is only the first but important step;
be going again for a longer period later in 2011. We have to
the more difficult but achievable goal ought to be to initi-
spend on average nine months in Germany and vice versa, «
ate joint research, allowing for free exchange of ideas and
says Gnanesh who is registered for a Ph D with the University
resources with as few speed-breakers as possible. ■
of Hyderabad. He is researching the Indian bean, profiling erates the machine himself, unlike in India, where a tech-
---
nician is required if a student wishes to use the equipment.
Narayani Ganesh is senior editor with The Times of India. She
Stephanie, a doctoral student at Muenster, sees the DFG and
writes on issues related to science and technology, environment,
IRTG as great enablers in her research focused on sugar and
heritage and philosophy.
38
/// german n ews / volume 51 / is s ue n o. 2 / december 2010
© dfg
its gene and he says he likes the fact that in Germany he op-