Helmholtz Graduate School Environmental Health
Encyclopedia
The Helmholtz Graduate School Environmental Health (HELENA), located in Neuherberg north of Munich
, was opened on November 1, 2010. It is a joint initiative for the promotion of doctoral students of the Helmholtz Zentrum München
- German Research Center for Environmental Health, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and the Technische Universität München.
The structured program of the Helmholtz graduate school HELENA offers participants an individualized course of study within eight thematic tracks, which cover the entire spectrum of Environmental Health research. Additionally, the promotion of competence in management, leadership, and communication lays the foundation for a successful scientific career. Each doctoral student can choose his/her personal curriculum individually from the offering.
A thesis committee guides graduate students during their doctoral studies. The committee is composed of the direct mentor, the doctoral supervisor, and an external expert. At annual meetings, the progress of a project is reviewed. After two-and-a-half years, in consultation with the thesis committee, the student has a plan in place to complete their scientific work.
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, was opened on November 1, 2010. It is a joint initiative for the promotion of doctoral students of the Helmholtz Zentrum München
Helmholtz Zentrum München
The Helmholtz Zentrum München is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres and is responsible for studying environmental health issues. Founded in 1964, it is a joint project of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Bavaria's Finance Ministry...
- German Research Center for Environmental Health, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and the Technische Universität München.
Description
With its orientation on Environmental Health, HELENA focuses thematically on the pathogenic processes of common diseases that affect a large number of people, such as chronic lung diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. These diseases develop out of a complex interaction of individual genetic predisposition and environmental influences such as food, lifestyle, stress, or pollutants.The structured program of the Helmholtz graduate school HELENA offers participants an individualized course of study within eight thematic tracks, which cover the entire spectrum of Environmental Health research. Additionally, the promotion of competence in management, leadership, and communication lays the foundation for a successful scientific career. Each doctoral student can choose his/her personal curriculum individually from the offering.
Thematic fields of education
- Lung Biology and Disease
- Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases
- Neuro and Stem Cell Biology
- Systems Biology, Imaging and Structural Biology
- Ecosystems Biology
- Epidemiology, Health Economics and Human Genetics
- Infection, Immune and Tumor Biology
- Radiation Research
Organisation
- Advisory board (scientific orientation)
- Management board with representatives of the universities, the Helmholtz Zentrum München, and the graduate students
- Thesis committee (supervision of the students' work)
- Graduate student office provides service
A thesis committee guides graduate students during their doctoral studies. The committee is composed of the direct mentor, the doctoral supervisor, and an external expert. At annual meetings, the progress of a project is reviewed. After two-and-a-half years, in consultation with the thesis committee, the student has a plan in place to complete their scientific work.