On August 28 and 29, 2024, 27 doctoral students and postdocs from the LIV came together in Freiburg (Elbe) for the Young Scientists' Retreat. The participants had the opportunity to learn from renowned scientists and acquire valuable skills in workshops.

Parallel workshops such as "Dealing with Conflicts" and "A Career in Academia" offered practical insights into everyday scientific life. Top-class experts spoke in a series of lectures. Prof. Dr. Sabrina Schreiner-Gruber from the Institute of Virology at the Freiburg University Medical Center spoke about viral strategies for defending against host defense mechanisms. Prof. Dr. Janis Müller from the Philipps University of Marburg discussed the current state of research into curing HIV, the challenges and progress in the fight against pandemics and unexpected discoveries in connection with a mosquito-borne virus. Other highlights included presentations on science communication during the pandemic and sustainable research.

The event not only offered participants the opportunity to exchange expertise, but also to establish new networks and gain valuable impetus for their scientific careers.