Humboldt-Universität has maintained close relations with the University of Melbourne since 2003 as part of the student exchange programme and research-related collaboration, especially in the areas of biology and chemistry. We have been intensifying our cooperation since 2019 through the strategic partnership as part of the Berlin University Alliance.
Focus on Global Health
Humboldt-Universität has maintained close relations with the University of Melbourne since 2003 as part of the student exchange programme and research-related collaboration, especially in the areas of biology and chemistry. We have been intensifying our cooperation since 2019 through the strategic partnership as part of the Berlin University Alliance.
Joint PhD programme
In this context, BUA launched the "Joint PhD MEL BER" programme in 2023. This programme offers doctoral students the chance to participate in globally networked research projects in the area of “Global Health”, to gain international experience and to be part of an excellent research environment both in Berlin and in Melbourne. The successful completion of this innovative programme allows the candidates to receive a joint PhD that is recognised by both universities.
Opportunities and insights
Seed funding
As part of the BUA, start-up funding is awarded at irregular intervals for collaborative projects that can be used to establish new research collaborations or further develop existing ones. These funds enable the financing of small projects, workshops, conferences and visits between Melbourne and Berlin. This gives researchers the opportunity to work together with colleagues at the other location and to jointly secure third-party funding.
Seed funding: the partnership on the Berlin University Alliance website
Consultation
Do you wish to develop a new cooperation project with the University of Melbourne or to expand existing structures? The office for international science cooperation, profile partnerships and strategic developmentoffers a Zoom consultation once a month for initiating collaborations with the University of Melbourne and other strategic partners of Humboldt-Universität.
Come and visit us: consultation hour every first Tuesday of the month from 2.30 to 3.30pm.
The binational research project "Visualising the dynamics of horizontal gene transfer during bacterial conjugation" is run by Prof. Marc Erhardt (Humboldt-Universität) and Dr. Debnath Ghosal (University of Melbourne). It focuses on the causes of the antibiotic resistance crisis, in particular the bacterial conjugation process. In this process, antibiotic resistance genes are transferred between bacteria. The universities use various methods to better understand this process. While the Humboldt-Universität project uses fluorescence microscopy approaches (with super resolution and time lapse), the University of Melbourne project is investigating molecular mechanisms using cryoEM approaches. The focus is on the pathogens Salmonella enterica and serovar Typhimurium. The aim is a deeper understanding of the conjugation mechanism, to possibly develop new drugs against antibiotic resistance. The new approaches could help to combat the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, particularly in gram-negative bacteria.
Research project ”Visualising the dynamics of horizontal gene transfer during bacterial conjugation"
Contact
Dr. Isabelle Harbrecht
