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International Graduate School of Neuroscience

Three images: First, a group of graduates in orange gowns and caps standing on stage while people take photos. Second, a close-up of a hand holding several reports and brochures. Third, a group of graduates in orange gowns tossing their caps in the air while a photographer takes their picture.

Graduation Day 2025

On December 5, 2025, researchers, staff, and guests gathered for Graduation Day to recognize the latest IGSN graduates as they received their PhDs in Neuroscience. The event included research presentations, poster prizes, and the formal conferral of degrees.

Talks and Poster Session

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Prof. Dr. Denise Manahan-Vaughan, the director of the IGSN. As per tradition, current PhD researchers showcased their work to the audience. The presentations underscored the exceptional quality of work at the IGSN and the broad range of topics explored by young scientists. Our thanks go to Lionel Butry, Niklas Rilke, Teresa Tommasini, and Mustafa Yildirim for their outstanding talks.

IGSN Poster Prize

A jury of young researchers had the task of selecting the best IGSN poster. All PhD candidates presented their projects in the three-minute pitch and fielded questions from the jury members. The winners are as follows:

3^rd place Ms Celina Böse from the Department of Neurophysiology her poster titled “The detrimental effects of Abeta (1-42) on hippocampal LTP may be promoted by murine age-related hearing loss”.
2^nd place: Ms Wanyun Qin from the Department of Experimental Eye Research for her poster “The interplay of different cell death mechanisms triggers retinal ganglion cell loss in an autoimmune glaucoma model”.
1st place went to Ms Parnian Ghari from the Department of Human Genetics for her poster “The role of monoaminergic system dysfunction in psychiatric and cognitive features of a novel rat model of Huntington’s Disease”.

Congratulations to all winners!

Winners of IGSN School Competition Received Prizes

At the beginning of the graduation ceremony, the winners of this year’s IGSN writing competition received their prizes. The 2025 contest was entitled “Grandpa calls me, ‘Friedrich” – just confused or already suffering from dementia?” (Opa nennt mit „Friedrich“: Nur verpeilt oder schon dement?). Pupils from Bochum’s high schools had entered short stories, poems, non-fiction texts, and film scripts.

Finally, it was the turn of the graduates to step into the spotlight. Clad in their traditional IGSN mortar boards and gowns, they received their long-awaited PhD diplomas. Each graduate was celebrated with personal speeches from their supervisors. Seven graduates received their PhDs and MDs this year.

The IGSN is incredibly proud of all of you and wishes you the very best for your future endeavors!

Thank you to everyone who made this day such a wonderful occasion!

Four graduates stand side by side indoors in front of an IGSN banner, posing for a photo during the graduation event.

From the left to the right: Mustafa Yildirim, Lionel Butry, Niklas Rilke, and Teresa Tommasini

Four people pose for a photo at a graduation event, with one holding a certificate while two others wear academic robes.

From left to right: Vice Speaker Prof. Carsten Theiss, Poster prize winners Parnian Ghari, Celina Böse, and the director of the IGSN Prof. Denise Manahan-Vaughan

Eight graduates in red academic gowns and mortarboards pose together indoors during a graduation ceremony.

Graduates from left to right (sitting): Sumit Roy, Ines Hecking, Nicolas Diekmann, Daniela Beckmann. From left to right (standing): Franziska Wunsch, Fátima Cascajares, Susanne Dyck.