Seventh Young Researchers Symposium Brings Together Early-Career Scientists

Tomorrow’s Research Talents in the Spotlight: The 2026 Young Researchers Symposium Inspires With a Wealth of Ideas

October 15, 2026

More than 40 doctoral candidates from the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Fraunhofer IESE, Fraunhofer ITWM, DFKI, and Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences presented their research findings in a competition at the Young Researchers Symposium 2026 on October 15. Organized jointly by the RPTU Center for Early Career Researchers (REaCh) and the High Performance Center »Simulation- and Software-Based Innovation«, the event promoted interdisciplinary exchange among early-career researchers and, this year, placed special emphasis on the transition from research to business and society with the inaugural presentation of the Transfer Award. The best entries were honored with prizes totaling €6,000.

The Young Researchers Symposium 2026 in Kaiserslautern demonstrated just how diverse, innovative, and forward-looking the research conducted by early-career researchers in the region is. For the seventh time in this event format, doctoral candidates presented their research through lectures and poster presentations and used the event as an opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange with researchers from various disciplines and institutions.

Held every two years, the symposium has established itself in recent years as an important platform for early-career researchers. Doctoral candidates from Kaiserslautern and Landau had the opportunity to present their research to an audience from outside their own fields and to engage in dialogue beyond the boundaries of their own disciplines.

From AI to Climate Research: Making Research Accessible and Increasing Visibility

For Prof. Dr. Melanie Steffens, Vice President for Career Development, Diversity, and Equity at RPTU and patron of the Young Researchers Symposium, one of the event’s particular strengths lies in its combination of interdisciplinary exchange, support for early-career researchers, and science communication: »The Young Researchers Symposium is special because it brings together so many different aspects. The doctoral candidates present their research to an audience from outside their field and have only twelve minutes to explain complex concepts in an accessible way. Conducting cutting-edge research is one thing; inspiring people outside one’s own field is quite another. This ability to communicate scientific content clearly becomes increasingly important over the course of an academic career. At the same time, the symposium puts the doctoral candidates themselves in the spotlight. At many academic conferences, they might present a poster; here, they are given a major platform for their own research and are even awarded prizes.« says Steffens.

Prof. Dr. Melanie Steffens, Vice President for Career Development, Diversity, and Equality at RPTU, and patron of the Young Researchers Symposium — © Thomas Koziel / RPTU
For Prof. Dr. Melanie Steffens, Vice President for Career Development, Diversity, and Equality at RPTU and patron of the Young Researchers Symposium, one of the event’s particular strengths lies in its combination of interdisciplinary exchange, support for early-career researchers, and science communication.

This was the psychologist’s first time participating in the Young Researchers Symposium. She was particularly impressed by the diversity of topics and the high quality of the presentations: »From genetic engineering in plants to the spread of viruses to questions of human behavior, an enormous range of topics was covered. I was particularly pleasantly surprised by how professionally the young scientists presented their research. This level of scientific communication would not have been taken for granted a few decades ago«. Through a total of 16 oral presentations and 26 poster presentations, the audience gained insights into current research findings and discussed their scientific and societal relevance.

The poster sessions, shared breaks, and the closing get-together also offered numerous opportunities to make new contacts and initiate collaborations.

More Than Just Sweet Prospects: First Transfer Award for Research on Climate-Resilient Cassava

A special highlight of this year’s symposium was the inaugural presentation of the Transfer Award. Michelle Fritzler of the RPTU was honored with the award, which is supported by the Palatinate Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Pfalz). In her talk titled »From Sugar Transport to Food Security: Engineering Climate-Resilient Cassava«, the jury saw particular potential for commercial application. The RPTU doctoral student also took first place in the Talk Award.

Steffen Blaga, head of the Innovation, Environment, and Business Development Division at the Palatinate Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Pfalz), is clearly enthusiastic: »When the organizers of the Young Researchers Symposium approached us, I didn’t have to think twice. The request came at exactly the right time. A recent study by the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce shows that while our region is exceptionally well-positioned in research and innovation, we still need to work much harder to translate scientific findings into economic applications – to generate more momentum. With the Transfer Award, we want to reinforce precisely this idea. As the IHK, we don’t just want to present an award; we also want to use our network to build bridges and facilitate new connections.« emphasizes Blaga. »I’m very pleased that Michelle Fritzler won. During her engaging presentation on climate-resilient crops, I immediately knew where we could start. However, even after the event, we at the IHK will reach out to other participants to discuss their ideas and approaches.«

Dr. Nicolas Fröhlich, Executive Director of the High Performance Center »Simulation and Software-Based Innovation« — © Thomas Koziel / RPTU
»Today made it clear what science can achieve when people collaborate across disciplinary and institutional boundaries!« said Dr. Nicolas Fröhlich, executive director of the High Performance Center »Simulation and Software-Based Innovation« at the end of the event.

A Platform for Exchange, Talent, and Ideas for the Future

The new award complements the established prizes for the best presentations, posters, and abstracts and underscores the importance of knowledge and technology transfer. It comes with a prize of €1,000. Prizes were also awarded for the best presentations, poster presentations, and abstracts at the symposium. »Today it became clear what science can achieve when people collaborate across disciplinary and institutional boundaries!« said Dr. Nicolas Fröhlich, Executive Director of the High Performance Center »Simulation- and Software-Based Innovation«, at the end of the event. »The strength of our research community lies not only in the excellence of the individual research institutions, but also in how well they work together. The Young Researchers Symposium brings together people and perspectives from different disciplines – and this creates significant added value for research. This exchange opens up new ways of thinking, sparks collaborations, and helps bring scientific findings into practice more quickly. This is knowledge and technology transfer in action and an important impetus for the future of our region.«

Young Researchers Symposium 2026 Awards

Best Abstract Award

1. Place: Katherine Sirois (HS Kaiserslautern) und Yuchen Deng (HS Kaiserslautern): »From deformation to perception: Engineering the feeling of every step«

Best Talk Award

1. Place: Michelle Fritzler (RPTU): »From Sugar Transport To Food Security: Engineering Climate-resilient Cassava«

2. Place: Annika Müller (RPTU): »Where's Zinc? Using an Organelle-Specific Fluorescence Sensor for Finding Zinc«

3. Place: Jelena Zaninovic (Fraunhofer ITWM): »Leaching in Active Protective Coatings captured In-Situ Using Synchrotron radiation Nano-CT«

Best Poster Award

1. Place: Rébecca Loubet (RPTU): »Can ChatGPT Study at RPTU?«

2. Place: Carla Jänicke (RPTU): »Exploring Language Awareness in Chemistry Teaching through 360-degree Video Vignettes«

2. Place: Gina Gräßle (RPTU): »Tiny Brain Organoids for Big Questions in Glioblastoma Research«

3. Place: Celine Warga (RPTU): »One Ring to Rule Them All: Forging the Epoxide with Copper Complexes«

Transfer Award

Preisträgerin: Michelle Fritzler (RPTU): »From Sugar Transport To Food Security: Engineering Climate-resilient Cassava«

© Thomas Koziel / RPTU
Award Recipients at the 2026 Young Researchers Symposium

© Thomas Koziel / RPTU
Publikum im Hörsaal beim Young Researchers Symposium 2026

© Fraunhofer ITWM
Group Photo at the Young Researchers Symposium 2026

© Thomas Koziel / RPTU
Dr. Johann-Nikolaus Seibert, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Education at the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) in Kaiserslautern.

Press Release

Seventh Young Researchers Symposium Brings Together Early-Career Scientists

Tomorrow’s Research Talents in the Spotlight: The 2026 Young Researchers Symposium Inspires With a Wealth of Ideas

From AI to Climate Research: Making Research Accessible and Increasing Visibility

More Information

More Than Just Sweet Prospects: First Transfer Award for Research on Climate-Resilient Cassava

A Platform for Exchange, Talent, and Ideas for the Future

Young Researchers Symposium 2026 Awards

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