Thesis committee
Each student chooses a thesis committee consisting of the supervisor and two further independent scientists. The committee meets with the student once per year to discuss the planning and progress of the research project and any other matters of importance. The members of the committee read and comment upon the project proposal and the first year report, and also comment on all oral presentations. The thesis committee is involved in the decision about when the experimental work should be considered complete and the student should write up. They are available for discussions and advice to the student on all matters at all times.

Written and oral reports
To offer possibilities for learning to plan a project and identifying with the purpose of the experiment, students will be expected to write a research proposal for their chosen or assigned project within three months of starting work. The project proposal will be discussed with the thesis committee.
One year later a progress report in the format of a mini thesis or a scientific research paper will be submitted which will contain a critical discussion of results and of problems encountered. The two reports, i.e research proposal and first year report, will form the basis for meetings with the thesis committee. During these meetings the written report and the oral presentation, as well as any other matters of relevance, will be discussed.
In addition oral reports will be presented to other members of the programme, usually on the occasion of a graduate student symposium or retreat.

Breadth of scientific background
A graduate student must focus on a small section of a field in order to become an expert in the area. A number of programme components are designed to counteract a too narrow focus of interest and to broaden the students’ scientific education. The students will attend regular progress reports and literature seminars of their own research group. In addition, students are expected to attend departmental seminar series in which the research of the institute or other assembly of scientists is presented, and during the course of their thesis to become familiar with the research conducted in biology in Cologne. In addition, discussion and active intellectual engagement between students from different research groups will be fostered by annual retreats that are organized and exclusively attended by students.
To extend the students’ exposure to research beyond that of the local area, they will receive funds to organize a guest lecture series and to attend conferences. Students will prepare for seminars by international top scientists invited for the lecture series by reading and discussing recent publications of the guest’s research. These students will act as the guest’s hosts during his or her visit. Students will receive funds to attend national and international conferences. Attendance of a conference with funding from the Graduate School is absolutely contingent on presentation of a poster or a talk.