Steering Committee
The Steering Committee plays a central role in the governance and strategic development of the Doctoral School. It brings together faculty members and student representatives to ensure balanced decision-making that reflects both academic leadership and doctoral perspectives, as well as the disciplinary diversity of ecology and evolution.
The Steering Committee is responsible for key administrative and management tasks, including the admission of PhD students, oversight of the annual budget and its allocation, and the preparation of the annual report. Beyond these operational duties, it makes strategic decisions that shape the future development of the Doctoral School, such as planning and approving events, appointing juries, resolving conflicts, and nominating and electing the External Scientific Advisory Board.
The Committee meets regularly to ensure continuous oversight and coordination. In addition, it formally serves as the study conference (Studienkonferenz) of DSPL55, fulfilling its role within the university’s academic governance structure.
PI - Representatives
Student Representatives
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Mayline Goëb
"As a student representative, I would like to strengthen our sense of community by promoting inclusivity and open communication. I believe that connecting people from diverse backgrounds and supporting one another can help make our academic environment welcoming and enriching for everyone."
Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology
Research Areas: The role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in patterning the inner cell layer of a sea anemone embryo
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Charlotte Doebke
“As a student representative, I want to help create an inclusive and welcoming environment where diversity is valued and everyone feels heard. Open and respectful communication between students and supervisors is key to building trust and making sure students feel supported throughout their studies. I also want to strengthen structures that give all students equal opportunities to succeed.”
WasserCluster Lunz
Research Areas: Spatiotemporal Variability, driving factors of sediment methane production and ebullition in streams
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Anna-Lena Mieke
“I would like to help make our doctoral school a more equitable and inclusive place. My research on power dynamics has made me curious about how power also plays out in academic life. I think it is important that students feel able to raise their voice, have a say in their PhD journey and find good ways to resolve conflicts, especially in the relationship with supervisors. I hope to make student perspectives more visible and to contribute to a culture where people feel supported and taken seriously. Another priority for me is strengthening exchange across the many fields within VDSEE. My own background doesn’t fit neatly into ecology, so I know how it feels to work at the edges of a discipline. I would love to help create spaces where students with different methods and perspectives can connect and learn from each other.”
Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
Research Areas: Power dynamics in conservation conflict governance, Reflexive practice, Political Ecology
Anna-Lena Mieke -
Julia Granato