What we do
What is ÖGMBT YLSA?
Young Life Scientists Austria (YLSA) is the bottom-up initiative of the Austrian Association of Molecular Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ÖGMBT), from and for young scientists. The goal is to establish a network among young life scientists within the association.
As a young life scientist throughout your study and career steps you probably were wondering:
- What are my possibilities, opportunities after any level of life science degree?
- Which way is the right one and how to make the best out of the knowledge and experience I gained during my studies? What are transferable skills scientists have?
- How to activate, engage yourself and network in the life science, biotech, and pharma community?
- How to gain new skills or write a perfect job application?
- How to keep up with the state-of-the-art jobs and be informed about job openings throughout Austria?
These are just a few of the questions that worry young life scientists eager to succeed and gain the most out of their career path.
You don´t need to worry anymore - Young Life Scientist Austria (YLSA) was founded to answer all of these questions and help navigate your career path!
YLSA Activities
To provide information and build a network for early stage life scientists we organize diverse events and plan a variety of activities:
- Life Science Career Paths
- Career Workshops
- Job Profiles
- Company visits
- Regulars' Table
- Life Science Awards Austria
- Life Science Career Fair at the Annual Meeting
- Prizes for Best Talks/Best Posters at the ÖGMBT Annual Meeting
- Job board
- FEBS junior activities
- e-flipbook “Success Stories of Life Science Awards Austria Winners 2010-2020”
You can watch some of the former online events by ÖGMBT- YLSA (Young Life Scientists Austria) on our YouTube channel. Follow us for all the updates!
Here you can take a look at the upcoming events and past events of ÖGMBT-YLSA.
YLSA Retreat 2021
On August 21-22 young volunteers of ÖGMBT-YLSA (Young Life Scientists Austria) from all over Austria met in Salzburg for the first ever YLSA-retreat. The topics and discussions ranged from needs of young researcher during their education and job search to planning of future career events. The retreat was more than productive with many ideas for the year ahead!
YLSA Beginnings
Young Life Scientists Austria was founded in 2016 by YLSA pioneer Jonas Ramoni to support students and junior researchers in taking the neccessary steps to build their careers via a peer to peer network which organizes diverse scientific and career events.
Read all about YLSA goals in this article published in “Standard”.
Who we are
YLSA Team of Volunteers
YLSA East
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YLSA Rep. to the ÖGMBT Board
Felix Sternberg (PhD) |
Team member YLSA East
Benjamin Bayer (PhD) Business Development |
Team member YLSA East
Anja Kostelac (MSc) |
Team member YLSA East
Vanessa Meier
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YLSA South |
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Leader of YLSA West
Elena Brunner (MSc) Innsbruck Medical University |
Team member of YLSA West
Renata Hajdu (MSc) |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Team member of YLSA West
Elisabeth Damisch (MSc) |
YLSA North
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Leader of YLSA North
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Where you can find us?
YLSA is organized in four branches covering Austrian regions: North, South, West and East. Regardless where you live within Austria - as ÖGMBT member you can attend all events (online and face-to-face) of all branches.
Benefits of being a YLSA volunteer
Kevin Domanegg (BSc) - Former team member YLSA East
“Being part of YLSA (and thus ÖGMBT) means gaining an insight into your future work life. It means networking with people that are in the same circumstances or learning from people that have already experienced similar situations. Additionally, it keeps you up to date in the world of life sciences and supports you with finding new job opportunities.
For me personally this meant: several conferences in different cities (Zurich, Vienna and Salzburg), numerous (international) friendships, a bachelor internship in a world-class institute and especially a deep comprehension about my career possibilities as well as priceless advice.
Furthermore, as active member of the YLSA East team, I could develop a wide range of skills by working as a coordinator of YLSA activities at the 2019 ÖGMBT Annual Meeting, video editor for online events and IT officer for the YLSA communication platform.
It is what you make it. Therefore, be active in the community and surely it will help you with finding your right path.”
Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS
Do also visit our ÖGMBT Job Board and the Life Science Career Fair.
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LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS
HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT: ÖGMBT members: Log in into the intranet on the homepage with your account info and there click on Online events-Join an event. The zoom link will be provided there.
Non-members: The event is for ÖGMBT members only. If you are motivated and quick enough to send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., we will send you free event links on a “first come first served basis”! To get info on ÖGMBT membership click here. Join us as we learn about the job possibilities in and outside of academia and skills needed! ÖGMBT- YLSA team
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Past Events
PAST EVENTS
| Videos of past ÖGMBT- YLSA events |
You can watch some of the former online events by ÖGMBT- YLSA (Young Life Scientists Austria) on our YouTube channel. Follow us for all the updates!
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS June 30, 2022 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS with DSM"
Job profile: "Product Manager" Workshop: "Let's go Job Hunting - How to find the right company"
Project lead: Zrinka Didara
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS May 19, 2022 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS with LabBuddy"
Job profile: "Entrepreneur in the life science field" Workshop: "Teaching skills - e-learning developer in the life science field"
Project lead: Renata Hajdu
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS April 21, 2022 Online |
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"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS with TakaraBio"
Job profile 1: From lab to marketing strategy Job profile 2: From lab to sales with TakaraBio Workshop: Speed dating – jobs after a PhD with TakaraBio
Project lead: Felix Locker
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS March 17, 2022 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS"
Job profile 1: Project Architect / Consultant with Matteo Tardelli (Author of the book The Salmon Leap for PhDs) Job profile 2: R&D Team Lead Michaela Willi R&D Bionorica
Project lead: Tamara Tomic
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS February 17;2022 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS with Boehringer Ingelheim and acib"
Job profile: Principle Associate Scientist in pharmaceutical industry Workshop: Most common questions in a job interview
Project lead: Anja Kostelac
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS January 20;2022 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS "
Job profiles: Science communicator and science coordinator
Project lead: Felix Locker
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS December 2;2021 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS with Takeda"
Job profile: Data analyst Workshop: LinkedIn profile
Project lead: Felix Locker
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS July 12;2021 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS"
Job profile: Regulatory affairs, CMC Workshop: Virtual job interviews
Project lead: Elena Brunner
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS June 17; 2021 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS" with ERBER Group
Job profile: Product manager Workshop: Why your soft skills will get you the right job
Project lead: Zrinka Didara
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ÖGMBT-YLSA event series: LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS May 20;2021 Online |
"LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PATHS" with Sandoz (Novartis division)
” Job profiles and opportunities at Sandoz” PROJECT LEAD: Gregor Ömer, PhD
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ÖGMBT-YLSA & jGBM : “Online tour in pharmaceutical industry with Boehringer Ingelheim” March 19; 2021 Online |
“Online tour in pharmaceutical industry with Boehringer Ingelheim”
PROJECT LEAD: Bianca Chichirau (MSc) & jGBM
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ÖGMBT YLSA online: February 25; 2021 Online |
“Out of the box talk with Pascal Mülner”
PROJECT LEAD: Patricia Rieder
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ÖGMBT YLSA online: January 19; 2021 Online
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“Life Beyond Academia – Biobusiness edition”
PROJECT LEAD: Zrinka Didara (MSc)
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ÖGMBT YLSA online:
December 10; 2020 Online |
Out of the box talk” – “What does a medical advisor do?” by Ksenia Astanina, PhD
PROJECT LEAD: Felix Locker(PhD)
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ÖGMBT YLSA online: November 10; 2020 Online |
Life Beyond Academia I Pharma Edition
PROJECT LEAD: Zrinka Didara, Msc |
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ÖGMBT YLSA online July 2; 2020 Online |
“Perspectives in the R&D department and Takeda on the frontline of COVID 19 defence”
PROJECT LEAD: Zrinka Didara, Msc
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ÖGMBT YLSA online June 8; 2020 Online |
ONLINE COMPANY VISIT TO @MED-EL
PROJECT LEAD: Gregor Ömer, PhD
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ÖGMBT YLSA online April 27; 2020 Online |
The first ever online “Out of the Box Talk” was with Benjamin Bayer (Novasign GmbH)
PROJECT LEAD: Zrinka Didara, Msc
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ÖGMBT Social event YLSA east February 27; 2020 Vienna |
ÖGMBT Social event YLSA east
We met as well as old and new members. Over a drink and a bite of food, upcoming activities and events for this year were discussed with curios and motivated young scientists.
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ÖGMBT YLSA SÜD January 16; 2020 |
We got the opportunity to visit the company Anton Paar GmbH, with 3.400 employees at the headquarters in Graz. High precision production and close contact to the scientific community form the basis for their quality.
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YLSA Info Event September 13; 2016 Graz |
How it all started? Presentation of YLSA during the 8th ÖGMBT Annual Meeting by Jonas Ramoni & Pascal Mülner
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ARCHIVE
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Below you can find compendium of YLSA past events in the timespan 2016-2019. |
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YLSA Kick-off Event June 29; 2016 Vienna |
17 young researchers from TU Wien, BOKU, IST Austria, MUW, Vetmed, Uni Wien, MFPL and even from TU Graz.  |
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YLSA Social Event - Billard October 20; 2016 Vienna |
Relaxed get together @ Billardcafe KÖÖ7 with Andreas (IST), Lisa (BOKU), Franziska & Nikolaus (AIT), Elisabeth & Jonas (TU Vienna) and Julian (MFPL)
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YLSA Social Event - Bowling October 24; 2016 Graz |
Relaxed get together @ Kegelbahn Scheff with Carina (MUG), Maria, Peter, Marielies, Christoph and Pascal (TU Graz).  |
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Role Model Talk: Scientific Publishing Springer January 19; 2017 Vienna |
Dr. Silvia Herold, Editor in Biomedicine / Life Sciences @ SpringerNature talked about what her daily work looks like and about scientific publishing in general. Great opportunity for networking and a relaxed conclusion with drinks & snacks afterwards.
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Company visit at the ERBER Group February 16; 2017 Getzersdorf and Tulln |
27 young researcher participated at the Company Visit of the ERBER Group Campus in Getzersdorf and the BIOMIN Research Center in Tulln.
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Science Dinner - eatdrinkconnect February 23; 2017 Graz |
Mag. Dr. Karin Schaupp and Univ.-Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Robert Kourist discussed in a relaxed atmosphere with young reserachers about the topic “Academia vs. industry: Einstein or Bayer- who are you going to be?”
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YLSA NORD Kick-off Event March 2; 2017 Salzburg |
18 enthusiastic young researchers participated at this this Kick-off Event in Salzburg.
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OUT OF THE BOX TALK May 18; 2017 Vienna |
Dr. Matthias Brunner, Trainee as Patent Attorney @ Sonn & Partners Vienna, showed us how his daily work looks like, and wgave insights into which skills are needed to be successful in this profession.
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COMPANY VISIT - LACTOSAN May 24; 2017 Kapfenberg |
17 young researcher visited the styrian based biotech and pharma company LACTOSAN.
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST Kick off - BBQ June 1; 2017 Innsbruck |
more than 50 young researchers came together at the Kick-off event in CCB Innsbruck
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Dr. Jernej Zupanc - Effective Visual Communication of Science September 21; 2017 Graz |
When reading research papers, grant proposals, conference posters or viewing slide presentations, researchers look at visuals first. If created properly, scientific figures are the most effective way to explain complex ideas and research results. This seminar gave an introduction to how researchers search and read scientific literature and how we can use basic principles of visual communication to attract the readers' attention and guide their eyes through composition. | |||
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1st ÖGMBT YLSA WEST Stammtisch Oktober 9;2017 Innsbruck |
Relaxed get-together with discussions about Innsbruck’s life science community.
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ÖGMBT YLSA SÜD October 20; 2017 Graz |
Get together of the YLSA SÜD with interesting discussions and exchange of ideas for next life science activities |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST: November 9;2017 Vienna |
ÖGMBT YLSA Out of the Box Talk at MFPL with Dr. Michael Wildauer, Management Trainee @ Shire
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ÖGMBT YLSA SÜD: Company Visit @ Sandoz Ljubljana November 20;2017 Graz |
The company visit to Sandoz located in Ljubljana was very successful! Sandoz, the generic division of Novartis, is a pioneer in the field of biosimilars and the second-largest generic pharmaceutical company in the world. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: November 20; 2017 Innsbruck |
The ÖGMBT YLSA West networking event in the form of Törggelen, a mouthwatering tradition from South-Tirol with wine and chestnuts! |
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ÖGMBT YLSA NORD: December 18; 2017 Salzburg |
YLSA/ÖGMBT members and interested life scientists met at the Salzburg Christmas Market to got to know each other and talked how to expand and foster the YLSA/ÖGMBT community in Salzburg and Upper Austria. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA SÜD: “Start New- Start Up” January 17; 2018 Graz |
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Company visit "ThioMatrix" February 14; 2018 Innsbruck |
YLSA visits ThioMatrix, one of Europe´s leading drug delivery companies, specialised on the development of non-invasive drug delivery systems. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: 1-day workshop on: Effective Visual Communication of Science: how to visualize your scientific ideas and help your audience effortlessly grasp the essence of your research February 26; 2018 Innsbruck
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The workshop was a great success! Read a article from the Medical University of Innbruck online! |
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ÖGMBT YLSA NORD: February 28; 2018 Salzburg |
More than 80 students participate at the Career day and get in contact with 9 speakers from different life science companies. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST: March 15; 2018 Vienna |
The Out of the box talk with Dr. Chantal Rodgarkia-Dara was very successful! After the interesting talk the students have taken the opportunity to an intensiv exchange. FH Campus Wien Vienna Biocenter |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: Company visit ViraTherapeutics March 21; 2018 Innsbruck |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST: Bio Goes Business April 7; 2018 Vienna |
The latest events and activities of YLSA EAST were presented at a booth at the “Bio Goes Business - Karriere in der Biologie” conference organized by the Austrian Biologists Association. Universität Wien, Biozentrum UZA I, HS 1 |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: @ Life Science PhD Meeting Innsbruck 2018 April 5 and 6; 2018 Innsbruck |
Anna-Maria Dietl and Michael Schäfer are the winners of the ÖGMBT/YLSA - Best Poster Award of the Life Science PhD Meeting Innsbruck 2018. Congratulations! 5.+ 6.4.2018, CCB Innsbruck |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: Company visit Oroboros Instruments April 23; 2018 Innsbruck |
Oroboros is engaged in cancer research, with focus on metabolism and mitochondria for novel anti-cancer therapies. Oroboros Instruments, Schöpfstraße 18, Innsbruck |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST: April 26; 2018
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The Company Visit of the ERBER Group Campus in Getzersdorf and the BIOMIN Research Center in Tulln was again a great opportunity for young researchers to get first hand insights and information about job opportunities. | |||
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: Company visit at Gebro Pharma May 25; 2018 Fieberbrunn |
Together with the Standortagentur Tirol the ÖGMBT organised an excursion to the pharmaceutical company, Gebro Pharma, in Fieberbrunn Gebro Pharma develops and manufactures medicinal products, medical devices, food supplements/dietary products and cosmetics in various pharmaceutical forms. Foundet in 1947 Gebro Pharma has a presence in more than 25 countries and around 300 employees in its headquarter in Fieberbrunn, a small tourist town in the Kitzbühel Alps. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA SÜD: May 29; 2018
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ZETA invites master and PhD students of BOKU, TU Vienna and TU Graz to take part in an excursion to visit their facilities in Lieboch, near Graz on Tuesday, May 29th. This includes the visit of an industrial bioreactor plant. Prior to the company visit you will listen to a varied set of talks about ZETA Biopharma (Important note! While presentation slides are in English, the talks are given in German!!). As a special feature a representative of Boehringer- Ingelheim will inform about carrier opportunities at this global company. | |||
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ÖGMBT YLSA SÜD: June 6; 2018 Graz |
The dinner took place in the Herzl Stube (Prokopigasse 12, 8010 Graz). Our 2 guests were: Dr. Vera Niederkofler representing the industry (from QPS Austria located in Grambach) and Dr. Julia Kargl (from the department of Pharmacology at the Medical University of Graz). They talked about their professional experiences and answered questions regarding academia or industry. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST: Karriereevent im Rahmen der ÖGMBT Jahrestagung September 17; 2018 Vienna |
Vier ExptertInnen stellten ihre Berufsfelder vor sowie ein professioneller Personalrecruiter stellte Dos and Don’ts bei der Bewerbung vor. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: October 9; 2018 Innsbruck |
Networking, networking, networking! |
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ÖGMBT YLSA EAST: Out of the Box Talk October 18; 2018 Vienna |
This "Out of the Box Talk" at FH Campus Wien was given by Dipl.-Ing. Tamara De Zuani, project manager of the biotechnology department at Agrana Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC) GmbH. |
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Academia or Industry - What´s the best choice for me? This "Careers Talk" with Ass.Prof. Dr. Michaela Lackner, group leader at the Division of Hygiene and Medicinal Microbiology and Dr. Florian Widner, development scientist at Novartis in Kundl gave insights on possibilities and chances in academia and industry to find the best choice for your career path. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: November 11;2018 Innsbruck |
YLSA-WEST traditional "Netwörggelen" |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST: November 13; 2018 Innsbruck |
Networking, networking, networking! |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST: Company Visit at AGRANA December 3; 2018 Vienna |
The Young Life Scientists from the Vienna region visited the Agrana Research & Innovation Center and got to know first hand insights into their R&D facilities. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST: Christmas Event December 13; 2018 |
To say thanks to the out of the box talk speakers from 2018, YLSA EAST organized a Christmas Event. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST Stammtisch January 15; 2019 Innsbruck |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST Company Visit Biocrates Life Sciences AG January 23; 2019 |
Biocrates Life Sciences AG – The deep phenotyping company The Young Life Scientits Austria (YLSA) gave Master- and PhD Students the opportunity to get an insight of this tyrolean company that is an interesting employer for scientists. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST Out of the Box Talk January 24;2019 Klosterneuburg |
The Young Life Scientists Austria Kick Off Event at the Campus of the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) hosted young life science graduates Dr. Elisabeth Mayer, Research Team Leader at Biomin, and Dr. Jonas Ramoni, Project Manager at Ares Genetics. As part of this Out of the Box Talk, Elisabeth and Jonas spoke about their jobs and the associated roles and duties you have in the position as a young life science graduates. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST/NORD Company Visit February 6; 2019 |
Lenzing AG Following a guided tour through the production halls, participants received information about Lenzing’s actions in biotechnology for pulp, biorefinery and fibers. Lenzing's representatives told participants all about the "Lenzing Fibers" for textile applications, which was followed by a very fruitful and lively Q&A session. The event was completely free for ÖGMBT members and partner organisations. Many thanks for the continued support, and to everyone who joined on this very interesting day! |
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ÖGMBT Out of the Box Talk April 10; 2019 Vienna |
Out of the Box Talk at the Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) Are you curious about the tasks and challenges of a Clinical Trial Project Manager? |
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Mobility and flexibility in research - success or stress factors? September 16; 2019 |
This satellite was dedicated to all life science students and junior researchers interested in finding out different ways to boost their career development. Several hot topics were covered, from mobility and grant application/scholarship opportunities, research life in industry vs. academia, to strategies that should be implemented in order to improve our attitude towards failed experiments and “negative” results and to maintain an overall positive mindset. Nicole Meisner-Kober, Group Leader, Chemical Biology and Biological Therapeutics, Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg - “Experiences from a research career in the pharma industry and considerations for cross-sectorial career transitions”
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Company visit at Boehringer Ingelheim September 26;2019 |
After a guided tour in the R&D department, participants had the chance to discuss their projects with the researchers, shared opinions and insights about the scientific life in academia vs industry. | |||
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ÖGMBT YLSA SÜD October 7; 2019 Graz |
Another great Out-of-the-Box Talk in co-operation with the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology with: Verena Resch (Designer, Bio Chemist & Founder of Luminous LabEcological outdoor textile evolution – from academia to self-employment) |
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ÖGMBT YLSA SOUTH November 12; 2019 |
On the 12th of November, we got the incredible opportunity to visit 3 companies southern to Graz in just one day. First, Alexander Asbäck, the managing director of VTU, gave us deepening insights into the bioprocess plant planning, manufacturing science & technology. Afterwards, Peter Pucher from BDI took us into the world of microalgae. Eventually, Iskandar Dib from Validogen introduced us to their toolbox and versatile technology platform for Pichia pastoris recombinant protein production. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA WEST November 18; 2019 |
This time with ÖGMBT president Prof. Lukas Huber, who is not only a professor and researcher at the Medical University of Innsbruck, but also a Board Member of several Life Science companies. He talked about job and career opportunities either in academia, as well as small life science companies in Innsbruck. |
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ÖGMBT YLSA OST December 11; 2019 Vienna |
The YLSA OST region met at Rathausplatz Christmas Market for a relaxed get together to chat, to recall the past year and share thoughts for the upcoming events. |
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Contact us
You can contact us via e-mail under This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow us
The Facebook group "
ÖGMBT Young Life Scientists Austria (YLSA)" our 
Twitter account (@ögmbt-ylsa) our LinkedIn page our 
Instagram account (ogmbt_ylsa) were created to facilitate communication and to announce the latest news and events.
Please visit also the ÖGMBT facebook page.
