With the Berlin University Alliance, the four alliance partners – Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – are seeking to further develop the research hub of Berlin into an integrated research environment. In order to bring the overarching five objectives and three cross-cutting themes to life, new employees were hired to support the joint projects and new interdisciplinary work structure.

Sabine Meurer, up to now the Deputy Head of the Strategic Development Department at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and person responsible for coordinating the collaborative project during its application phase, has been Managing Director of the Berlin University Alliance since January 1, 2020. Together with the different staff units of the four alliance partners, she is currently responsible for establishing the unifying structures and processes for the Berlin University Alliance.

Nancy Wegner has been the Project Coordinator in the Berlin University Alliance Administrative Office since January 1, 2020, and is mainly responsible for the implementation and coordination of cross-institutional processes. She was already involved in the establishment of the University Consortium of Excellence as Central Network Coordinator as early as the application phase. She previously worked in the staff group for the International Network University (Excellence Initiative/Future Concept 2007-2019) at Freie Universität Berlin.

On February 1, 2020, Marina Kosmalla took over the responsibility for editing the alliance’s website, and is now part of the public relations team at the Administrative Office. She had previously worked in the Office of News and Public Affairs at Freie Universität Berlin.

Dr. Dominika Dolzycka, previously a coach for business, scientific, and administrative executives, has been a Program Manager since March and is responsible for the planning and coordination of joint scientific infrastructures within the network (Objective 5: Sharing Resources). Researchers are to be supported in carrying out their research by, for example, being able to make use of large-scale equipment, collections, or research data from all the alliance institutions. Furthermore, the future planning of scientific infrastructures in the Berlin area should be made easier.

In April, Dr. Romain Faure took up his new position as a Coordinator at the Berlin Center for Global Engagement (BCGE) of the Berlin University Alliance (Cross-Cutting Theme: Internationalization). He was already involved in setting up the Administrative Office as a Consultant in the FU-BUA staff unit at Freie Universität Berlin. The BCGE is intended to strengthen relations with international partners in the Global South, integrate regional expertise and the global competencies of Berlin’s academic community, and develop activities in the field of scientific diplomacy.

In April, Dr. Julia Wolanski assumed the role of Scientific Coordinator for the Global Health subject area of the Grand Challenge Initiatives. She previously worked as an advisor to the Scientific Director of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association. The Berlin University Alliance is particularly committed to addressing global grand challenges. Following a grand challenge initiative on social cohesion, global health is now on the agenda.