international phd program mainz

Are you a talented and enthusiastic student with a Master’s degree in molecular biology or a related field? Join us and become a researcher in one of more than 50 labs working on cutting-edge research in Mainz!

As a PhD student in our International PhD Programme (IPP), you can work on exciting projects related to our overarching theme of Gene Regulation, Epigenetics & Genome Stability , as well as join our lively IPP community of 200 students from all over the world!

The IPP has participating labs from the Institute of Molecular Biology  (IMB), Johannes Gutenberg University  (JGU) and the University Medical Center  (UMC). Our research groups offer projects in:

• Ageing & disease
• RNA biology
• DNA repair & genome stability
• Epigenetics & nuclear dynamics
• Bioinformatics & computational biology
• Gene regulation & evolution
• Proteostasis & phase separation

Within these projects, you will have the chance to work closely with top scientists, learn valuable skills and get training in the latest techniques like CRISPR/Cas genome editing, next-generation sequencing (NGS), gene network modelling, mass spectrometry and super-resolution microscopy. See our  research topics  page for more information.

In addition, the IPP has many scientific and social events for you to meet and get to know your fellow students! Find out more about what the IPP offers you here .

For more facts and figures about the IPP, check out the IPP at a Glance . 

If you have any additional questions, please check out our  FAQs  or feel free to drop us an  email .

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PhD Program

The Graduate School of Excellence Materials Science in Mainz (MAINZ) is an international PhD program which focuses on graduate training through excellence in research . MAINZ provides a comprehensive graduate program combining two elements: Training through Research and Training for Life . For outstanding candidates with a Bachelor's degree MAINZ offers a fast-track option.  Working language at the graduate school is English.

Requirements

Besides meeting the basic formal requirements given by the regulations for PhD studies of the respective university faculties, our students meet certain excellence criteria imposed by the graduate school. These include:

• top marks in the final degree from a recognized and internationally acknowledged university;
• top references ;
• exceptional performance of the applicant in general, resulting in shorter than average duration of study;
• high qualification of the applicant for the advertised research project ;
• top performance at our interviews .

After careful evaluation of each application and related references, suitable candidates are invited for an interview and presentation of their previous research work. The Selection Committee evaluates each candidate and afterwards admits the most qualified candidates to the program. Preference in the selection process is given to candidates from outside the host universities, and to projects that are not simple continuations of past work, so as to broaden the exposure to new research areas. Special care is taken to enhance diversity and equal opportunities on all steps of the selection process.

Since 2007, MAINZ has accepted more than 290 students from all over the world and more than 200 PhD titles have been granted. You will find a list of current PhD Students and of our MAINZ Alumni by following the links.

International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz

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International PhD-students

You would like to obtain your phd in computer science, mathematics, meteorology or physics at mainz university there are several options available.

The Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science offers individual PhD supervision as well as several structured PhD-programs. General information about these two ways to a PhD and their requirements can be found at Studying at JGU and the University's Portal for junior scientists .

The following structured PhD-programs are offered in co-operation with professors of this faculty:

• Graduate School of Excellence Material Science in Mainz (MAINZ)
• Max Planck Graduate Center in co-operation with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• International Research Training Group 1404: Self-organize Materials for Optoelectronics
• Graduate School Symmetry Breaking in Fundamental Interactions
• Integrated Research Training Group at the Collaborative Research Center (SFB/ Transregio 45) Periods, Moduli Spaces and related aspects of the Arithmetic of Algebraic Varieties
• Helmholtz Graduate School for Hadron and Ion Research

Special information for international PhD-student can be found at Studying at JGU and on the faculty's websites for Physics and Meteorology as well as Mathematics and Computer Science .

If you would like to know which dissertations have been accepted since 2000, please take a look in our ArchiMed data base .

As PhD-student you don't have to enroll in all cases. That means that you don't have to pay the semester fee. Please note that student housing, the ticket for public transport and the lower prices in the cafeteria are reserved for enrolled students, though.

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International Programmes 2023/2024

Talent Academy for Translational Science (ATLAS PhD Programme) Talent Academy for Translational Science (ATLAS PhD Programme)

Tron – translationale oncology oncology at the university medical center of the johannes gutenberg university mainz • mainz.

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• Online learning
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• Requirements / Registration
• About the institution

BioNTech SE

Scientific events and courses are all held in English.

PhD candidates generally start between April and October. The PhD retreat that takes place in October serves as the first scientific event that PhD candidates take part in, so that they can get to know senior students and their projects. An introductory week is organised in November for new students to expand their network within BioNTech and TRON, and for students to learn about different aspects of their scientific research and training opportunities offered by our programme.

On average, a PhD may take up to four years to complete. Students receive full funding until the submission of their thesis as BioNTech or TRON employees.

For more information, please visit our website: https://atlas-phdprogram.com/ .

31 October for the following year

BioNTech and TRON (Translational Oncology Mainz) are leading institutions in the field of immunotherapy. Our joint international PhD programme is looking for talented, junior researchers of all nationalities.

Our ATLAS (Talent Academy for TransLAtional Science) programme guides and supports PhD students to conduct excellent research projects and offers comprehensive training in cutting-edge technologies and professional skills. The scientific training within the programme has a strong focus on "the art of translation", i.e. turning basic scientific discoveries into applications.

We organise weekly journal and data clubs as well as scientific seminars. The PhD retreat and a Science Day take place annually.

Furthermore, a transferable skill training is held each month on diverse topics. You can find an overview of our workshops here: https://atlas-phdprogram.com/events .

• International guest lecturers
• Integrated study abroad unit(s)
• Language training provided
• Training in intercultural skills
• Projects with partners in Germany and abroad

Our PhD candidates have the opportunity to apply for external research stays at one of our international partner institutes. Since BioNTech has labs and sites world-wide, our students may join lab rotation at other sites.

• Other (e.g. state level)
• Discussion forums and / or groups
• Online sessions
• Video learning (Pre-recorded videos, Vlogs, Video-Podcasts)

Students can choose to enrol or register themselves at one of our partner universities. If they only register their PhD project at the university, they do not need to pay the semester contribution fee at the university. If they would like to enrol at the university, then they have to pay the semester contribution fee. The amount varies depending on the university that the student will choose.

All students will have a full-time contract with BioNTech or TRON.

A Master’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Life Science, Medicine, Immunology, Computer Science, Engineering or related fields from a university recognised in Germany

Professional proficiency in both written and spoken English

Please submit your application via our online portal:

https://jobs.biontech.com/job/Mainz-ATLAS-Joint-PhD-Program-from-BioNTech-and-TRON-with-a-focus-on-translational-medicine-RP-55131/982959101/

We organise career development workshops and talks regularly. As the programme is a mix of an academic and industrial PhD programme, students have the opportunity to build their professional network from the beginning. More than half of our graduates stay as scientists at BioNTech or TRON.

• Welcome event
• Buddy programme
• Accompanying programme
• Cultural and linguistic preparation
• Visa matters
• Help with finding accommodation
• Support with registration procedures

The ATLAS PhD coordination office and the PhD community organise welcome events for new and current PhD students. Before students set their journey to Germany, they join online seminars and get tips on cultural preparation, academic preparation, accommodation and departure. The HR and Global Mobility teams also provide visa and administrative support to make sure international students will have a smooth start.

The Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) will guide and support the student academically. The TAC consists of three to four members: the internal project supervisor, a main supervisor, a university supervisor and sometimes an external supervisor.

TRON – Translationale Oncology Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

BioNTech and TRON (Translational Oncology Mainz) are leading institutions in the field of immunotherapy and translational science.

Mainz is known as the biotechnological hub of Germany, since many biotech start-ups are located in this area. According to the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the city is lively filled with international students. The city of Mainz is historical and beautiful with the scenery of the grape yards and the Rhine river. Its location at the heart of Europe also allows students to easily travel to other big cities and European countries.

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Scientists in the World

Doing the PhD in Mainz, Germany

Written by Chiara 22.02.2022

Continuing our series of articles about research opportunities in Germany, we want to give you an overview of the research landscape for prospective life sciences PhD students in Mainz, where NGC originates and operates. Mainz hosts mainly two PhD programmes in the field, but it is possible to also pursue a PhD without being associated with a programme. Here you can read the personal experiences of Chiara, Karla and Margaryta.

Chiara: Individual PhD at the Faculty of Biology, Mainz University

Application & admission.

Individual PhDs are the most common way of getting a doctoral degree in Germany and there is no structured application system. To apply for my PhD, I sent my application (including CV and motivation letter) via email to the labs that had raised my interest. Sometimes individual positions are advertised, butit is possible to contact lab heads even if no position is advertised. If a group is interested in your CV, they will invite you for an interview, in which you will presumably present your master thesis’ work and talk with the lab head and some group members. If they select you as their new PhD student, you are directly hired by the group and you will likely have a research assistant position. This can happen anytime during the year, without waiting for calls for applications and deadlines.

Requirements & Degree

Because in Germany only universities can award a doctoral degree, I enrolled at the Faculty of Biology of Mainz University . There are a few requirements [read our previous article] and you need two official thesis reviewers who will evaluate the thesis, one of whom is your supervisor. Any PhD student from Mainz University, the University Medical Center and the other research institutes on campus working in the life sciences can enrol at the Biology Faculty to obtain the title of Dr. rer. nat. [read our previous article about the difference between Dr. rer. nat. and PhD titles].

My experience

Once I started my PhD, my job consisted of the usual PhD-slog, with experiments, data analysis, progress reports, attending talks and conferences etc. “No structured programme” means that you are not forced to collect a certain amount of credit points and attend mandatory activities. This was very important to me, perhaps even the main reason why I opted for an individual PhD: I was done with university and mandatory curricula, I wanted to get down to business and do my work. However, I felt something was missing, namely an offer of training in professional skills - usually a staple of any PhD programme. As I tend to be very proactive, I looked on my own for courses from PhD programmes on campus, when accessible, and for online courses. Another thing missing in individual PhDs is the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC), which may be useful in case of disagreements with your supervisor (in my case, a TAC might have considerably shortened my PhD-life and prevented my supervisor from changing my project 4 times).

In hindsight, I would still do an individual PhD: I feel too strongly about the constrictions of a PhD programme’s curriculum and I prefer the flexibility of choosing what to do (or not do) besides my experiments. I would however urge all universities to establish a broad range of training in professional skills available to all PhD students and postdocs, at a quality comparable to that of the training provided by PhD programmes: all scientists are on a path of continuous education and should be offered training opportunities by their institutions, no matter at which career stage or in which programme they are.

Karla: International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz

When I was still in Mexico and I was looking for a PhD position in Germany, I found I could either apply directly to an open position within a laboratory or I could apply to an established PhD programme. I decided to apply for the so-called International PhD Programme (IPP) in Mainz. The IPP usually has 2-3 calls for applications throughout the year, and includes research groups from three institutes in Mainz: Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU, Mainz University) and University Medical Center (UMC). When you apply you need to indicate your 5 favourite laboratories among those offering a project in that call. You send your CV, which serves as an overview of your career, together with a motivation letter explaining why you are interested in the programme. I also described why I was interested in the projects offered by the laboratories I chose. Additionally, at least 2 letters of recommendation are required. If you pass the first round of selection, which is based on your written application, you will be invited to participate in the IPP interview days. Before the corona-pandemic times, pre-selected applicants would come to Mainz for 3 days. At the interviews they get to listen to all of the group leaders present their research, and present their Master’s thesis  to all recruiting group leaders. The interview process continues with a round of short interviews, in which you talk with various group leaders for 15 minutes. At last, you will get the chance of having a long interview (typically 2 h long) with group leaders who are interested in you. Note that when the IPP interview days occurred physically, the travel expenses of the applicant were 100% reimbursed by the IPP programme, regardless of the result of the interview days.

Anyone with a Masters degree can apply for a PhD position through the IPP. There are also a few cases of students doing a “fast track” PhD, which means they have only obtained a bachelor's degree before starting their PhD. As far as I know, this is possible for people, who can demonstrate remarkable research experience, reflected in scientific internships, conferences, publications, as well as excellent grades during their bachelor. In order to obtain a degree, we need to enrol at Mainz University, which is the institution that in the end will give us the degree of Dr. rer. nat. Most of us enrol at the Faculty of Biology.

The application process is very straightforward from the beginning. As the IPP is a well established PhD programme, there is a team ready to solve all the doubts you have while applying to the programme and also after you have joined it. I have always felt very well supported and informed in that regard. I also enjoy the security of having funding ready for the time-frame of my stay. When I was offered the PhD position, I received a stipend for 3 years with the possibility of extensions up to 5 years. Having the certainty of sufficient funding for my research and living gives me the privilege to devote my energy to get research done. Besides, being part of a structured program gives you the opportunity to keep taking courses on methodologies and soft skills. This possibility of further training during your PhD is priceless. While some of the courses offered in the IPP are optional, there are however some courses that are mandatory, which need to be attended and passed.

Unfortunately, at the moment of application not all of the participating groups are looking for a candidate, it might therefore be the case that you are very interested in the research done by one laboratory that is actually not able to offer a position in that call. Overall, I am still very happy with my decision of applying to a PhD Programme. I feel well-supported by the programme management, who already have experience with many different situations that can occur during your PhD. I also love that in addition to the mandatory courses, I am still able to attend very nice courses that might be helpful for life after the PhD, which would be very costly outside of the IPP. Feel free to check out the IPP website .

All scientists are on a path of continuous education and should be offered training opportunities by their institutions, no matter at which career stage or in which programme they are. (Chiara)

Margaryta: TransMed PhD Programme

I wanted to start my PhD in the lab where I did my Master’s thesis and my supervisor suggested joining the TransMed (Translational Medicine) structured PhD Programme, which includes several immunology, cardiology and neuroscience groups of the University Medical Center (UMC). I wrote a project proposal and submitted it together with my CV. My PhD supervisor also had to support my application. Importantly, it is possible to apply to TransMed also after having started your PhD in one of the participating groups; admission to the programme is not a prerequisite for a PhD position in those groups.

You have to fulfil basic requirements for starting a PhD, such as having a Master’s degree and prove a proficient level of English. You also need a feasible project proposal and your supervisor has to agree to host you in their lab as their PhD student. Additionally, you need to find a second supervisor. I know of rare cases of Fast Track students who applied without having a Master’s, but it’s quite tricky, since you need to take classes and exams from a Master’s programme to get enough credit points at the end of your PhD. At the end of the programme, you can get the title of PhD in Translational Biomedicine. It is issued in collaboration by Mainz University and the faculty of medicine of UMC. To those who are wondering: yes, you can officially put the title Dr. in front of your surname after receiving a PhD in Germany.

As a non-EU national, I needed to be enrolled at the university from the beginning. The student status gives you a lot of benefits, e.g. the Semesterticket allows you to use all public transport in Mainz and even travel to neighbouring cities, besides giving access to various students’ discounts. There are a number of sport classes (ranging from Aikido to swimming) you can participate in for free. You can also attend university lectures on general topics, such as philosophy, and even learn a foreign language if you find time. However, the student status is not so beneficial for your visa if you plan to stay in Germany after your PhD.

I enjoyed the structured PhD programme a lot, because it gave me many possibilities to attend courses, seminars, and workshops ranging from academic writing to project management. I didn’t feel restricted, because the programme doesn’t force you to attend mandatory courses, you only have to collect enough credit points by the end of your PhD. The coordinators told me that in all of the years that the programme existed, only one student failed to provide proof of collecting enough credit points and had to do some workshops before submitting their thesis. In my case, the necessary amount of credit points was collected after my second year. Obviously, I like attending seminars and workshops!

As you can see, there are different opportunities for a PhD in the life sciences in Mainz. If you are instead interested in a doctoral position in industry, there may be opportunities at local biotech companies (TRON, BioNTech). PhD students working at these companies usually enrol at the Faculty of Biology at Mainz University for their doctoral title.

Written by Chiara Galante, Karla Blöcher-Juárez, Margaryta Tevosian; Edited by Debbie Shi. Featured Image: NGC/Design.

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Mainz Research School of Translational Biomedicine (TransMed)

• Qualification Programs
• Application
• Training Program

PhD-MD/PhD in Translational Biomedicine

• Registration & Enrollment
• Thesis Submission

The PhD-MD/PhD doctorate in Translational Biomedicine is jointly run by the following Faculties of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz:

• University Medical Center
• Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Geography, and Geosciences
• Social Sciences, Media, and Sports

Meetings of the Joint Committee for the Conferral of the PhD-MD/PhD Degrees in 2024:

• February 1, 2024
• June 20, 2024
• September 26, 2024

Members of the Joint Committee for the Conferral of the PhD-MD/PhD Degrees:

• Prof. Dr. Thomas Mittmann (Chairman), Institute of Physiology, UMC, JGU Mainz
• Dr. Albrecht Clement, Institute of Pathobiochemistry, UMC, JGU Mainz
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Hankeln, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Genetic Engineering Research and Consulting, Biology, JGU Mainz 
• Alexander Löw (student representative)
• Prof. Dr. Dr. Perikles Simon, Department of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, JGU Mainz 
• Dr. Petra Schwarz, Managing Director TransMed, UMC, JGU Mainz
• Prof. Dr. Marie-Luise Winz, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, JGU Mainz 

To contact us, please write us an   email

Please note that in addition to the enrollment in the TransMed PhD training program , you have to register/enroll as a doctoral student at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz as well.

For more information, see the following links below:

• List of Principal Investigators of the PhD-MD/PhD Doctorate

• Kliniken & Einrichtungen
• Über die Universitätsmedizin

Chairperson of the Joint Committee for the Conferral of the PhD-MD/PhD Degrees: Prof. Dr. Thomas Mittmann Institute of Physiology University Medical Center Duesbergweg 6 55128 Mainz

Tel +49 6131-39-27261   E-Mail

Mailing address:

TransMed University Medical Center Langenbeckstr. 1 55131 Mainz

Office address:

Dr. Petra M. Schwarz Managing Director Bldg. 907, Room 01-214 Tel +49 6131 17-9149   E-Mail

Join the International PhD Programme in Mainz, Germany

Job information, offer description.

Thinking of doing your PhD in the Life Sciences? The International PhD Programme (IPP) on Gene Regulation, Epigenetics & Genome Stability is offering talented, young scientists the chance to work on cutting edge research projects. As an IPP PhD student, you will join a community of exceptional scientists working on diverse topics ranging from how organisms age or how our DNA is repaired, to how epigenetics regulates cellular identity or neural memory.

The programme is coordinated by the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) — a modern research centre located on the bustling campus of Mainz University in Germany. With a population of 200,000, of which about 40,000 are students, the city of Mainz is charming and open-minded and is within easy reach of cosmopolitan Frankfurt, the Rhine valley region with its castles, vineyards, and nature reserves, and the equally picturesque cities of Wiesbaden and Heidelberg. With Frankfurt airport – one of the largest airports in mainland Europe – only 20 minutes away, countless European and overseas destinations are within easy reach.

What we offer:

• Exciting, interdisciplinary projects in a vividly international environment, with English as our working language
• Advanced training in scientific techniques and professional skills
• Access to our state-of-the-art Core Facilities and their technical expertise
• Fully funded positions with financing until the completion of your thesis
• A lively community of more than 190 PhD students from 44 different countries

Requirements:

Are you an ambitious, young scientist looking to push the boundaries of research while interacting with colleagues from multiple disciplines and cultures? Then joining the IPP is your opportunity to give your scientific career a flying start!

We seek enthusiastic applicants with a special interest in the following topics:

• Ageing & Disease
• Epigenetics & Nuclear Dynamics
• DNA Repair & Genome Stability
• Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
• Gene Regulation & Evolution
• RNA Biology

All you need is:

• Master or equivalent
• Interactive personality & good command of English
• 2 letters of reference

For more details on the projects offered and how to apply via our online form, please visit www.imb.de/phd .

The deadline for applications is 19 April 2023. Interviews will take place at IMB in Mainz on 19-21 June 2023.

Starting date: 1 August 2023 – 1 February 2024

Requirements

Additional information, work location(s), where to apply.

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PhD and Doctoral Program

There are several ways to acquire a doctoral degree at the Gutenberg School of Management and Economics.

• The traditional track is based on writing a PhD thesis and involves only minor coursework.
• The Graduate School of Economics, Finance, and Management (GSEFM) – a joint venture with the Goethe University Frankfurt and the Technical University Darmstadt – offers a first-class structured graduate program in Economics and Business to students from all over the world. For more information on the GSEFM, click here .

Launch of our joint international PhD program: ATLAS - Talent Academy for TransLAtional Science

Are you an enthusiastic student looking for an outstanding opportunity to do translational research in a truly international environment? Take the chance and apply today. The first ATLAS - Talent Academy for TransLAtional Science call is now open for application until January 15th, 2023.

Starting in early 2023, the joint PhD program between TRON and BioNTech named ATLAS will provide a unique chance for young researchers to pursue their scientific career in the field of translational science. Within the program, students will be given an overview of the different research fields and will take part in a special mentoring program. For further interaction within the TRON and BioNTech community, summer schools and retreats will be held, giving the early-career scientists the chance to present their findings and exchange their knowledge with the seniors.

For details about the program and the application process please visit www.atlas-phdprogram.com

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ATLAS - Joint PhD Program from BioNTech and TRON

Atlas is an international graduate program with a strong focus on translational medicine. atlas covers immunotherapy, computational biology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, aging and regenerative biomedicine., upcoming events.

• Annual PhD retreat (October 10 - October 11, 2024)

ATLAS our Talent A cademy for T rans LA tional S cience, guides and supports PhD students to conduct excellent research projects and offers comprehensive training in cutting-edge technologies. In addition, we ensure that you learn the transferable skills needed for a successful career in academia or industry. Scientific training within the program has a strong focus on "the art of translation", i.e. turning basic scientific discoveries into applications.

The main research topics at ATLAS evolve around:

Immunotherapy of cancer, infectious diseases & autoimmunity

Cardiovascular, aging & regenerative biomedicine

RNA biochemistry

Protein engineering

Bioinformatics & systems biology

Biomarker research

Antimicrobial therapies

Download the MP4 video.

we welcome applications from all over the world

Two Blugolds selected for 2024-25 Fulbright awards

Monday, May 13, 2024

Photo caption: Blugold Zachary May will be returning to Argentina, where he was part of a faculty-led international immersion experience, to participate in an English teaching assistantship through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Immersing themselves in the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s international travel opportunities expanded the worldview of two Blugolds who have been selected for 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards, the recipients say.

Zachary May, who graduated in December 2023, will participate in an English teaching assistantship in Argentina, while May 2023 graduate Anna Wendorff will be an English teaching assistant in South Korea.

Colleen Marchwick, director, Center for International Education

UW-Eau Claire’s combination of strong academic programs and experiential learning helps prepare students to “build the knowledge and skills to become a successful Fulbright applicant,” says Colleen Marchwick, director of UW-Eau Claire’s Center for International Education.

“The high-impact experiences at UWEC create spaces where students can put into practice their academic learning and challenge themselves to grow personally,” Marchwick says. “This combination allows students to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to thrive, whether the student is pursuing Fulbright, grad school or entering the workforce.”

UW-Eau Claire is consistently among the top master’s universities in the nation for the number of students who receive Fulbright grants.

Six Blugolds applied for Fulbright awards for 2024-25, with five becoming semifinalists. Madalyn McCabe of New Berlin, who graduated in May 2023 with a degree in social studies education, is an alternate for an English teaching assistantship in Luxembourg. 

May, of Lake Geneva, graduated in December 2023 with a double major in Spanish liberal arts and Latin American studies, minors in interdisciplinary linguistics and organizational communication, and a certificate in Teaching English as a foreign language. He credits the Spanish department, Latin American and Latinx studies department, CIE and the McNair Program for preparing him for the Fulbright experience.

“It really highlights the importance of interdisciplinary degrees, high-impact practices and pushing yourself to do your best at all times,” May says of the Fulbright award. “Through both the Spanish and LAS departments I was able to better understand the importance of learning another language and another culture because that allows you to appreciate the world in so many new ways.”

May will be returning to Argentina, where he was part of a faculty-led international immersion experience in Mendoza, where he also did his TEFL internship. May also studied abroad in Chile and calls his South American experiences “huge milestones in my life.”

“I grew a lot not only academically, but as a person as well,” May says of his international experiences. “Anyone I’ve talked to can confirm that I almost always talk about my experiences abroad. I cannot emphasize enough how impactful and amazing it was for me.”

May’s future goals include earning a master’s degree in international and comparative education to learn more about educational policies at the local, national and global levels.

Wendorff, of Stillwater, Minnesota, graduated in May 2023 with a double major in English, rhetorics of science, technology and culture emphasis, and organizational communication. Wendorff says she appreciates the support of her family, friends and faculty members who “saw something in me when I doubted myself.”

“Being a Fulbright recipient ignites the deepest parts of my soul,” Wendorff says. “It aligns with long-held wholehearted wishes. My dream was to live abroad. And then my lifelong enduring love is English. To accomplish this at 23 is something indescribable.”

May 2023 graduate Anna Wendorff will be an English teaching assistant in South Korea through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Wendorff says faculty in the UW-Eau Claire’s communication and journalism department provide her with a “culture of free-flowing support,” singling out Dr. Kris Knutson, department chair and associate professor of communication and journalism, who allowed students to pursue research projects they were interested in.

Research was at the core of Wendorff’s experiences at UW-Eau Claire, giving her an opportunity to learn more about the world. She presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, including a presentation on news coverage of the North Korean missile crisis that piqued her interest in South Korea.

As a photography enthusiast, she is interested in exploring the geography of the Asian country and looks forward to shooting photos of the coasts and mountains of South Korea. She also plans to learn more about South Korean cooking from her host family.

Wendorff looks forward to seeing her classroom in South Korea and working with her students.

“There's a lot that I can teach but also learn from my students as well,” Wendorff says. “And that's what is so beautiful about the Fulbright program: the enduring cultural exchange and ambassadorship.”

Wendorff plans to complete a Ph.D. in English and earn a law degree, combining her academic passions.

The  Fulbright U.S. Student Program application cycle is now open. Students may contact Colleen Marchwick or Anna Dresnack in the CIE for more information.

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• Center for International Education
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Alumni Association
• Latin American and Latinx Studies
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Final commencement in Zorn Arena is May 18

Monday, may 6, 2024.

The 100,000th graduate to receive a diploma at Zorn Arena will be among the 1,485 UW-Eau Claire students at commencement exercises, the last in the facility. Next fall’s commencement will be the first in the new Sonnentag Event Center.

Four to be honored with Alumni Association awards

Friday, may 3, 2024.

The alumni and friends of UW-Eau Claire will receive Alumni Association awards on Friday, May 17. Recipients are John Rosenow, Nancy Langer, Gary Jacobus and Jerry M. Bauer.

UW-Eau Claire student, firefighter Albert Lin serves the greater good

Thursday, may 2, 2024.

A college student by day and firefighter by night, Lin has responded to several emergency calls, all of which have taught him how to respond according to the situation while helping people in the community.

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SDSU international student secures coveted spot in Stanford’s Art History doctoral program

Kehinde 'Kennii' Ekundayo faced tumultuous path to fund her education, but her resiliency paid off

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Kehinde “Kennii” Ekundayo laughs with ease these days, a levity that belies having to work multiple jobs, sell her blood to pay for college in her native Nigeria, or sometimes not be able to afford groceries during her graduate studies at San Diego State University.

Her high spirits stem from an email this spring from Stanford University, accepting Ekundayo into its Art History Ph.D. program.

Ranking among the top in the country, Stanford’s program is extremely selective. It typically admits fewer than eight candidates per year, according to its website.

“Certainly, I could say people who have a degree from an Ivy League institution regularly do not get admitted because it is so competitive,” said Gillian Sneed , assistant professor of Art History and area coordinator for Art History and Foundations. “We are very proud of Kennii for her achievement.”

Stanford is providing Ekundayo with a fellowship that pays her tuition and living expenses for five years. For her research, she also received a supplemental award through the university’s Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) Fellowship.

 This is uncharted territory for Ekundayo, who will graduate this month from SDSU’s interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences (MALAS) program.

“Since starting my undergrad at 16, when I left home, I’ve had to fund myself,” she said. “And now at Stanford, I get this amazing opportunity to focus on my education and my research without having to focus on where my tuition is going to come from.”

Her SDSU community of faculty mentors, classmates and friends expects big things.

“Look out world,” said SDSU English and Comparative Literature Professor William Nericcio , who heads the MALAS program. “Her support package is extraordinary. For this brilliant woman who has been scrabbling together monies to cover living expenses, it could not have happened to a better person.”

Hustling for Art

Raised by a single mom, Ekundayo paid her way through college in Nigeria working as a courier, cosmetics salesperson, and other odd jobs.

She began freelancing for a local artist friend, helping curate events. Prior to that, she had rarely visited a gallery or museum. Her major was French. 

During an exhibit at a hotel, Ekundayo recognized a Nigerian state governor and his entourage in the lobby.

“I ran after him, and the security was like, ‘Go away girl,’” she recalled. “I said I am trying to invite you to a show that just opened. I made a spectacle and he said, ‘OK, I am going out now, but I will stop by when I return.’”

The official kept his word. “He bought so many works that day. We had never sold anything like that before,” she said.

That got Ekundayo on the artist’s payroll and hooked her on the vibrant creative scene in Lagos where she began meeting people and learning all she could about contemporary African art and curating shows.

Coming to San Diego

Looking for freedom to pursue her ideas, Ekundayo quit her job. She had built relationships with prominent gallery operators and Nigerian artisans. As a newcomer to the art scene, she occasionally felt the sting of elitism. But she persisted.

“The thing about me is I say yes to everything,” she said. “And even if, at the end of the day, I say I do not want to do this again, at least I did something.”

At a film festival in Lagos, Ekundayo met SDSU Professor Niyi Coker , director of the School of Theater, Television, and Film. The encounter led to a plan for a retrospective at SDSU of works from iconic African artist Bruce Onobrakpeya , accompanied by Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka . 

She had previously worked with both men, and CNN’s African Voices Changemakers featured her retrospective of Onobrakpeya’s career.  

Ekundayo curated the show and spent her life savings shipping art to the U.S. The exhibit opened in February 2022 in the SDSU University Art Gallery.  

“For 20 years, I took students to London for a study abroad program, and this show was of a quality that I was accustomed to in London, where the museums are amazing,” said Nericcio.

Sneed also was impressed. “I felt like this older generation, Bruce and Wole, had identified Kennii as being this bright star for their country.”

After the show, Ekundayo flew back to Nigeria. But she wanted to further her education. She had applied to a prestigious art college in the United Kingdom but could not afford to go.

Nericcio lobbied her to apply to SDSU. “I asked for funding,” said Ekundayo. “He said sorry, there is no funding. I was like, well, this is a dead end.”

She recalls Nericcio saying, just start with the application and everything will work out.

Next Chapter

Ekundayo enrolled in August 2022. She is a paid research assistant for Nericcio, works as managing editor of SDSU University Press, grades papers for professors, is a teaching assistant, and makes time to participate in campus activities.

“She is very active, knows everybody, gets out there and goes to all these events, just works her butt off,” said Sneed.

Ekundayo received a scholarship to travel to Brazil last summer for research on her master’s thesis, a comparative analysis of how Brazilian and Nigerian artists are shining light on climate change and flooding.

“She did a tremendous job of expanding her network on that trip in a short amount of time,” said Kristal Bivona, an SDSU assistant professor of classics and humanities and associate director of the Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies. “It is impressive how she can contact people she has never met before, make plans and just get in there.”

Ekundayo is still wrapping her head around her academic journey to Stanford, where she plans to research recent refugee artists in the U.S. She is grateful to all her mentors and supporters, especially Nericcio, who is the reason she came to SDSU.

“When people are kind to you, you are able to perform at your peak,” she said. 

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