Program
The young scientist representatives of the division “Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology” of the DGPs and the DGPA are organizing various program items for and with young scientists in the context of the conference "Psychology and Brain". These include the pre-conference workshops, the Young Scientists Meeting, the Buddy-Program, the Supervisor Award, Scicomm Prize and the Poster Flash.
If you have any questions or suggestions about the Young Scientists program, please feel free to contact us. These are the current young scientist representatives:
DGPs Section Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology
Dr. Matthias Sperl matthias.sperl@psychol.uni-giessen.de
Deputy: Dr. Helena Hartmann helena.hartmann@uk-essen.de
German Society for Psychophysiology and its Application (DGPA)
Marie Mückstein marie.mueckstein@ipu-berlin.de
Deputy: Dr. Anne Saulin a.c.saulin@bham.ac.uk
The DGPA, the DGPs Division of Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology and the congress organizers support us in our offers for you young scientists. For this we would like to thank them very much!
We are offering two workshops in the run-up to the conference. These will take place on Tuesday, June 17th, 2025 (9:00-18:00) and Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 (9:00-13:00).
We recommend early registration, as the number of participants per workshop is limited. Places will be allocated in the order of registration. Workshops will be held in English. The cost per workshop is 20 euros for members of both bioDGPs (section Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology) and DGPA members, 70 euros for members of either bioDGPS or DGPA, and 120 euros for non-members, and include participation and coffee breaks.
You can also become a new member during workshop registration. To register, please send an e-mail to pug.workshops@gmail.com including the following information: which workshop you want to participate in, your current status (PhD, PostDoc, etc.) and the status of your membership regarding the DGPA/bioDGPS.Generative AI is reshaping how research is conducted—from idea generation to publication. This interactive workshop explores how AI-based tools can enhance each stage of the research cycle, improving efficiency, creativity, and decision-making.
In this workshop, you will engage with cutting-edge AI applications*, including ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, Perplexity.ai, you.com and GitHub Copilot to learn streamlining your research processes. Through a mix of hands-on exercises, demonstrations, and discussions, this session will equip you with practical strategies for integrating AI into your work routines while maintaining good scientific practice.
Picture by Alexander Britz
The specific learning goals and topics of the workshop are:
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From Observation to Hypothesis: Use AI to brainstorm, explore research questions and refine ideas.
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Literature Review & Knowledge Synthesis: Leverage AI-driven search engines and research tools for deeper, more efficient literature exploration.
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Proposal & Manuscript Writing: Employ AI as a writing assistant for structuring proposals, refining arguments, and improving clarity.
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Experimentation & Data Handling: Explore AI to structure data, assisting in survey analysis, and supporting decision-making.
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AI for Coding & Computational Research: Enhance programming skills with AI-based copilots, whether for refining existing workflows or starting from scratch.
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Publishing & Science Communication: Utilize AI to craft compelling narratives for peer-reviewed publications and public engagement.
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Ethical Considerations & Responsible AI Use: Discuss the challenges of AI in research, including bias and data privacy, within the framework of Good Scientific Practice.
* We will select specific tools just before the workshop to ensure the most current developments in this fast-evolving field are incorporated.
Trainer
Dr. Alexander Britz is a scientist with a strong focus on communication, sustainability, and supporting young researchers. He studied physics across several countries and specialized in laser and plasma physics. He pursued an interdisciplinary PhD, researching ultrafast dynamics in chemical systems relevant to catalysis. His career includes working at prestigious institutions such as the European XFEL GmbH and Stanford University, exploring biophysics, materials science, and chemistry. Alexander Britz is also passionate about public outreach and is actively involved in helping early-career researchers achieve their professional goals.
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Modern neuroimaging research is shaped by a myriad of methodological choices at the levels of study design, data processing, and statistical analysis. As described by Gelman and Loken (2014), this “garden of forking paths” highlights the challenge of selecting one defensible workflow among many possibilities. Multiverse analysis (Steegen et al., 2016) offers a systematic framework for addressing this issue by testing multiple analytical paths, thereby revealing how conclusions can depend on specific decisions made along the analysis pipeline.
The workshop is organized into three sessions, each lasting approximately half a day. We begin with a hands-on introduction to Python, with a focus on graph-based fMRI analysis. Next, we will present and discuss the conceptual and statistical foundations of multiverse analysis. Finally, we put theory into practice with a session dedicated to implementing a multiverse analysis using Python. While our primary focus is on fMRI, the principles discussed are equally applicable to EEG analyses, and we welcome any EEG-related questions. Depending on participant interest, additional practical content for EEG data analysis may also be offered.
Picture from Dragicevic et al. (2019)
Who can attend?
This workshop is designed for researchers in neuroscience, psychology, and related disciplines who are interested in robust research practices and in neuroimaging. Prior knowledge in Python is not required due to the dedicated introduction. A basic understanding of statistical concepts and programming is recommended.
Trainers
Micha Burkhardt is a PhD student in the Psychological Methods and Statistics Lab at Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg. His research addresses network neuroscience in individual differences research, robust statistical analysis of fMRI data, and open science.
Cassie Short is a postdoctoral researcher in the Psychological Methods and Statistics Lab at Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg. Her research focuses on EEG correlates of individual differences, social neuroscience, and methodological advancement for EEG multiverse analyses.
Daniel Kristanto is a postdoctoral researcher in the Psychological Methods and Statistics Lab at Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg with a background in engineering. His research bridges neuroscience methods with metascience.
This workshop is organized in collaboration with the DGPs Interest Group for Open and Reproducible Science (IGOR)
References
Gelman, A., & Loken, E. (2014). The statistical crisis in science: Data-dependent analysis — a “garden of forking paths” — explains why many statistically significant comparisons don’t hold up. American Scientist, 102, 460–465.
Steegen, S., Tuerlinckx, F., Gelman, A., & Vanpaemel, W. (2016). Increasing transparency through a multiverse analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11 (5), 702–712.
The meeting of young researchers will start on Wednesday, June 18th 2024 at 14:00 (Marcusstraße 9). The meeting is aimed at master students, doctoral candidates, post-docs and junior professors. It serves to exchange ideas and network amongst all young scientists.
First, the early career representatives of the DGPs Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology Section (bioDGPs) and the DGPA will report on their activities in the past year and give an outlook on the activities planned for the coming year. Any upcoming elections for the representative positions will then take place, and we always highly appreciate your ideas, suggestions, and feedback!
Following the introduction, there will be two parallel events:
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For more senior researchers, Christiane Thiel and Peter Kirsch from the review board ("Fachkollegium") of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) will give a talk about their role and DFG grant review process within the board, with time for answering your questions afterwards.
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For newer researchers and PuG first-timers, we will host roundtables on topics such as "how to conference", networking, and other topics that are especially relevant to ECRs.
At the end, we will all reconvene for a short wrap-up including a reminder of all the great ECR activities at this year’s PuG.
Following the ECR Meeting, we will set off together for the conference welcome evening around 17:30. We look forward to seeing and getting to know you at the meeting!
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Our Posterblitz Symposium offers a stage for the young members of the society. Here, innovative research projects by you young scientists are presented to as broad a professional audience as possible. Specifically, the symposium consists of ten five-minute short presentations, each followed by three minutes of questions.
You can apply for participation in the poster flash when submitting your poster contributions. Simply check the appropriate box in the online form when submitting your abstract. So that we are not influenced by your results in our selection, we ask you to write a results-blind abstract for the poster flash. Among the submissions, we, a jury consisting of young scientists of the DGPA and the DGPs Section Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, will select the best ten abstracts. We will then inform you in a timely manner about the selection. Our evaluation criteria are: Clarity of presentation, study design, theoretical derivation of hypotheses, and incorporation of open and reproducible science practices. We look forward to reading your abstracts!The Buddy Program will take place for the fourth time at the PuG and connects PuG newcomers (mentees) with experienced PuG participants (mentors) in so-called "buddy teams". The program is designed to help mentees get their bearings at PuG, meet nice people, and expand their network. During conference registration, you have the option to sign up for the buddy program. Please ensure you register at least four weeks before the conference, as later sign-ups are not guaranteed a mentee or mentor pairing.
The basic idea
When attending a conference for the first time, it's easy to feel lost. It's not just a matter of mastering the logistics and finding the right lecture rooms at the right time. Making contact with other colleagues can also be a challenge. And then there's the social program - what should I take part in?
In our buddy program, mentors can be a helpful support: they introduce their mentees to the PuG world, give tips, provide an overview, and give a little push when it comes to networking. Conversely, the mentors also expand their network through their mentees and possibly get to know PuG from a different perspective.What tasks do the mentors have and what can the mentees expect?
There are no fixed requirements for the individual buddy teams. We recommend at least one personal meeting before or at the start of the PuG, for example during the welcome evening. Mentors can share tips and tricks about the PuG process (e.g., "How do I decide which sessions to attend?" or "How do I minimize stress during a packed PuG day?"), recommend events (e.g., the JuWi meeting), or introduce their mentee to colleagues. Informal exchanges about research topics or introducing other colleagues are also ways to help mentees get off to a good start in the PuG community. Mentors can also be available to answer questions during and before the PuG. Young scientists who are already receiving support through their research group can benefit from the additional perspective that "external" mentors can provide.
As in previous years, this year we young scientists are again supplying the Supervisor Award of the DGPA and the DGPs Division Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology. The prize is awarded on the basis of a survey on supervision during the PhD. The aim of this survey is to honor excellent supervision. The prize will be awarded during the PuG social event.
Who can participate?
The survey is open to all individuals who are currently doing their doctorate (supervision relationship of at least 6 months) or who have completed their doctorate within the last 24 months. For a valid nomination, at least two independent evaluations must have been received for a supervising person.
In order to complete the survey, the nominated supervisor must be shown the Privacy Policy Information. This document is linked in the survey. Please forward the document to your nominated supervisor. A signature or other written confirmation is NOT necessary - it is sufficient to show the document. The survey is conducted online and can be started using the following link: https://ww2.unipark.de/uc/dgpa-fg-biologische-psychologie-neuropsychologie/betreuerinnenpreis2025/
The survey is open from now until the beginning of June 2025.
All data collected in the survey will be analysed anonymously. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Leibniz Institute of Psychology (ZPID), which is again responsible for data processing this year. They provide the survey via the Unipark platform and take care of the evaluation for us. We will only receive the contact details of the nominees in the first three places and anonymised, item-level data aggregated over all participants. It is not possible for us to connect the evaluating people to this data.
If you have any questions about the prize or the survey, please contact Angelika Dierolf (angelika.dierolf@uni.lu).
Science communication (SciComm) means that scientists themselves make science tangible, using a wide variety of formats. Social media, Long Night of Science, radio, television, blog articles, science slams, SciComm about SciComm - science communication comes in all shapes and sizes. We especially want to promote WissKomm about biological psychology and neuropsychology!
We are therefore offering three awards for members of the bioDGPs or DGPA, each endowed with 500 Euros. On the one hand, we want to showcase the outstanding achievements of our members in the field of bio- and neuropsychological science communication. On the other hand, we want to create incentives to continue practicing excellent science communication in the future. We have therefore designed two funding lines: Funding line 1 "Excellent science communication already achieved" and funding line 2 "Concept to promote science communication for one year". Here you can find more information about past prize winners.
Jury
The winners will be selected by an independent jury consisting of seven experts in biological psychology and/or science communication:
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Jan Crusius (In-Mind magazine)
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Sophie Elschner (comic artist)
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Ulrich Grünewald (WDR Quarks)
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Daniela Mier (representative for DGPA)
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Sebastian Ocklenburg (blogger and representative for DGPs)
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Franziska Weinmar (podcaster and winner 2024)
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Sude Yüksel (content creator)
Evaluation criteria
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Relation to the subject of biological psychology, neuropsychology and/or psychophysiology
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Motivation of the applicant/team
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Scientific quality and transparency
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Clarity and comprehensibility of the topic
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Generation of interest in science
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Scope and sustainability
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Innovation and “out of the box” thinking
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Professionalism of the presentation
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Feasibility (only for funding line 2)
The winning contributions and concepts will be presented at the award ceremony at the “Psychology and Brain 2025” conference in Würzburg! For both funding lines, both self-applications and external applications are possible (as an individual or team), the main applicant must be or become a DGPs and/or DGPA member. If you are applying to become a member, please enclose a copy of your membership application with your application. If you have been nominated by someone else, we will write to you and you can submit your documents. Your documents should be in German (except the CV), but you can also apply with an English SciComm. In the case of teams, it should be clear which roles have been taken on by which team member.
The prize is currently accepting applications until 30.4.2025. The application includes a short CV, list with max. 5 most representative past science communication contributions (only line 1), planned science communication concept with time and finance plan (only line 2), and a motivation letter. Please only use this application document to apply, and upload your final application as one PDF document (named “FundingLine1/2_FirstName_LastName_SciCommPrize2025.pdf”) here.
If you have any questions, please contact Alexandros Kastrinogiannis (kastrino@cbs.mpg.de).
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A young scientist is any person who has not yet obtained a doctorate or did not obtain her doctorate a maximum of eight years ago and who has not yet been appointed to a full professorship (W2/W3).
The period is extended by one year for each child cared for.
IGOR Prize
The Interest Group Open and Reproducible Science in the Biological Psychology Section of the German Psychological Society(IGOR) awards the annual Open and Reproducible Science Prize.
Papers (poster and symposium presentations) presented at PuG 2025 that exemplify the application of open and reproducible science practices or represent metascience on open and reproducible science topics are eligible. The abstract should include statements on the open and
reproducible science aspects of the published or unpublished work (this includes, but is not limited to, pre-registration, open data and materials, reproducible analyses, and metascience work).
When submitting an entry, it must be stated that it is to be considered for the IGOR Prize. Applicants will then be contacted separately by email and asked to write a short letter of justification (approx. 100 words).
Based on this information (abstract, justification), the jury will select the most promising entries. Two jury members will look at each shortlisted presentation and evaluate it according to various aspects related to the promotion of openness and reproducibility.
The contribution that best meets the objectives of IGOR will be honoured at PuG 2025 with a certificate and a cash prize of €500.
Tuesday
9:00-18:00 | Workshop 1 Day 1 - Integrating Generative AI into the Research Cycle: Enhancing Discovery, Analysis and Dissemination |
9:00-18:00 | Workshop 2 Day 1 - Multiverse Analysis for Neuroimaging (in collaboration with the DGPs Interest Group for Open and Reproducible Science IGOR) |
Wednesday
9:00-13:00 | Workshop 1 Day 2 - Integrating Generative AI into the Research Cycle: Enhancing Discovery, Analysis and Dissemination |
9:00-13:00 | Workshop 2 Day 2 - Multiverse Analysis for Neuroimaging (in collaboration with the DGPs Interest Group for Open and Reproducible Science IGOR) |
14:00-18:00 | Early Career Researcher Meeting (Marcusstr. 9) |
16:00-18:00 | Forum Biopsychology (Sanderring 2) |
18:00-21:00 | Welcome evening (Sanderring 2, click here for map) |
Thursday
8:45-9:00 | Welcome note |
9:00-10:00 | Keynote 1 |
10:00-10:30 | Coffee break |
10:30-12:00 | Symposia Session 1 |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch |
13:00-14:30 | Postersession 1 |
14:30-16:00 | Symposia Session 2 |
16:00-16:30 | Coffee break |
16:30-18:00 | Symposia Session 3 |
18:00-19:00 | DGPs Meeting |
19:00-20:00 | DGPA Meeting |
Friday
9:00-10:00 | Keynote 2 |
10:00-10:30 | Coffee break |
10:30-12:00 | Symposia Session 4 |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch |
13:00-14:30 | Postersession 2 |
14:30-16:00 | Symposia Session 5 |
16:00-16:30 | Coffee break |
16:30-18:00 | Symposia Session 6 |
Starting around 19:00 | Social evening |
Saturday
9:00-10:30 | Symposia Session 7 |
10:30-10:45 | Coffee break |
10:45-12:00 | Award ceremony |
12:15-13:15 | Keynote 3 |
13:15-13:20 | Closing remarks |
Starting 13:20 | Lunch-Bags |