SmallData Symposium 2024

SMART Master Lab Cohort 3.0 – Guided Poster Tour

On July 31, 2026, SMART Master Lab Cohort 3.0 came together for its guided poster tour and send-off event. The session marked the conclusion of the current Master Lab round, which began with the kick-off day on May 4, 2026. Over the course of the program, students worked on research questions connected to current SmallData […]

Responsible Use of LLMs in Academic Writing

How can academics use large language models in writing without giving up originality, rigor, or accountability? This was the central question at the workshop “Responsible Use of LLMs in Academic Writing”, held on Monday, July 20, 2026, at the Hörsaal Rundbau in Freiburg. The event brought together perspectives from dissertation research, manuscript preparation, scholarly publishing, […]

SMART Retreat 2026: WCCD Sessions, Interdisciplinary Research Exchange, and Navigating the AI Era

From June 29 to July 1, our doctoral researchers came together in the Black Forest for the SMART Retreat 2026. In preparation for this year’s SMART Retreat, early career researchers met on June 18 to pitch a rich variety of topics for the Writing/Coding/Collaboration/Discussion (WCCD) sessions. During this preparation meeting, the pitches were refined: topics […]

Responsible use of LLMs in academic writing

How can academics use large language models (LLMs) responsibly without compromising originality, rigor, or trust? This workshop brings together perspectives from dissertation research, manuscript preparation, scholarly publishing, and mathematics to explore how LLMs are changing academic writing. Speakers will discuss how AI tools can support learning, critical thinking, innovation, and more efficient writing processes, while […]

SMART Master Lab Kick-Off Day – Cohort 3.0 

On May 4, 2026, SMART Master Lab Cohort 3.0 came together for its kick-off day at IMBI. The program opened with SMART PI Nadine Binder, who introduced the SmallData / SMART context, followed by SMART Coordinator Iván Acevedo, who outlined structure, goals and timeline of the program.  A central part of the day was the exchange between students […]

From Code to Cure: Highlights from our Networking Event

On April 14, 2026, we hosted From Code to Cure: Post-/doctoral Sparks in Data Science and Biomedicine in Freiburg, bringing together early-career researchers from different programs for interdisciplinary exchange and stronger intra-institutional connections throughout Freiburg. Flash PresentationsWe opened with flash presentations from program representatives who endorsed the event, each offering a clear overview of program research focus, training […]

SMART

SMART, the SmallData Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG)

SmallData brings together a broad group of data disciplines to tackle small data challenges that are at the intersection of these disciplines. Our Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) SMART will enable the four disciplines to move closer together to work on small data innovations in a collaborative effort.

Each doctoral researcher within SmallData will automatically become a member of SMART.

Aims of SMART

  • Crossing boundaries between disciplines
  • Developing a shared language
  • Creating a solid methods foundation across disciplines
  • Stimulating early independence
  • Promoting comprehensive professional skills

Structured qualification program


  • Structured qualification beyond the project-specific activity
  • Interdisciplinary research methods training
  • Peer networking
  • Annual retreats also allowing for group-based projects
  • Intensive project collaboration, e.g., through extended visits to another group within SmallData

Structured supervision

  • Trustful and respectful communication
  • Support with regulatory issues
  • Supervisory agreement and personal qualification plan
  • Annual progress meetings with thesis advisory committee

Further local training opportunities

ELLIS Unit Freiburg

Fostering European collaborations in machine learning, robotics, computer vision and reasoning

Freiburg Young Scientist AI Network

Creating a collaborative environment beyond faculty borders

Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine

Multidisciplinary graduate program combining basic with translational research, biotechnology and drug development

Freiburg Graduate Centre

Service department for all questions concerning doctoral studies in Freiburg

RUB Research School

Campus-wide institution for promotion of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers of Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Graduate Academy Greifswald

Creating excellent conditions for a successful doctoral and postdoctoral phase

Principal Investigators

Principial Investigators

Administrative Manager

Marc Schumacher

Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics,
Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center –
University of Freiburg