Central administrative project and data curation

CRC1315 spokesperson Matthew Larkum represents the CRC in all external matters and monitors the progress of scientific and service projects to ensure scientific standards are adhered to. He initiates and oversees all project-related activities and is in charge of managing expenditures not covered by the steering committee. Matthew is also central to the development of strategic goals in the short and long-term, based on input from the consortium. In his absence, deputy spokesperson Richard Kempter acts in these matters.

Guided by the DFG and in cooperation with the CRC’s member institutions, the central project administers network resources in thematic areas: equal opportunity, guests and colloquia, project-specific workshops, travel, outreach, data curation and publications.  The first point of contact for internal and external matters is managing coordinator Mary Louise Grossman (since 2018). Work in team Z aims to enable high-value scientific work by establishing processes, removing bottlenecks, and improving collaboration efficiency; help ensure project accountability; foster mutual responsibility and reciprocity; improve the consortium’s ability to achieve its mission; and create value in the project by monitoring and disseminating project output. In detail, Mary Louise Grossman coordinates global finances, grant renewal, quality control, web and graphic design, public relations and scientific events, as well as ensures continuous reporting to the steering committee. The network-outreach coordinator, and BCCN student coordinator Carolin Gehr (since 2026) mobilizes network activity of the early career researcher cohort of the SFB in all of its formats. The team assistant (N.N., since 2026) supports work in thematic areas: guests, network travel, meetings and protocols as well as provides general accounting and administrative assistance. The team assistant and student assistant support work in compliance with the DFG Kodex on good scientific practise (Guideline 13, access to project output).

Alumni: Data curator Julien Colomb (INF, 2019-2022) developed solutions for data management and curation in collaboration with EMBO (smartfigure gallery) and the neuro-NFDI consortium (gin-tonic), under the supervision of Matthew Larkum. Serenella Brinati was team assistant from 2019 to 2026, Heidi Pretorius coordinated the Neuroscience Colloquium (Z, 2018-2019 ). PhD-Postdoc-Network Coordinator Lisa Velenosi (Z, 2020-2026) mobilized the CRC’s young and early-career scientists to self-organize lab tours, meet-the-speaker, journal club, retreats and more. Student helper Madlena Kozaeva (Z, 2020-2026) worked on project statistics, member publications, and helped maintain our web presence.

Image courtesy of SFB1315 Coordination Office