Photo competition 2025

Picture handed in & Hat designed and created by:
Sara Leite Dias

Owner of the hat:
Benjamin Chavez

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Unraveling Tropane Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Erythroxylum coca

Beschreibung / Description:

The hat that I designed for Benjamin (Ben) is a mini-biography in 3D that captures essential things: a celebration of his scientific journey through the complex world of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in Erythroxylum coca, but also of his kindness in helping others – that is why we call him our lab Superman.
At the top sits the hat’s jewel: a printout of his most important publication “Elucidation of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in Erythroxylum coca using a microbial pathway discovery platform” published in PNAS, surrounded by a model of the cocaine molecule, paying tribute to the chemical core of his research. By studying the biosynthesis of plant-derived drugs like cocaine, Ben’s work sheds light on how these powerful molecules are made—knowledge that’s essential not just for scientific curiosity, but for developing new strategies to combat drug misuse, addiction, and overdose. His research touches a real-world issue with global consequences.
A crafted Play-Doh coca branch climbs one side, symbolizing the plant that started it all. Behind it, a model of Nicotiana benthamiana (also in Play-Doh, of course), stands tall in honor to represent one of the tools that enabled much of the metabolic engineering magic.
A Petri dish filled with hot glue "agar"—dotted with tiny "yeast colonies"—sits on the hat as a playful nod to the synthetic biology work that was performed. Scattered across the design are Eppendorf and Falcon tubes, physical reminders of the countless hours spent pipetting, cloning, and debugging protocols in the lab.
And then, there’s Superman. Ben is not just a playful lookalike (though Ben does resemble the actor). He represents Ben’s true superpower: his unwavering support for the entire lab. Whether tracking down missing chemicals, sharing his plant engineering wizardry, or teaching cloning. Ben became a real-life hero to his colleagues.
The hat also commemorates the international leap Ben made from Texas to Germany to pursue this PhD project—facing language barriers, cultural shifts, and the pandemic lockdown, which at one point even blocked access to the lab. Through it all, Ben remained resilient, driven, and ridiculously helpful.
Crafted from a mix of materials—Play-Doh, Lego, hot glue, plastic labware, paper, and humor—this hat is a tribute not just to a PhD earned, but to a scientist who grew roots across continents, branched into new fields, and left a little sparkle in every corner of the lab.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Langzeitimmunität bei milden SARS-CoV-2 Infektionen 

Beschreibung / Description:

Doktorhut mit Quarantäneburg und quarantänierten Coronaviren (sowie einer Mutation). Die Dissertation basiert auf einer Feldstudie (CoNAN-Study – Corona in Neustadt a. Rennsteig-Studie), welche sich mit einem lokalen Ausbruch von Covid 19 beschäftigt hat. Die Gemeinde war aufgrund des Ausbruches für 14 Tage unter Quarantäne gestellt worden. 

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Design and Characteristics of Ultraviolet Nanowire Plasmonic Lasers

Beschreibung / Description

• Tassel: connected penne pasta with a 3D-printed joypad (used for nanomanipulation in the lab)
• Base: SEM pictures of nanostructures (not visible) and MTG customized cards (me, and the lasers – not visible)
• Top: scattered tiny Thorlabs boxes (reference to the optics used in the lab), big Thorlabs box with cooked pasta “eaten on the spot” (reference to Italy), 3D-printed fridge (partly visible) with herbs and flowers bulging out (caricature of my being a bit untidy at times), miniature bike (reference to my main means of transport in Jena) with mini Bluetooth speaker in the basket (reference to me listening to music all the time), hexagonally shaped pizzas (reference to Italy and the Ag flakes used for my research), dried-basil shaker (reference to Italy and my overuse of the word “basically”), face mask with England’s flag (reference to when I caught COVID in Manchester during a short research stay), 3D-printed metallic grating with a stylized nanowire made of connected penne with blue LEDs that can be switched on simultaneously to the miniature pump laser (equipped with a manual switch and a blue LED) , to simulate the excitation-emission process (reference to my research)

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Mechanistic causes of immune-senescence in the immune niche of killifish aging model

Beschreibung / Description:

The hat features a miniature of the PhD candidate in a lab coat balancing various research-themed items, symbolizing the challenges and creativity of the PhD journey. The base is decorated with photos of lab mates and memorable moments, celebrating teamwork and perseverance. Iconic elements like the Leaning Tower of Pisa hint at international collaboration and personal background.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:

Volcanology and petrology of the Lusatian Volcanic Field

Beschreibung / Description: 

Der Hut stellt einen aktiven Vulkan dar, aus dem mit Hilfe der geologischen Untersuchungsmethoden und -werkzeugen (Geologenhammer, Gesteinsdünnschliff) verschiedene Ergebnisse zu lesen sind: Minerale, die kristallografische Eigenschaften haben (Zirkonkristall mit den bezeichneten Kristallflächen) und Gesteinschemie (Diagramm mit Magmazusammensetzung). Neben dem Vulkan grast ein Schaf, dass auf die privaten Hobbies des Doktoranden hinweist.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation: 

Oscillator Realisations of Conformal and Carrollian Symmetry

Beschreibung / Description:

This masterpiece, beautifully designed by my colleagues and friends, literally brings together all my interests: from my scientific work (to be found on the cover and inside the cylinder), to a penchant for olives, tomato plants and Primitivo (red wine), even the office pets, the agate snails Celebrian and Keule, have been immortalised. 
Popular leisure activities such as climbing, bouldering, card and DnD games or LARP were also included - and of course my great passion: reading. The lid of the hat consists of a thick tome in which many cultural topics have been reworked by lovingly incorporating pictures of me, friends and colleagues as collages. My voluntary work on the student council is not neglected either, represented by an open laptop with code for the evaluation software and a card index box to symbolise the exam preparation weekend I organised. 
Some more obscure objects refer to insiders: the hand-drawn sketches and diary to the Doctor Who fandom, the Rhinos to the affectionate name for some younger members of the working group - and I'd rather keep quiet about the grapefruit.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:

Nature-inspired Building Blocks in Polymer Design for Optimized Non-viral Gene Delivery Systems

Beschreibung / Description:

With this contribution, I’d like to thank my wonderful colleagues and friends—not only for crafting this incredible, creative, spectacular, and absolutely one-of-a-kind PhD hat—but also for standing by my side through every phase of my doctoral journey. This hat will always remind me of our deep hallway conversations, office laughter, and those unforgettable little moments that brightened even the busiest days.

On the hat, the scientific side reflects my passion as a pharmacist for biochemistry and gene delivery—my thesis topic and true scientific love. Tiny lights in the Eppis symbolize those magical transfection successes, when everything finally worked and the cells glowed just as planned. There’s a laminar flow bench and a microscope, representing all the precise pipetting, sterile techniques, and the long—but oddly satisfying—hours spent in the lab.

Beyond the lab, there’s a glimpse of my everyday joys: cycling to work through all seasons, playing volleyball, skiing, and the peaceful rhythm of growing my own vegetables. There’s even a subtle nod to Dune. And of course, my love for all things—from rice dishes and green tea—is lovingly captured. The hat is full of memories—like the snapshots I took over the years, capturing beauty, growth, and friendship throughout this incredible PhD journey.

My amazing colleagues didn’t miss a thing: not the glowing green cells, not the polymers, not our shared office (“Dune”), not the inside jokes—and certainly not what made it all meaningful: the friendships and support that carried me through.

Your effort truly deserves a prize. You’ve created something more than a hat—you’ve created a memory I’ll cherish forever.

Titel der Dissertation / Title of Dissertation:
Research on Precision Optical Sensing Based on Quantum Light Source    

Beschreibung / Description:

Chinese garden design emphasizes " A step forward, a new vista unfolds," a philosophy my international colleagues have brilliantly embodied in the doctoral cap they created for me—each angle unveils a completely new theme. Please allow me to guide you through this enchanting garden of memories.
First, your eyes are drawn to the winding Saale River, graced by a robust golden dragon swimming upstream. Born in the Year of the Dragon, and celebrating my Ph.D. in the Chinese Year of the Snake (2025), my friends thoughtfully merged a dragon head with a serpent body, crafting this unique guardian.
Crossing the river via a familiar bridge—the very bridge I traverse daily from my office to sports—you arrive at a beach volleyball court, where I spent much of my summer. My passion for volleyball was introduced by my supervisor since 2022, becoming symbolic of my Ph.D. journey: opponents always remain respectfully separated by the net, while teammates consistently rally to set up the perfect play. Just like in the lab, my colleagues provided all kinds of supports to help me succeed.
Next, you encounter my table tennis club, whose unwavering support and companionship carried me through the toughest times. The degree bears my name, while the glory undoubtedly belongs to all of the lovely people around me.
Towering ahead is Jena's iconic landmark—the JenTower—but transformed creatively into a giant spiral slide. Look closely: the slide begins at a laser and descends towards a blue nonlinear crystal beneath, boldly marked by the second-order nonlinear susceptibility symbol, χ(2), signifying the SPDC process. Symbolizing an optical fiber, the slide delivers a high-energy photon from the laser splitting into two lower-energy photons in the crystal. Notice the two photon exits at the crystal surface?
Do you think it’s end of the journey? Of course not! Lift the doctoral cap, and you'll uncover a Chinese painting, portraying the iconic "Crimson plum blossoms kissed by sun rise." This symbolizes resilience: the sharpest sword emerges from relentless sharpening; while plum blossoms bloom most fragrantly after the harshest winters. When facing adversity, remind yourself: persevere until darkness turns to light, wait until winter yields to spring—just like the plum blossom thriving after enduring cold adversity.
Above the plum blossoms, you'll see a traditional Chinese geometric pattern—the continuous, angular loops of the Hui pattern. This ancient design symbolizes endless prosperity, longevity, and unbroken vitality.
This cap moved me deeply, evoking tears with its thoughtful details, each representing heartfelt moments at ACP. Quote my boyfriend, "Jena is my scientific home," a sentiment resonating profoundly within me. My earnest wish is clear: to return to Jena University as a dedicated lecturer, passing on the inspiring research ethos of my current lab. If someone more capable fill my envisioned role, I gladly commit to contributing as a sponsor, supporting Jena University's enduring success and prosperity for generations to come.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Crustal structure and fluids along the Leipzig-Regensburg fault zone

Beschreibung / Description:

Dieser Doktorhut vereint verschiedene Elemente meiner Promotion. Im Mittelpunkt steht die Quietscheente - ein treuer Gesprächspartner mit stets offenem Ohr, wenn es darum geht, Fehler in Computerskripten zu durchdenken. Die Ente hält ein Schild hoch, auf dem Messdaten der Hammerschlagseismik abgebildet sind. Diese wurden von unseren Studierenden, dargestellt durch die LEGO-Figur, in verschiedenen Geländepraktika aufgenommen. Leider hat die Kraft der Studis manchmal nicht ganz ausgereicht, weshalb ab und an die Messung wiederholt werden musste. Da sich meine Promotion mit der Ausbreitung seismischer Wellen beschäftigt, darf das Element natürlich auch nicht fehlen. Die seismischen Wellen sind symbolisch durch Ringe und ein Vektorfeld bestehend aus roten Pfeilen dargestellt.
Ein weiteres Element des Huts ist das ara-Cluster, auf dem ich im letzten Abschnitt meiner Promotion sehr viel rechnen durfte. Die weißen Linien und die Watte spiegeln mein Untersuchungsgebiet wider, die Leipzig-Regensburg Störungszone. Entlang der Störungszone steigen Fluide aus dem Erdmantel auf, die durch den Aufstieg Erdbeben in der Erdkruste auslösen und an einigen Stellen auch an der Erdoberfläche entgasen.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Validierung eines Hat1-Knockin-Mausmodells

Beschreibung / Description:

Der Hut wurde liebevoll von meinen Laborkolleginnen und -kollegen dekoriert. Im Zentrum steht Gandalf aus “Der Herr der Ringe” (eines meiner Lieblingsbücher) und spricht sein berühmtes Zitat, jedoch des fröhlichen Anlass wegen modifiziert: You shall pass! Man sieht rechts daneben eine Maus, welche einen kleinen Doktorhut trägt. Sie sitzt dort stellvertretend für die Mäuse, mit welchen ich mich im Rahmen meiner Dissertation beschäftigt habe. Vorne links sieht man ein Histon gebastelt aus Pfeifenputzer. HAT1, das Enzym, auf welches sich meine Untersuchungen fokussierten, ist eine Histonacetyltransferase und modifiziert Histone, indem es Acetylreste anhängt, wodurch die Transkription von Genen beeinflusst wird. Im Hintergrund sieht man noch Totoro, eine bekannte Figur aus einem Trickfilm des japanischen Filmstudios Ghibli, da eine Betreuerin meiner Arbeit aus Japan stammte und wir die Vorliebe für diese Filme gemein hatten, sowie ein Falcon aus dem Labor, da ich viel Zeit mit Western Blots verbracht habe. Der Schweif des kleinen Pferdchens imitiert die Ehrenkordel des Hutes.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Modulating the interplay between Candida albicans and the host during commensalism and pathogenicity

Beschreibung / Description:

My colleagues created this stunning hat describing my life inside and outside of the lab in my favorite colours – including pink. In the center of the hat is a beach with a Santa Claus DJing, since I am from South Africa where I love the beach and we have summer over Christmas time. Around the hat is elements from my PhD project including immune cells, vaginal cells, bacteria, blood collection tubes, and an organ-on-chip. My lab shoes – crocs with rainbows are also featured. Since we sang “Good for you” and “I wanna be your slave” while working in the lab, the hat also features Oliva Rodrigo and Måneskin. My favourite snacks including McDonalds, Coco-Cola, Mio Moi Mate, and Katjes gummies are distributed throughout. My life outside of the lab is shown with elements representing Aperol Spritz, books, Zalando, the woman dancing emoji, and a disco ball. To round it off, one of my colleagues created a beautiful purple and pink wool chain around the edge of the hat with charms, including my initials and fungal cells.   

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Resolution limits of quantum imaging with undetected light and optimization towards application

Beschreibung / Description:

The hat that my colleagues crafted for me is an amazing representation of my hobbies and research.
First off, it reflects my identity and interests. The Lego figures depict the “Castells,” human towers that are a beloved tradition in Catalunya, which we recreated in Jena whenever we could. There’s a cool bouldering scene that captures my love for climbing, a miniature bike that nods to my cycling adventures, and a splash of windsurfing to represent my time spent on the water. There is even a miniature of a rover for Martian exploration, which represents my work before starting the PhD. And let's not forget my cat, who’s always popping up during Teams meetings to say "hello"—there's even a little figure of her :)
But the real star of the show is the working imaging system, designed as an interactive game. Using the lenses they provided, my task was to build the imaging system. The red rectangles highlight the zoom-in area of this working setup, and this sweet game symbolizes a key part of my PhD work in quantum imaging.
Overall, this hat is a perfect blend of my interests and academic journey, and I’m super grateful to my friends and colleagues for putting it all together. It’s a reminder of the fun, challenges, and support I experienced throughout my PhD!

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Ostracod and Foraminiferal Response to Anthropogenic Pollution in Africa

Beschreibung / Description:

This hat is a time capsule with a comedy sketch all rolled into one. Every time I look at it, I can't help but laugh and feel deeply grateful for the people who made this journey so memorable. Huge thank you to my fantastic colleagues from the Geological department, you guys are the best!

1. First, you can't miss the forest of keys dangling from every edge of the hat. A not-so-subtle nod to my “talent” for losing keys — to offices, labs, and sometimes other people’s desks. But credit where it’s due: I always found them again... eventually.
2. Then, in one corner, stands the infamous coffee cup mountain — 18 ceramic trophies representing my personal record before I finally returned them after receiving a particularly stern round of reminder emails. It turns out caffeine addiction and dishware hoarding go hand-in-hand during thesis writing hehe :)
3. Right at the center of the hat is a mini African continent, with two little nails marking Ghana and South Africa — my main field sites. Complete with traditional huts from Ghana, it beautifully mirrors the graphical abstract of one of my publications.
4. Scattered across the hat are stunning microfossils, meticulously modeled by my supervisor Prof. Peter Frenzel — true artistic and scientific treasures that pay tribute to the tiny organisms I spent countless hours studying.
5. A pair of glasses sit prominently on the front, symbolizing my near-blindness without them and the many awkward greetings in corridors where I couldn’t quite make out who I was waving at.
6. There’s also a big cargo ship, sailing through waters marked by coal and heavy metals — a miniature version of my sampling site in South Africa’s industrial harbor, where I tested water quality amidst shipping giants and cranes.
7. And of course, my favorite: a tiny, adorable microscope perched proudly on the top. It was my closest companion throughout the PhD, faithfully helping me count microfossils one by one, day after day.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Influence of aging on the functional polarisation of macrophages and their inflammatory 
microenvironment

Beschreibung / Description:

The hat shows my entire PhD Journey, with a lot of memorable moments and experiences. Absolute highlights amongst the many elements on the hat are the LED laboratory fairy lights, the miniature concert stage incl. lighting, the fancy E. coli tassel, the knitted 1-Up for the transition from PhD to PostDoc, and many more. I want to thank all my friends and colleagues who helped create this masterpiece and who accompanied me on my crazy and amazing PhD journey. 

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Data and Simulation-based Exploration, Analysis, and Treatment of Stenoses for Prevention of Ischemic Strokes

Beschreibung / Description:  

Dieser fantastische Hut wurde von meinen Kollegen Simon, Jan und Brian kreiert – mit tatkräftiger kreativer Unterstützung meiner Frau Wanda, die keinesfalls unerwähnt bleiben sollte. In meiner Promotion habe ich mich mit Schlaganfallprävention beschäftigt, allem voran mit Verengungen (Stenosen) der Halsschlagader, die man unten am Hut sehen kann. Der böse Plaque (die weißen Stellen) darf natürlich nicht fehlen! Ich hatte das große Glück mit meinem Projekt gleich mehrere Preise gewinnen zu dürfen, weshalb ich irgendwann von meinen Kollegen Preise-Pepe getauft wurde. Ein Umstand der durch den überdimensionierten Pokal und die Miniatururkunden (unten) mehr als deutlich gemacht wurde. Weiterhin wurden meine favorisierten Freizeitaktivitäten verewigt: Ich mit dem Fahhrad und Laptop zwischen Fitnessstudio (man beachte die liebevoll gestalteten Proteinpulverdosen), gutem Kaffee (hinten) und dem Klavier, das tatsächlich eine eingabaute Spieluhr beinhaltet mit der man Melodien erzeugen kann! Die Sahnehaube wird dem Ganzen durch die integrierte RGB-Unterbodenbeleuchtung aufgesetzt, welche man mit der beigelegten Fernbedienung steuern kann. Danke dass ihr mir diesen wunderbaren Hut gebastelt habt!

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Accounting for environmental change and uncertainties in landslide susceptibility modeling: case study of the eastern Alpine forelands in Austria

Beschreibung / Description:

When a PhD journey revolves around landslides, it makes sense that the doctoral hat reflects not only the gravity of the research, but also the mud, the rain, and the occasional football that came with it.

Atop this magnificent headpiece sits a miniature mountain, proudly surrounded by tiny trees—perhaps a nod to the Alpine forelands of eastern Austria, where landslides loom as a major natural hazard. But of course, serenity never lasts in geomorphology. Cascading down the slope is a handcrafted landslide, complete with broken trees—a symbol of the destructive force unleashed when rainfall, soil moisture, and land use team up in unpredictable ways.

Below the slope, a railway line winds through the chaos, now blocked by the landslide. A bold caution tape marks the scene—emergency crews are already on site, bravely dealing with the aftermath. There’s even a sign that reads “Caution Wet Floor”—because even natural disasters deserve a touch of workplace health and safety humor.

Above it all looms a raincloud—ominous and full of scientific implications. After all, this dissertation dug deep into the role of extreme rainfall events, analyzing landslides triggered by the infamous storms of June 2009 and September 2014 in parts of Austria. The model developed along the way didn’t just look backward—though it did venture nearly 200 years into historical land use—but also forward, predicting how a warming future might alter landslide susceptibility. Spoiler alert: it gets messier—but maybe drier, too.

But a PhD is more than data and models. Life slid alongside science, and the hat tells that story, too. There are footballs perched on one side—because no research meeting is complete without a debate over who scored last. And yes, maybe, just maybe, a poorly aimed kick triggered a slope failure or two (pure speculation, of course). Then there are the cross-country skis—a tribute to snowy weekends spent far from the landslides, yet always, somehow, returning to the slopes.

In short, the hat says it all: science, heavy rain, slides—and a whole lot of fun. If a picture paints a thousand words, then this PhD hat illustrates an entire dissertation, spiced with mud, memory, and a healthy dose of academic wit.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who accompanied me along this journey—and to those wonderful colleagues who gave me this incredible hat.

Dissertationstitel / Title of Dissertation:
Assessing DNA-binding specificity of MADS-domain transcription factors

Beschreibung / Description:

Auf der Seite ist das schöne Panorama von Jena zu sehen. Auf der Oberseite sieht man Aspekte meines Laboralltags während der Doktorandenzeit am Lehrstuhl für Genetik: mein Laborbuch, ganz viele „Eppis“ (kleine Plastikröhrchen) vom Pipettieren, eine „Äkta“ (Gerät zur Reinigung von Proteinen), Modelle von Protein-DNA-Komplexen, den Schriftzug „SELEX“ (Methode in der Genetik), meine „Paper“ und Warnsymbole für Chemikalien. Es war eine spannende Zeit!