Subscribe to our SMART Graduate School Mailing List!

We’re excited to introduce our CRC 1597 SmallData IRTG SMART mailing list! This is the best way for external participants to engage with our selected research community, stay informed about our upcoming public events and continuous education opportunities such as: How to Subscribe: Our mailing list is hosted by DFN-Listserv, a trusted email management service provided […]

SMART Master Lab Kick-Off Days – Cohort 1.0

On February 10-11, we launched the first cohort of the SMART Master Lab program, equipping master’s students with SmallData research skills through hands-on training and expert mentorship. The event opened with CRC Speaker Harald Binder introducing the fundamentals of SmallData, followed by SMART PI Nadine Binder and SMART Coordinator Iván Acevedo, who outlined the SMART Master Lab goals and its […]

SmallData at Digital Health Research Night 2025

Last night, we were excited to participate in the Digital Health Research Night at the Technical Faculty in Freiburg, where researchers and students came together to explore opportunities for graduate research and collaboration at the intersection of medicine, data science, and technology. Our team presented a poster showcasing SmallData, the SMART group, and our new SMART Master Lab Program, sparking engaging discussions […]

SmallData Doctoral Researcher Carola Heinzel comes back from her research stay in the USA!

As part of her doctoral studies, Carola Heinzel (C01) visited Professor Jason Schweinsberg at the University of California, San Diego for about 10 weeks. During her time in San Diego, she focused on enhancing mathematical theory to estimate the net growth rate of cancer even for a small number of cells. This scientific exchange not […]

SMART Retreat 2024: Three Days of Collaboration & Productivity in The Black Forest

From November 13th to 15th, our doctoral researchers gathered at the Schwarzwald Lodge Rothaus for an unforgettable first SMART Retreat. Day 1: Hitting the ground running We kicked things off with parallel Write/Code/Collab/Discuss (WCCD) sessions, a structure that would continue throughout the retreat, with changing pitches each day. Doctoral researchers jumped straight into collaboratively working […]

Pitch Perfect: Turning Ideas into Collaborative Action at SMART

On November 4, we held our SMART Pitch Workshop at the Co-Creation Room, University Freiburg, where our doctoral researchers came together to pitch their project ideas for the upcoming SMART Retreat. This workshop was designed to help each participant refine their goals, articulate their challenges, and outline the connections they’d like to foster with fellow […]

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

Principial Investigators

Principial Investigators

Administrative Manager

Marc Schumacher

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