Interview: “We need to embrace and promote internationalization”

As part of the Henriette Herz Scouting Program funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, immunologist Professor Sebastian Kobold is actively seeking excellent early-career researchers from abroad. The LMU physician talks about the importance of international exchange for research and the opportunities that a Humboldt fellowship can open up for talented young researchers.

As a first-time scout for the Humboldt Foundation, you are in a position to recruit junior international researchers for a fellowship. Who would you like to find through the program and support with a research opportunity in your department?

Sebastian Kobold: Talented and ambitious junior researchers from around the world – explicitly not from Germany and without previous study periods or research periods here. The goal of the program is to bring such people to Germany for their research, sponsored by a fellowship of the Humboldt Foundation. As main criteria, candidates must have completed their doctorate no more than twelve years ago and demonstrate above-average achievements for their career stage. For my fellows specifically, I also expect a strong research interest in the field of immunology and immuno-oncology—meaning a scientific enthusiasm for "our" topics.

What other qualities should applicants for the research residency bring with them?

Most importantly, a balanced blend of genuine scientific interest and a strong drive for high performance. While prior experience in immunology or related fields is certainly advantageous, it is not a prerequisite. Individuals coming from other disciplines, such as computer science or chemistry, can bring valuable expertise to a project, making their contributions equally exciting and inspiring. In my view, genuine interest and passion for the subject matter are more important than holding a doctorate in medicine or biology.

What opportunities open up for research fellows, who are supported for 6 to 24 months through the program?

Undoubtedly, the extensive network provided by the Humboldt Foundation is highly attractive to researchers, as it connects some of the brightest minds across diverse disciplines and fields. The fellowship is also financially rewarding, allowing me, as a scout, to offer targeted funding opportunities to promising junior researchers from abroad. Furthermore, the Humboldt Foundation's program facilitates the acquisition of additional qualifications beyond the fellowship, leading to broad recognition, particularly due to its esteemed reputation in Germany.

What fresh impetus do you hope from the junior international researchers?

We are already a very international lab. This represents a significant cultural and scientific enrichment compared to an inbred environment, where the same outdated perspectives and opinions tend to perpetuate one another – a debilitating approach for science, which lives from discourse and from different opinions. I believe that mobility and the integration of new perspectives, methodologies, and strategies drive significant advancements in research at LMU—achievements that would otherwise be beyond our reach. While home-grown scientific talent is invaluable to universities, nurturing exchange is equally crucial, as it acts as a powerful catalyst for innovation.

Was that also your motivation to volunteer as a scout for the program and support junior researchers from abroad?

Definitely, yes. We have had overwhelmingly positive experiences with international scientists to date. Additionally, we frequently receive spontaneous inquiries from around the world regarding research residencies during or after a doctorate However, this always requires an individual approach that must first be identified and financed. The Humboldt Foundation program enables me, as a scout, to support candidates more swiftly and efficiently. In our field, which thrives on international collaboration and has strong national and international connections, this support is a crucial driver of research advancement.

The prospects for early-career researchers in immunology and immuno-oncology are highly promising. I believe these fields represent an exceptionally progressive and appealing area of biomedicine for young, ambitious scientists. Over the past ten to fifteen years, we have experienced a veritable revolution: immunology has been established as a key role player for pretty much every human disease and therapeutic purposes. We have now seen a wealth of therapeutic concepts, which extend into all areas of medicine; in particular, in oncology, where we can now treat many diseases with immunotherapy that previously had no prospect of cure.

What plans and visions would you like to pursue in your laboratory together with the junior international researchers?

First of all, it is about basic research. But as part of the Medical Faculty, we always strive to lay a concrete basis for therapeutic applications. Our research is rooted in themes derived from fundamental science, paving the way for innovative therapeutic applications. Ultimately, the goal is to practice first-rate perform translational research with the junior researchers. Depending on the person’s background, international research collaborations are also a possibility. Many research groups and laboratories send staff abroad, who then come back with fresh ideas and lay the foundations for long-term collaborations and form networks. I think there are various possibilities here, and we would also like to use the Humboldt scholarship to expand and consolidate our international network.

In your view, what value do (early-career) international researchers bring to medicine and the natural sciences at LMU?

Competitive research increasingly depends on the contributions of international researchers, irrespective of the strengths of our own national junior research talents. That said, home-grown talents benefit as well from a diverse mix of nationalities and institutions. I believe that this internationalization is a very important driver of innovation, and that we need it. We also need to further value and promote international connections – regardless of all isolationist tendencies.

Prof. Dr. med. Sebastian Kobold is Director of the Institute for Clinical Pharmacology at LMU University Hospital and researches in the field of experimental immuno-oncology.

More about the Henriette Herz Scouting Programme from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

To apply for a fellowship at the Institute for Clinical Pharmacology through the Henriette Herz Scouting Programme, please send an email with CV and cover letter to Professor Sebastian Kobold: sebastian.kobold@med.uni-muenchen.de