The event, which takes place from October 13 to 14, 2026, in Bonn, brings together doctoral researchers from across Germany. Each university's leadership can submit nominations, but only one doctoral researcher per institution is chosen to take part, making this a highly selective opportunity.
As a representative of the University of Bremen, Mira Richts will join doctoral researchers from other universities with DFG-funded Research Training Groups, along with members of the DFG Senate Committee on Research Training Groups, the DFG Senate, and DFG staff.
About RTG connect
RTG connect gives doctoral researchers a platform to share their experiences in a specially designed format and discuss ideas for (International) Research Training Group programs. The event also gives participants a chance to connect directly with members of DFG's scientific committees and fellow researchers.
About Mira Richts
Mira Richts is a doctoral researcher at the University of Bremen in the joint Research Training Group HEARAZ ("Hearable-Centered Assistance: From Sensor to Participation). She previously earned her MSc in Hearing Technology and Audiology from the University of Oldenburg.
Her doctoral research explores how speech can serve as a biomarker for cognitive change. Early detection of neurocognitive conditions in older adults matters especially in clinical settings, where it can shape treatment and outcomes. Spoken language is a natural focus for this kind of research: it's part of everyday communication, and recording and analyzing it automatically requires relatively few resources.
Starting in September, Richts will collect speech data at the Geriatric Center Oldenburg as part of her study DEESA ("Differentiating Delirium and Dementia through Spontaneous Speech"), under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Tanja Schultz (Cognitive Systems Lab, University of Bremen) and Prof. Dr. Tania Zieschang (Geriatrics and Health Services Research, University of Oldenburg). She'll use this data to develop algorithms that can distinguish between delirium and dementia.
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