With the appointment of the founding board of directors by the Rectorate of the University of Siegen and the selection of 103 founding members by the board itself as one of its first actions, important steps have been taken toward establishing the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research Siegen (ZiGS). The Advisory Board, serving as the third and advisory body, is also currently being formed. At the same time, this central research institution is already gaining visibility beyond the university.
The Executive Board had already selected the director of the institution from among its members during its constituent meeting in June. Prof. Dr. Jens Brunner was unanimously elected by the board, and the professor of management science will thus hold the position for the next three years. Other members of the Executive Board include Professor Dr. Ulrike Buchmann from the Department of Education, specializing in vocational and business education; bioinformatician Professor Dr. Florian Centler; and Professor Christoph Dockweiler from the Digital Public Health core area. Dr. Olaf Gaus was appointed Managing Director of ZiGS.
At the most recent Executive Board meeting, 103 researchers were named as founding members. The members are assigned to the institution’s four research clusters and were nominated based on their work in the research groups. They form the scientific foundation for broad-based and interdisciplinary collaboration in the areas of bio-, information, and medical technology for health (Cluster 1), digital health services research and public health (Cluster 2), regional health (Cluster 3), and health education, competencies, and communication (Cluster 4). The four research clusters are coordinated by spokespersons. This structure at ZiGS creates space to bring together different disciplines, perspectives, and areas of expertise; to strengthen interdisciplinary exchange and networking; to initiate new research questions, collaborations, and joint research projects; and to showcase the center’s research strengths both internally and externally.
The process of establishing the advisory board has already begun. Experts from health research and health care practice will advise the Executive Board on scientific strategy and health policy issues. In addition to two members of the Rectorate and the deans of the University of Siegen, the remaining positions will be filled by external experts from the fields of education, medicine, politics, healthcare, and science. A total of 27 nominations have already been received. The process of forming the council is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
From the very beginning, the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research in Siegen has also been looking beyond the University of Siegen. Initial discussions with political committees, such as the Health Policy Working Group (GPA) of the CDU Siegen-Wittgenstein, have already taken place. Further discussions and meetings with various commissions have already been scheduled; the next on the agenda is a meeting with the “Health and Climate” working group of the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council of the City of Kreuztal. The goal is to intensify dialogue with relevant decision-makers in the region and to explore opportunities for future project-based collaboration. This will create a network—even during the start-up phase—that can bring together scientific expertise with diverse social and political perspectives. ZiGS aims to raise the profile of its members and their research while also establishing itself as a point of contact for scientific inquiries and joint activities.
The specific benefits for members will be jointly developed and defined as the organization continues to take shape. The focus is on promoting scientific exchange, fostering networking among members, and supporting joint research activities. Therefore, the first general meeting on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., marks another important milestone. The founding members from the four research clusters are set to meet for the first time, get to know one another, and gain a shared perspective on the newly emerging research institution. A request has been made to use space in the lecture hall building of the Lower Castle for the meeting.
Faculty members and all research staff with a Ph.D. at the University of Siegen, individuals admitted to the Ph.D. program who are pursuing their doctorate at the University of Siegen, and habilitation candidates at the university—all of whom are active in the field of interdisciplinary health research— are eligible to apply for a free ZiGS membership. To do so, applicants must submit an informal letter of motivation (half a DIN A4 page) explaining their connection to interdisciplinary health research and their affiliation with the cluster, along with a brief curriculum vitae, to the ZiGS office via email at vanessa.werner@uni-siegen.de. Doctoral candidates must also provide confirmation from their doctoral advisor. Researchers and external experts in the health sector who are not affiliated with the University of Siegen can obtain associate member status through the same process. The Executive Board votes on the acceptance of each application and looks forward to continued strong growth.
