Katja Becker, President of the German Research Foundation (DFG), studied medicine at Heidelberg University, where she obtained her doctoral degree and habilitation. She held positions at the Center for Infectious Diseases, Würzburg University and accepted a chair in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Giessen University. Her research led her to Africa, Australia, Switzerland, the UK and the US. Her research focus is on cellular redox metabolism as a drug target in malaria parasites and cancer cells. Katja Becker is active in multiple scientific advisory boards and served as vice president at Giessen University, from 2014 to 2019 she was DFG vice president. She chaired the Governing Board of the Global Research Council (GRC) from 2021 to 2023.
The best research is produced when scientists work together across national boundaries. Therefore we all need to ensure that international cooperation remains both open and responsible at the same time. Researchers need to be able to collaborate with the best in their field, while closely reflecting the potential risks this could entail.”