Where Science
Meets Community
The DCBP Coalition is the PhD & Postdoc community of the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Bern — run by researchers, for researchers.
Our Four Pillars
Everything we do revolves around four core commitments to the DCBP research community.
Fostering an inclusive academic and social environment where every researcher feels welcome and valued.
Giving PhD students and postdocs a voice in department decisions, faculty meetings and university bodies.
Soft-skills workshops, industry talks, and publishing seminars — skills the curriculum doesn't always teach.
Building bridges across research groups, departments and Swiss universities so no one works in isolation.
Life at DCBP Coalition
We share event announcements, highlights and behind-the-scenes moments on Instagram.
📸 Follow @phdcoalition_dcbpAbout the DCBP Coalition
Help people find their purpose.
The DCBP Coalition promotes an exceptional atmosphere of support, soft-skills education, graduate-student representation, and professional relationships. We provide access to resources, workshops, and engagement events open to all — PhDs and Postdocs alike.
What we're building in 2025–26
«Lowering Barriers» Series
A series of talks, lectures, and workshops that address the everyday struggles and experiences of students — from bachelor's to PhD level. We go beyond theoretical chemistry and tackle the human side of research.
Meet the Board 2025–2026
We are always open to expanding the board. If you are a PhD student or Postdoc at DCBP and want to get more involved, reach out — no prior experience needed, just enthusiasm!
Our Group Representatives
Ambassadors bridge the Coalition and individual research groups — they're the friendly face who keeps their lab informed and involved.
Events
From Halloween parties to Forbes-30-under-30 leadership seminars — there's always something going on.
Gallery
Monthly Meeting — 12 November 2025. The first official meeting of the DCBP Coalition.
Meet the Board — introducing the 2025–26 leadership team to the DCBP community.
This Year's Vision — social events, professional development, networking and bonding.
Potential Events — the community co-designed our event calendar for the year ahead.
Leadership talk with Adelina Ivanova — Forbes 30 under 30, Novartis.
«Lowering Barriers» Series — talks addressing the human side of research life.
Monthly Meeting — 7 January 2026. Planning the Spring 2026 semester calendar.
Fall 2025 events recap — highlights from the first semester of the Coalition.
Spring 2026 Professional Program — publishing, academia, industry, and leadership.
Spring 2026 Social Program — painting, karaoke, salsa, 3D printing, and FIKA.
Ambassadors structure — one representative per research group, bridging the community.
Upcoming: Wiley Publishing Workshop with Richard J. Smith, Senior Editor.
Monthly Meeting — 27 February 2026. Event feedback + planning session.
Fall 2025 in review — community feedback on the first semester events.
Spring 2026 progress — what we'd already delivered by the February meeting.
Publishing Seminar day — Richard J. Smith at 5:00 pm.
Academic Pathway to Professorship with Ana Benitez-Mateos, TU Munich.
Big news: PhD Coalition → DCBP Coalition, now including Postdocs.
Monthly Meeting — 22 April 2026. End-of-semester review and elections planning.
Board overview — presenting the full team and open positions to new members.
Key updates: directorate elections, internal vote, and what's next for the Coalition.
Spring 2026 events — full calendar of what was delivered across the semester.
Full event overview — social and professional highlights from the 2025–26 year.
The DCBP Coalition mission — support, representation, professional growth, community.
📌 To add real event photos: place your image files in the images/ folder and update the src attributes above.
Follow us on Instagram for live updates.
Contact & Community
The DCBP Coalition is open to all PhD students and Postdocs at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern. No membership fees, no commitments — just community.
📬 Coalition Email
Reach out with questions, event ideas, or if you want to join the board. We try to respond within a few days.
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💬 DCBP WhatsApp Community
We have an informal WhatsApp community for sharing info, asking questions, and staying connected with fellow researchers across the department.
- Zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination or hate speech
- Advice & resources welcome — no exam solutions or confidential material
- Not the place for complaints about supervisors or staff
- No spam or unrelated advertising
- Respect privacy — no sharing sensitive personal information
- Disagreements should stay factual and respectful
Student-run, informal space — does not represent the DCBP officially.
DCBP Building — Freiestrasse 3, Bern
Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences · Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Become Part of the Coalition
Show up to any event — no sign-up, no commitment. Just come and see what we're about.
Represent your research group and be the link between us and your labmates. Just let us know!
We have open positions! If you want more responsibility and to shape the community, get in touch.
Have a speaker in mind? A workshop idea? An event you wish existed? Tell us — we make things happen.