© Medizin Foto Köln
The General Assembly of the German Research Foundation (DFG) elected Professor Dr. Thomas Benzing from the University of Cologne to the Senate for a three-year term of office (2026-2028) at the DFG Annual Meeting in Hamburg. Thomas Benzing is Director of the Department II of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital of Cologne, spokesperson of the Research Center ZMMK (Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne) and co-spokesperson of the Cologne Cluster of Excellence for Ageing Research CECAD. In the Senate, he will take over the position for Clinical Medicine I.
“I warmly congratulate Professor Benzing on his election to the DFG Senate,” says Professor Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, Rector of the University of Cologne. “His expertise in nephrology and his experience in scientific research make him an ideal candidate for this important role.”
The DFG Senate is the central scientific body that makes all key decisions on research funding and on the organization of the review, evaluation and decision-making process. The Senate has a total of 39 members. They are also the scientific members of the Joint Committee.
Of the six newly appointed Senate seats, one is in the humanities and social sciences, two in the life sciences, two in the natural sciences and one in the engineering sciences. Six other Senate members were confirmed in office. The term of office begins on January 1, 2026.
Contact:
Professor Dr. Thomas Benzing
Clinic II for Internal Medicine at University Hospital Cologne
Klinik II für Innere Medizin der Uniklinik Köln
+49 221 478 4480
thomas.benzing[at]uk-koeln.de
Press and Communication:
Dr. Anna Euteneuer
+49 221 470 1700
a.euteneuer[at]verw.uni-koeln.de
English Translation:
Dr. Tanio Calabrese
g.calabrese[at]uni-koeln.de
More Information:
https://www.dfg.de/de/service/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/pressemitteilung-nr-18
Responsible: Dr. Elisabeth Hoffmann – e.hoffmann@verw.uni-koeln.de