International exchange is a normal mode of successful research in the 21st century. Over the last 15 years, very extensive scientific collaborations between Vanderbilt and Leipzig Universities have been established.

Key elements of this ongoing collaboration are scientific exchanges of students, postdocs, and Project Leaders for extended periods of time to conduct research, learn new methods, and teach scientific courses. So far, 47 teaching modules have been taught by Project Leaders at the respective partner university, typically extending over 2 weeks including practical hands on sessions. We would like to emphasize that this exchange took place on all academic levels involving 55 undergraduate students, 37 graduate students, 19 postdoctoral researchers, and 66 Project Leaders. In the course of time this has resulted in 71 corporative scientific papers.