Administrative Director

Uta Bielfeldt is the new Administrative Director of the German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, since 1 January 2022.

As Administrative Director, Ms Bielfeldt will manage the DRFZ together with the Scientific Director, Eicke Latz. In her new role, she will be responsible for the programme budget, as well as for controlling essential personnel and financial measures. Speaking of the new appointment, Andreas Radbruch commented: “I am looking forward to working with Uta Bielfeldt to further strengthen the position of the DRFZ as an internationally leading institute in the field of rheumatism research in Berlin”. Ms Bielfeldt will work with a young and international team with around 200 employees from a wide range of disciplines.

Uta Bielfeldt brings with her many years of experience in science management:  As Managing Director of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the graduate administrative scientist was responsible for important personnel and financial processes of one of Berlin’s largest faculties. Prior to that, she worked, among other things, as Managing Director at the IRI Life Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and as a Scientific Officer in the Evaluation Department of the Leibniz Association.

“Experimental life sciences such as rheumatism research, which pursue a translational approach, are also exciting and challenging from a managerial perspective. We can currently see how closely basic research and social relevance are connected in the Corona pandemic. Many scientists at the DRFZ are making an important contribution in the fight against the pandemic by researching immunological and epidemiological correlations of COVID-19. As Administrative Director, I would like to help by ensuring the best possible working conditions for the many bright minds at the DRFZ.”

Uta Bielfeldt succeeds Petra Starke, who managed the DRFZ administratively for almost 30 years. “The Board of Trustees would like to thank Ms Starke for the excellent and trusting cooperation and her many years of commitment to the DRFZ,” said Prof. Dr Reinhold Schmidt, President of the DRFZ Board of Trustees. “At the same time, we are pleased to have gained a highly motivated science manager for the DRFZ in Uta Bielfeldt, who brings important experience from top university and non-university research institutions.”