Postdoc Career Strategy: A Workshop Series Tailored to your Goals

Career Path: Academic Careers

Academic Careers

This career path is designed to support postdocs in building the key skills and knowledge needed to advance in academia. You will have 3 mini workshops:

• Essentials of a Strong Academic Portfolio
  September 29th, 1-3 PM, Seminar room 3, Building 1b

  The profiles of postdocs, group leaders or professors require changing skill sets. Researchers are often focussing on skills directly connected to research itself. However, in order to successfully navigate an academic career track, additional skills particularly in strategy, management, and communication become more crucial along the way. Learn how to structure and present your academic achievements to highlight your strengths and future potential.
  
  This workshop will cover the following topics and you get the chance to discuss your questions. It will cover

  • Relevant skill sets in academia at different career stages
  • Strategy vs. lucky coincidences: How to prepare for the uncertain
  • Developing your narrative/profile as a researcher
  • Communicating your skills & "fit"

           Trainer: Dr. Anne Schreiter (Guidance, Skills & Opportunities)

• Funding Opportunities for Natural Scientists in Germany and EU 
  October 27th, 1-5 PM, Seminar room 5, Building 1b
  
  

  This practical training provides a solid foundation for developing strong third-party funding applications, with a particular focus on programmes offered by the DFG and the European Commission (e.g. ERC), transferable to other (inter-) national funders. Participants learn how to strategically select suitable funding schemes and craft key application sections (e.g. abstract, aim, objectives, research design and its implementation) in line with both formal and content-related requirements.
  A central focus is placed on the perspective of funders and reviewers: participants gain insight into the evaluation process and learn how to tailor proposals to the logic, expectations, and reading behaviour of reviewers.
  Through hands-on exercises, participants learn how to develop their funding idea and tailor it to the objectives of a selected funding programme. Individual and group exercises help participants not only to structure their applications in line with the requirements of the funding agency, but also to write applications that reflect the reading habits of the reviewers.
   
  Methods: Short lectures, group discussions, individual exercises, practical tools
   
  Objectives: Participants will learn to:
  • Position proposal writing as a tool for career development
  • Align their research idea with the objectives of a targeted funding body
  • Structure and design the ecellence and implementation section of a funding proposal
  • Understand and address the expectations of reviewers
  • Navigate formalities, timelines, and deadlines professionally

  In preparation for the training, participants will be given a brief assignment, which we will reflect on and discuss during the workshop.

  Trainer: Dr. Susanne Hollmann (SB Science Management)
  
  

• Crafting Competitive Grant Proposals (date to be announced - probably end Nov) 

  This workshop is designed to support researchers in developing well-structured and competitive funding proposals. Participants will be guided through a systematic approach to proposal writing that emphasizes clarity, coherence, and effective communication with both specialist and non-specialist audiences. The workshop aims to reduce the stress often associated with last-minute preparation by equipping participants with strategies to plan and present their research ideas with maximum impact.

  
  By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Organize and draft the key sections of a funding proposal in a clear and persuasive manner.

  • Communicate the significance and broader relevance of their research to reviewers from diverse backgrounds.

  • Understand the review process and adapt their proposals to meet the expectations of evaluators.

  • Recognize common shortcomings in proposals and apply practical methods to avoid them.
    
    

  A central feature of the workshop is its focus on clarifying the review process. By gaining insight into how applications are assessed after submission, participants will be better positioned to present their research competitively within a field of strong proposals.

  Trainer: to be announced