This event is part of the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks 2026

The participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into the appointment process in a conversation with an experienced professor, a newly appointed professor, and a staff member from the Department for Appointment Affairs at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. 

• What considerations are decisive for the “decision‑makers” when making appointments?
• Which behavior is expected of applicants, which is tolerated, and which actions are more likely to lead to a negative assessment?

Guided by the sequence of the appointment process, the three‑hour event will focus primarily on the following topics:

• Application: Identifying suitable positions, matching the call with one’s own CV, contacting the respective university before and after applying, etc.
• Appointment lecture and discussion with the appointment committee: Choosing a lecture topic, designing a presentation for a heterogeneous audience, pitfalls in appointment lectures and discussions, handling critical questions, dos and don’ts.
• Appointment: Procedure, smart negotiation and conduct, expectations of the appointing university.

Benefits / Goals

Participants

• receive important (background) information about the entire appointment process,
• can clarify their specific questions with experienced professors, newly appointed faculty, and other persons involved in the process,
• can adapt their behavior in appointment procedures to the relevant expectations.

Speakers:

Experts in appointment procedures, e.g.
Elke Karrenberg – Head of Personnel Development, JGU Mainz
Laura Tittel – Managing Director, Department 02 Social Sciences, Media and Sports, JGU Mainz
Newly appointed Professors (tba)

Target group: Postdoctoral researchers, junior research group leaders, junior and assistant professors in the social sciences from TU Darmstadt, JGU Mainz and GU Frankfurt.

Language: German

Please note that the number of participants is limited, so early registration is recommended.

Separate registration required via https://eveeno.com/223181310