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
Prof. Dr. Johannes Kraus, Psychologie
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Krein, Erziehungswissenschaft
Prof. Dr. Jessica Kunert, Kommunikationswissenschaft
Prof. Dr. Constantin Wurthmann, Politikwissenschaft 

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