RMU Postdoc Career Weeks 2025
RMU Postdoc Career Weeks 2025
2 weeks – 1 goal: Advance your career!
The RMU Postdoc Career Weeks offer information, orientation and networking specifically for the postdoctoral phase.
In 31 talks, discussions and workshops, as well as social and networking events you will have the opportunity to receive valuable insights on career paths in and outside academia, learn from established researchers and career experts, improve your competencies, and form new and sustainable networks.
Check out the program! For more detailed information see below.
Who can participate?
The RMU Postdoc Career Weeks are designed specifically for early career researchers in the doctoral phase (R1), the postdoctoral phase (R2), and the qualification phase for a professorship or equivalent (R3) from the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU): Goethe University Frankfurt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt.
We also invite early career researchers from RMU’s European partner alliances UNITE and FORTHEM as well as from other research institutions, who are interested in research and career opportunities at the RMU, to participate.
Acceptance to events is contingent upon a limited number of available slots.
Where do the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks take place?
With a few exceptions, our events are online and will be hosted in Zoom.
Events on campus will take place at the Campus City Center Darmstadt.
Please check the event descriptions in the program for more detailed information on the event format and location.
How can I register?
There are two types of events, for which you can register:
1. Open events
The majority of events are open events, which means that they do not have a limited number of participants.
To participate in these events, you need to register once by filling in this registration form.
This registration allows you to participate in all open events. There will be one link for all open events. You will receive the link with your acceptance mail.
2. Closed events (with a limited number of participants)
Some events, like our workshops or social events, have a limited number of participants and require separate and early registration.
Please check the program below early on and identify the events you are interested in. To sign up for closed events, you need to register for each event individually by filling in the registration form specifically for this event.
You may register for several events. But: Please note that your registration is binding and that you are required to cancel your registration right away if you are unable to attend. Although participation in the events is free of charge for you, the university still incurs costs. Please help us to conserve resources and be fair to other interested people.
Acceptance to events is contingent upon a limited number of available slots.
Program
Tag 1 PCW 2025
Monday, June 23
Welcoming
Online
10.00 – 11.00 CEST
Join us for the official Welcoming of the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks 2025 and an interactive check-in to our event program: how it works, what to expect, and who will be part of it.
The event is hosted by the Vice President for Academic Careers of TU Darmstadt, Prof. Dr. Franziska Lang, and the organizers of the RMU Postdoc Career Weeks, Ingenium, the graduate organization for early career researchers.
Language: English
What you need to know about the German research system to inform your next career step
Online
Talk
11.00 – 13.00 CEST
Whether you are aiming for a career in academia, exploring options beyond it, or still undecided, understanding the system you are currently in is crucial. In this talk, we will explore the good, the bad, and the challenges of the German research system—and how you can navigate your next career step. We will also discuss how informed decision-making plays a key role in career strategy and how you can start building your own.
Language: English
Speaker: Dr. Anne Schreiter – GSO – Guidance, Skills & Opportunities e.V.
RMU – What’s in it for me? Benefits for ECRs
Online
Talk
14.00 – 15.30 CEST
Find out how you can benefit from the RMU! The Rhine-Main University Alliance has a lot in stock for your career development. In this talk, we will introduce the various funding, support and networking offers of the RMU for ECRs and connect you with the graduate organizations of the three universities.
Language: English
Speakers:
- Dr. Sybille Küster, GRADE, GU Frankfurt
- Dr. Bettina Wagner, Dr. Yvonne Bachmann, Dr. Angela Müller – Ingenium, TU Darmstadt
- Julia Häuser-Huth, Gutenberg Academy, JGU Mainz
Tag 2 PCW 2025
Tuesday, June 24
Painting session at TU Kunstforum
On campus
Social event
12.00 – 14.00 CEST
The RMU Social Events offer an opportunity to explore the Rhine-Main region and to get connected with peers from the RMU alliance. In this event, we invite you to partake in a painting session ("Freies Malen") hosted by the Kunstforum of TU Darmstadt. With its open painting space, the Kunstforum provides a place for encounters and togetherness and makes a contribution to maintaining one's health and strengthening one's resilience.
In free painting, we let ourselves be inspired by colors. We paint spontaneously and intuitively, playing with colors and shapes, everyone stays with themselves and their own paper. Artistic skills or knowledge of special techniques is not required, as the emphasis is on the experience of the painting process and less on the goal of achieving a finished, perfect picture.
Participation is limited to 12 people.
Language: English
Host: Julia Reichelt – Kunstforum TU Darmstadt
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Guided Tour at Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt
On campus
Social event
12.00 – 13.30 CEST
The RMU Social Events offer an opportunity to explore the Rhine-Main region and to get connected with peers from the RMU alliance. In this event, we invite you to explore one of the landmarks of Darmstadt: the artists' colony and UNESCO World Heritage Site Mathildenhöhe. The Mathildenhöhe area was founded in 1899 to become a focal point of Art Nouveau and European art development. Created with the aim of reforming art and life, the work of the artists' colony expressed the dawn of modernity through experimental architecture, new spatial art and pioneering design. In 2021 it was recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site for its influence in the reform movements of the early 20th century.
A guided tour leads through the colony and the famous wedding tower.
Participation is limited to 25 people.
Language: English
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Young Investigator Appreciation Day - Scientific independence: How to achieve it and what to consider
On campus
Networking event
15.30 - 19.00 CEST
Scientific independence is vital for researchers to get grants approved, to receive scientific awards, to be recognized by the scientific community and to be appointable for professorship. At the 3rd Young Investigator Appreciation Day we will discuss together with Prof. Dr. Jens Braun, full professor at the Department of Physics and DFG liaison officer at TU Darmstadt, and RMU research group leaders of different research disciplines about their experiences on their way of becoming scientifically independent.
Questions such as “What are the main key elements that characterize scientific independence? And what can you do to obtain it and demonstrate it?” will be answered. You are very welcome to pose questions and discuss with our panel guests.
As the Young Investigator Appreciation Day is to honour the excellent work of early career researchers, we will also celebrate the appointment of the Athene Young Investigators, who joined TU Darmstadt’s own independent junior research group leader programme in 2025.
Afterwards you are invited to network with our guests and participants beyond your research fields and universities during a casual ‘get together’ having some snacks and drinks.
We are looking forward to your participation!
Target group: Junior research group leaders, advanced postdocs, doctoral candidates interested in an academic career
Language: English
Guests:
- Prof. Dr. Jens Braun – Department of Physics and DFG liaison officer, TU Darmstadt
- Dr. Yan-Jie Schnellbach – BMBF Junior Research Group Leader, Department of Physics, TU Darmstadt
- Dr. Pelin Tozman – Athene Young Investigator and ERC Starting Grant, Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, TU Darmstadt
- Dr. Anna Wanka – Emmy Noether Group Leader and member of Johanna Quandt Young Academy@Goethe, Department of Educational Sciences, GU Frankfurt
- Dr. Vanessa Zeller – Athene Young Investigator, Research Group Leader, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, TU Darmstadt
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
RMU Party at Schlosskeller
On campus
Social event
19:30 – 21:30 CEST
Join us for an informal get-together at Darmstadt’s Schlosskeller. An evening to make new acquaintances and deepen existing contacts in a pleasant atmosphere.
The Schlosskeller is an autonomous business of the AStA of the TU Darmstadt and has existed since 1966 as an event space and club in the vaulted cellar of the castle in the middle of Darmstadt. The development, planning and implementation of events is mainly carried out by students.
We ask for your understanding that the costs for drinks are not included in the event.
For better planning, we kindly ask you to register in advance and fill in the registration form.
Tag 3 PCW 2025
Wednesday, June 25
How to rock your first (DFG) proposal – Grant-writing do’s and don’ts for ECRs
Online
Talk
10.00 – 12.00 CEST
In today's competitive research landscape, securing external funding is paramount. The German Research Foundation (DFG) offers a great portfolio of different types of grants specifically geared towards Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and also provides numerous valuable resources for first-time applicants. Exploring the DFG individual grants portfolio is very valuable to get started on a successful third-party funding career.
Participants are presented with an overview of the DFG ECR funding portfolio and of the essentials of proposal-writing pertaining to DFG grants. The presentation describes the DFG review process for applications and discusses basic eligibility requirements for various programs. Additionally, the talk covers basic strategies of dealing with the DFG CV template and crafting a persuasive budget. It also includes recommendations for how to tackle topics such as research data management, ethics, and gender and diversity in a DFG individual grant.
Language: English
Speaker: Dr. Bettina Heiss – Research Support, Team National Research Funding, GU Frankfurt
European Research Council (ERC) - Funding opportunities & requirements
Online
Talk
14.00 – 15.30 CEST
ERC Starting Grants are boosters for an academic career. Young, talented researchers are given the opportunity to set up a research group and conduct pioneering research. Projects are funded with 1.5 million euros for five years.
This info talk will give an overview of the funding opportunities offered by the ERC. Participants will learn what requirements must be met for a successful application so that the ERC can be used as an opportunity to establish a junior research group.
There will be time for individual questions. Colleagues from the EU support offices of all Rhine-Main-Universities are present for the discussion.
Language: English
Speaker: Dr. Barbara Köhler, TU Darmstadt, Directorate Research Services & Technology Transfer
Tag 4 PCW 2025
Thursday, June 26
How to think innovatively and benefit from it
Online
Talk
11.00 - 12.30 CEST
Discover why innovation is crucial for progress, competitiveness, and solving complex problems and understand its role in creating new opportunities and in shaping a sustainable future. Our speaker possesses a profound and longstanding experience of translating research findings into practice, and he is a multiple founder himself.
You will find out about the motivation of researchers for bringing their results into practice and what benefits are opened up. The HIGHEST company builder at TU Darmstadt is available for all RMU researchers. It helps them to bring findings with disruptive innovation potential into practice.There will be time for questions after the talk.
Language: English
Speaker: Harald Holzer – Head of Research Transfer & Managing Director of HIGHEST Innovation & Start-up Centre TU Darmstadt
Alternative career paths – Industry
Online
Testimonial
13.00 – 14.30 CEST
What are alternative career paths for postdocs outside academia? And how do you get there? Our speakers successfully transitioned from postdoc positions at TU Darmstadt to innovative fields in industry. They will share their experiences with you, talk about their individual career development, provide insights into their application processes, the transition from university research to an industrial setting, their work contents, as well as current topics and innovations in their fields. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussions about career strategies with a doctorate.
Language: English
Guests:
- Dr. Alexander Großmann – Project Leader Manufacturing Engineering, Airbus
- Dr. Yvonne Späck-Leigsnering – Team Lead EMC Simulation, Robert Bosch GmbH
Alternative career paths – Science management
Online
Testimonial
15.00 – 16.30 CEST
What are alternative career paths for postdocs outside academia? And how do you get there? Our speakers successfully transitioned from postdoc positions to science management. They will share their experiences with you, talk about their individual career development, provide insights into their application processes, their work contents, as well as current topics and innovations in their fields. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussions about career strategies with a doctorate.
Language: English
Guests:
- Dr. Jonathan Heubes – Hessisches Ministerium für Landwirtschaft und Umwelt, Weinbau, Forsten, Jagd und Heimat
- Dr. Mareike Eder-Egnolff – Department of Law and Economics, TU Darmstadt
Tag 5 PCW 2025
Friday, June 27
Successful publishing – Strategies and trends in academic publishing
Online
Workshop
09.00 – 16.00 CEST
Participants will learn about essential strategies and trends in the world of academic publishing. Designed specifically for post-doctoral researchers, this workshop aims to equip participants with the tools and insights they need to successfully publish their research while navigating the evolving landscape of academic publishing. Through a combination of presentations, discussions, and practical exercises, participants will learn how to create an effective publication strategy, understand different publishing cultures and peer-review processes, and stay up to date on the latest trends like open access and AI in publishing. Each part of the workshop includes dedicated time for questions and peer feedback.
Part I: Understanding academic publishing today
- Key stakeholders and market changes in academic publishing (Open access, open data, and open science, funding)
- Target groups and publishing channels (Preprint servers, directories, and repositories, the role of publishers and editorial boards)
- Journal impact factors vs. Altmetrics: measuring research impact
- Peer review processes: types and workflows (Identifying and avoiding predatory publishers)
Part II: Developing your individual publishing strategy with ease
- Understanding different publishing cultures
- Key components of an individual strategy
- Maximizing the impact of publications for an academic career
- Finding the right publisher(s) and/or journal(s)
- The role of AI in publishing
Participation is limited to 16 people.
Language: English
Trainer: Barbara Budrich – Budrich Training
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Tag 11 PCW 2025
Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27
Academic career planning and development
Online
E-Learning (video on demand) & individual coaching
The video provides knowledge, background, and orientation for planning and developing the next steps towards a long-term academic career in Germany. It discusses questions such as: What long-term career options does the »Job Market Academia« offer for researchers and what are the actual chances here? What requirements and criteria should be met for this career path? When are which tasks particularly important? What has the highest priority? How important is the habilitation? And what time frame is appropriate?
It informs about the central requirements (also beyond publications and funding) and milestones for an academic career and provides specific tips and advice on how to prioritize these requirements and on strategic considerations during the postdoc phase on the path to a professorship. Building on this, the video and the accompanying workbook offer the opportunity to take stock and reflect on your own academic profile and ideally derive the next important steps from this.
Content:
- Market and opportunities
- Path(s) to professorship
- Requirements I: General & Network
- Requirements II: Publications, third-party funding, habilitation
- Requirements III: Scientific communication, mobility, profile
- Requirements IV: Teaching, management, committees, services
- Profile presentation: CV
- WissZeitVG & Compatibility
The video will be available for streaming (password protected) and the associated materials (handout, sample CVs, interview question list) will be available for download. The video has a total length of 3 hours. The speed of the video can be adjusted upwards in the video settings. Video chapters can be selected according to interest.
Log-in details will be published here on June 23.
Individual Session (restricted number of participants):
In addition to the video, there is an opportunity to take advantage of an individual consultation following the video. You can use this, for example, to discuss any unanswered questions, receive feedback on your CV or academic profile, or to reflect on your next career steps. The individual sessions will be arranged via doodle for mid-July. Planned duration: 45 min via Zoom.
You will receive an invitation to register for an individual session.
Trainer: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt – schainundkuchenbrandt - Seminare, Coaching und Beratung für Wissenschaftler*innen
Good scientific practice
Online
E-Learning, on demand
How should research results be documented? What is the right way to cite? How does one handle image sources?
Answers to questions about working correctly are provided in this eLearning course. It is designed to be interdisciplinary and provides a review of additional topics regarding research work: how to wisely plan and organize a research project and which legal aspects, such as in labor law or copyright law, are relevant for researchers. It contains comprehensive information, tests to check the knowledge gained as well as supplementary information materials.
This course is part of the regular qualification program for ECRs at TU Darmstadt. It focuses on doctoral research and mainly addresses doctoral candidates but is also open and relevant for postdoctoral researchers interested in refreshen their knowledge in this regard.
Separate and external registration required. Please register here.
Tag 6 PCW 2025
Monday, June 30
Coping in the academic rat race – How to deal with task overload, uncertainty and performance pressure
Online
Discussion
10.00 – 11.00 CEST
Academics are confronted with a multitude of tasks and opportunities. This interactive discussion addresses the questions of setting priorities between teaching, research, publishing, qualification work, committee work, conferences, proposals and many other options under often precarious employment conditions with low hours or short contract terms. After inspiring impulses from RMU professors, we discuss how early career researchers can make progress in this metaphorical rat race.
Language: English
Guest:
- Prof. Dr. Armin Schäfer, Professor of Political Science, University of Mainz
Karrierewege außerhalb der Wissenschaft – Kultur und Bibliothekswesen
Online
Testimonial
12.00 – 14.00 CEST
Ab einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt kommt für jede promovierende Person die Frage auf: Möchte ich in der Wissenschaft bleiben, oder strebe ich eine Karriere außerhalb der Wissenschaft an?
In diesem Lunchtalk stellen Dr. Hedwig Suwelack und Dr. Jonathan Roth ihr außeruniversitäres Berufsfeld Kultur und Bibliothekswesen vor und teilen ihre Erfahrungen rund um die Themen Entscheidungsfindung und Einstieg in den Arbeitsmarkt außerhalb der Universität. Sie beantworten Fragen zu Beschäftigungsmöglichkeiten und Aufgabenfeldern sowie zu den gesuchten Profilen und Fähigkeiten in der jeweiligen beruflichen Tätigkeit.
Sprache: Deutsch
Beteiligte:
- Dr. Hedwig Suwelack – Leiterin Martinusbibliothek Mainz
- Dr. Jonathan Roth – Kulturmanager Kulturbüro Rüsselsheim
- Jessica Werking – JGU (Moderation)
Externe Anmeldung erforderlich. Bitte melden Sie sich hier an.
Of research concepts and profiles in appointment procedures - Goals, elements, views, trends and counselling
Online
Workshop
14.00 – 16.00 CEST
A convincing research profile as well as a forward-looking research concept are paramount for a successful career as an Established Researcher (R3), particularly regarding a professorial or comparable position. In this lecture with interactive elements, participants will be introduced to guiding principles of their current research career, including a discussion on how they can identify them. In addition, they will be empowered to develop a coherent, forward-looking research concept that takes into account the priority areas of the institution they are applying to.
Participation is limited to 20 people.
Target group: Advanced postdocs
Language: English
Trainer: Dr. Beate Scholz – Managing Partner of Scholz CTC GmbH, Strategy consultant, trainer, coach, expert and reviewer in universities, research institutions and scientific organisations
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Consistent research concept and profile for appointment procedures – Individual coaching & feedback (Friday, July 11)
Online
Individual Coaching
Time: to be announced by coach on time before July 11
In recruitment procedures for Established Researcher (R3) positions, particularly professorships, it has become common practice to request from applicants a description of their current research profile as well as a forward-looking research concept. Usually, expectations are specific to the job offered and the institutional environment.
The aim of this coaching is to support participants in developing a consistent research profile and concept by considering their individual trajectories, past achievements and research plans. The trainer offers a 60-minutes individual coaching feedback on participant’s CV and either a draft of the research profile or a draft of the research concept (2 pages max.). CVs and drafts have to be sent to the trainer at least 14 days before the coaching on Friday, July 11. The coaching is free of charge for the participants.
The individual sessions will be arranged via doodle. Planned duration: 60 min via Zoom. You will receive an invitation to register for an individual coaching session.
Participation is limited to 6 people.
Target group: Advanced postdocs
Language: English or German
Trainer: Dr. Beate Scholz – Managing partner Scholz CTC GmbH, Strategy consultant, trainer, coach, expert and reviewer in universities, research institutions and scientific organisations
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Tag 7 PCW 2025
Tuesday, July 1
Supervision and leadership for postdocs
On campus
Workshop
09.00 – 17.00 CEST
The everyday life of academics lies between the poles of research, the supervision of junior researchers and the management of employees. In everyday management and supervision, it is important to lead appropriately, to recognize the potential of employees, students and doctoral candidates and to clearly communicate expectations, tasks and feedback.
In this workshop participants reflect on their leadership and supervisory behavior and expand their repertoire of actions so that they can lead and supervise in an appropriate and motivating manner.
Participation is limited to 10 people.
Target Group: Postdocs of all disciplines
Language: English
Trainer: PD Dr. Angelina Topan – Institute for Personnel Development and Coaching
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Navigating academic careers as a couple - Approaching uncertainty through self-reflection
Online
Talk
10.00 – 12.00 CEST
Balancing an academic career with a partnership—and possibly the thought of starting a family—can be a complex and challenging journey. Researchers often face high professional demands and uncertainty on multiple levels, all while making significant personal life decisions. While resilience and a bit of luck can help navigate this path, are they the only factors couples can rely on?
This interactive online session provides a space for academics to reflect on their shared journey with their partners—whether within or outside academia—and explore key questions around work-life balance, dual-career challenges, and family planning. Through guided self-reflection and group discussions, participants will identify crucial topics to negotiate, recognize their shared resources, and develop strategies to support each other’s career and personal aspirations. Engaging with like-minded peers will offer valuable perspectives and resources, allowing participants to gain clarity and take constructive discussions back into their own partnerships.
Participation is limited to 30 people.
Target group: Postdocs seeking to align career goals with partnership and family planning
Language: English
Trainer: Dr. Majana Beckmann – KLARwärts Coaching für Promovierende
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Professuren an universities of applied sciences
Online
Testimonial
12.00 – 13.30 CEST
Die Professur an einer Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften bietet viele Vorteile: Flexibilität und Freiheit in Forschung und Lehre, Arbeit in kleinen Lerngruppen, die Möglichkeit, die Lebensläufe von Studierenden und den gesellschaftlichen Wissenstransfer mitzuprägen, sowie die Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf. Doch wie wird man eigentlich Professor:in an einer HAW? Was sind die Voraussetzungen und wo kann man die notwendigen Qualifikationen erwerben? Diese und andere Fragen klären wir in unserem Online-Workshop. Gemeinsam mit Professor:innen aus unterschiedlichen Fachbereichen der Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences zeigen wir, wie vielfältig die Wege zu einer HAW-Professur sind und warum es sich lohnt, diesen Schritt zu wagen.
Sprache: Deutsch (slides in English)
Beteiligte:
- Prof. Dr. Lena Reiß – Kooperative Professur für Nutzerorientierte Immobiliengestaltung, University of Applied Sciences Frankfurt
- Prof. Dr. Caroline Schmitt – Professur für Ecosocial Work and Care, University of Applied Sciences Frankfurt
Franziska Hedrich & Tina Gleim – Netzwerk PROFfm
Tag 8 PCW 2025
Wednesday, July 2
Lehrkompetenz in Berufungsverfahren – Lehrkonzept und Lehrproben vorbereiten
Hybrid
Workshop
10:00-17:00 CEST
Bei der Bewerbung auf eine Professur wird von der Berufungskommission neben der Forschungskompetenz auch die Lehrkompetenz der Bewerber*innen begutachtet.
So wird häufig schon bei der Einreichung der Bewerbungsunterlagen um die Erstellung eines Lehrprofils oder Lehrkonzeptes gebeten. Lehre wird dann auch Teil des Gesprächs mit der Berufungskommission. Viele Bewerber*innen werden darüber hinaus aufgefordert, bei der persönlichen Vorstellung neben einem wissenschaftlichen Probevortrag eine Lehrprobe zu halten. Mit diesem Workshop wollen wir Sie gezielt auf das Berufungsverfahren vorbereiten. Sie entwerfen oder optimieren Ihr Lehrkonzept und Lehrprobe und erhalten Feedback dazu.
Inhalte:
- Erwartungshaltung von Berufungskommissionen
- Bestandteile des schriftlichen Lehrkonzepts
- Darstellung des Lehrkonzepts im Gespräch mit der Kommission
- Erfolgsfaktoren für Lehrproben
Lernziele:
- Sie haben ein eigenes Lehrkonzept für Berufungsverfahren entwickelt
- Sie können die eigene Lehrkompetenz schriftlich und mündlich gut darstellen
- Sie haben Feedback zu einer eigenen Lehrprobe erhalten (optional)
Methoden: Präsentationen, schriftl. Erstellung /Optimierung des eigenen Lehrkonzepts, Austausch in Kleingruppen, Halten einer eigenen Lehrprobe und Feedback
Die Teilnahme ist auf 16 Personen begrenzt.
Sprache: Deutsch
Trainerinnen:
- Dr. Ulrike Preißler, Deutscher Hochschulverband
- Dr. Annette Glathe, Hochschuldidaktische Arbeitsstelle
Separate Anmeldung erforderlich. Bitte füllen Sie das Anmeldeformular aus.
Tag 9 PCW 2025
Thursday, July 3
ERC training course for applicants in the ERC StG and CoG call 2026
Online
Workshop
09.30 – 16.00 CEST
The next deadlines for submissions of ERC StG and CoG proposals are expected in October 2025 and January 2026. The EU support offices of the Rhine-Main universities offer a Yellow Research training course to researchers who are planning to submit an ERC application in the upcoming call.
The two-part webinar of 2.5 hours each provides a roadmap to submission and explains how to tackle various hurdles that applicants may encounter when preparing their ERC grant applications. Topics of the course are (i) creating the right mindset for submitting a proposal, (ii) understanding the ERC objectives and evaluation criteria, and (iii) generating a convincing scientific argumentation. The participants are systematically guided through the different parts of the proposal template.
The training course is only accessible to RMU scientists. The number of places is limited. The application deadline is June 1st. Participants will be notified whether they can be offered a place.
Language: English
Trainer: Aya van den Kroonenberg, PhD, Yellow Research, NL
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form. Registration deadline is 01.06.2025.
Basics of grant applications
Online
Workshop
10.00 – 17.00 CEST
A successful project proposal must fulfil various requirements at different levels: Presenting your own scientific and strategic goals, taking into account the objectives of the respective research organisation and meeting the regulations and requirements of the funding programs as well as the requirements of the reviewer. This workshop examines these levels from different perspectives and provides participants with tools to prepare their project proposal properly and present it successfully to the reviewers.
Participation is limited to 8 people.
Target group: Advanced doctoral candidates and postdocs
Language: English
Trainer: Dr. Beate Scholz – Scholz CTC GmbH, Strategy consultant, trainer, coach, expert and reviewer in universities, research institutions and scientific organisations
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Tag 10 PCW 2025
Friday, July 4
Postdoc, and next? Career options, skills and orientation for scientists (natural and life sciences)
Online
Workshop
09.30 – 12.00 & 14.00 – 16.30 CEST
So, you finally have a science degree - or will in the future. What to do with it? Are all doors open to you or is there still a lot of work to be done?
In this course you'll learn about:
- Yourself: Your interests, values and skills
- Career options: There are many more options than you think and you will be able to change between them
- Skill development: Which (hidden) skills do you already have, which can you develop during your time in academia
- Skills match: What do employers want from you? How to sell yourself?
Participation is limited to 15 people.
Language: English
Trainer: Dr. Philipp Gramlich – NaturalScience.Careers
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Individual counselling on career development and grant-writing
Online
Counselling
10.00 – 16.00 CEST
Option 1: General career advice
Are you about to finish your doctorate or have you already finished it and are you thinking about your next career step? Do you need support to analyze your individual career challenges and possibilities? Then register for a one-on-one counselling session with Dr. Angela Müller, career advisor at TU Darmstadt’s Graduate Organization Ingenium with many years of experience in career counselling.
Length of session: 30 min via Zoom
Option 2: Grant-writing
Have you already finished your doctorate and are you about to secure funding for your own position or for your research group? Then register for an individual online counselling session with either Dr. Bettina Maria Heiss or Dr. Yvonne Bachmann, both experienced consultants for national individual research grants and proposal-writing (e.g. DFG: Individual Research Grant, Walter Benjamin or Emmy Noether Programmes, BMBF: Junior research group) at GU Frankfurt and TU Darmstadt.
In order to be able to take part in the counselling session for grant-writing, approved participants have to submit their CV, a proposal extract/abstract for an individual research grant and their main questions to the respective advisor until Friday, June 13. Length of session: 30 min via Zoom
Registrations are processed in the order of submission and acceptance is contingent upon a limited number of available slots.
Participation is limited to 24 people.
Target group: Doctoral candidates or postdocs
Language: German or English (according to participants’ language preference)
Advisors:
- Dr. Yvonne Bachmann – Promotion of R3 scientists, Ingenium Graduate Organization, TU Darmstadt (Counselling on grant-writing)
- Dr. Bettina Heiss – Research Support, Team National Research Funding, GU Frankfurt (Counselling on grant-writing)
- Dr. Angela Müller – Networking and Counselling, Ingenium Graduate Organization, TU Darmstadt (Counselling on career development)
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Tag 12 PCW 2025
Monday, June 30 – Friday, July 4
Applying for professorship
Online
E-Learning (on demand)
The video provides detailed information about all phases of the appointment procedure for professorships (focus Germany) and gives specific assistance and tips for applications.
The video first deals with the procedure and the formal aspects of the appointment process. Then all the necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, research and teaching concept) are discussed in detail and partly illustrated in part with sample materials. In the third part, the expectations and requirements in the hearing with the appointment committee as well as important preparation steps are discussed. You will receive tips and short demonstrations on how to structure your scientific presentation and teaching demonstration. In addition, the most frequently asked questions and topics in the committee interview are presented.
The video will be available for streaming (password protected) and the associated materials (handout, sample CVs, interview question list) will be available for download. The video has a total length of 3,75 hours. The speed of the video can be adjusted upwards in the video settings. Video chapters can be selected according to interest.
Trainer: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt – schainundkuchenbrandt - Seminare, Coaching und Beratung für Wissenschaftler*innen
Log-in details will be published here on June 30.
Basics of science communication
Online
E-Learning
This course focuses on topics such as dimensions of science communication, the interplay of actors and target groups or dealing with the media. The learning units are modular. The content is varied and includes animations and videos. The e-learning can be accessed online at any time and can be flexibly integrated into everyday professional and study life.
Learning objectives:
- Knowledge of the functions of external science communication
- Reflection on the actors, their roles and interactions
- Development and consolidation of core competences
Contents:
- Dimensions of good science communication – the NaWik arrow, target groups, goal, topic, medium and style
- Science and the media
- Actors and their roles
- Basic rules for comprehensibility
- Trust in science
- Guidelines and potential pitfalls
Language: English + German
Independent learning units (14 modules) at WissKomm-Campus with a total duration of 8 hours can be completed within a period of 6 months.
Separate registration required. Please fill in the registration form.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact the organizers Dr. Angela Müller and Dr. Yvonne Bachmann.
Registration for open events


- Downloads
- RMU Postdoc Career Weeks: Schedule (237.85 KB)