Postdoc Programme Winter Semester 2024/2025

Time and location: Time slots between 9:00 and 12:00, on-site

The TU Braunschweig Career Service offers free feedback on your documents for applications to industry as part of the Career Days (duration: approx. 30-40 minutes). The focus is on the design and expressiveness of your cover letter and CV. We will be present on 18 and 25 February 2025 between 09:00 and 12:00. First come, first served: Book an appointment slot in advance to avoid unnecessary waiting times. Consultations in English are offered by Knud Ahlborn only.

If you have booked an appointment slot, please bring your application documents (cover letter, CV and relevant job advertisement) with you and read through the document ‘Job application checklist' in our online resource centre beforehand. (For more detailed advice, you can also take advantage of the opportunity for individual counselling after the Career Days).

Time and location: 9:00 to 16:00, online

For international researchers who are just getting started in German academia, or even those who have been here a while, it can be a real challenge to understand how the academic workplace “ticks” in Germany. You may be wondering how academic institutions are structured, how the teaching and research landscape looks, what your individual and your team responsibilities are, who to turn to for advice, as well as how to advance your career and move onwards and upwards within the academic system. For international scholars in particular, the unwritten rules of the game and the tendency for certain knowledge to be taken for granted can make settling into and succeeding in academic life difficult and not everyone has the German language skills or existing networks to piece this information together easily. You may even be struggling to grasp the cultural norms in Germany in general and in the professional setting in particular. What is customary here? How do I know if something is not working out right? How could I touch on this type of delicate question with my team or collegaues? If this sounds familiar to you, you are definitely not alone. In this workshop, together with peers in a similar position, you’ll be guided through the German academic landscape, doing some interactive and group activities on the way, and you’ll have a chance to ask your questions.

Trainer: Dr. Philippa Cook

Registration

Time and location: Time slots between 9:00 and 12:00, on-site

The TU Braunschweig Career Service offers free feedback on your documents for applications to industry as part of the Career Days (duration: approx. 30-40 minutes). The focus is on the design and expressiveness of your cover letter and CV. We will be present on 18 and 25 February 2025 between 09:00 and 12:00. First come, first served: Book an appointment slot in advance to avoid unnecessary waiting times. Consultations in English are offered by Knud Ahlborn only.

If you have booked an appointment slot, please bring your application documents (cover letter, CV and relevant job advertisement) with you and read through the document ‘Job application checklist' in our online resource centre beforehand. (For more detailed advice, you can also take advantage of the opportunity for individual counselling after the Career Days).

Time and location: 9:00 to 17:00, online

PhD and postdoctoral researchers are known for their strong research and problem-solving abilities, their drive and many other important skills which are highly valued by future employers in the economic sector.

To boost your chances on the job market, you should focus on your personal sales pitch ahead of applying for a job. Employers typically look for a variety of skills and the aim is to stand out of the crowd. It is essential for you in the role as a candidate to communicate effectively and to market your skills convincingly.

In this workshop, we focus on the challenge of bridging the communication gap between applicants and potential employers. We will start by changing your perspective to that of a recruiter and what they are looking for. You will then learn to develop your very own communications strategy. It will highlight those skills which you have acquired during your university career. This will enable you to create your own sales proposition to support you in quickly starting your career.

Trainer: Dr. Wolfgang Leybold (Leybold Strategy Consultants)

Registration

Time and location: 9:00 to 16:30, online

After completing a doctorate or a postdoc position, many are faced with the challenge of starting a career outside the university. The question often arises: “What do I want to achieve professionally and how do I find the right job?” The search for job advertisements may seem obvious, but it does not always lead to success. In fact, over two thirds of all jobs in Germany are awarded without being advertised. How does an application process outside the academic world work and how do you get these hidden jobs? The key lies in contacts and networks. Some of these connections already exist, others you can build up specifically. These contacts not only provide access to job opportunities, but also valuable insights into different career fields, specific tasks and company cultures. This information will help you to choose the right career direction for you.

Contents of the workshop:

• How to make networking meetings successful and enjoyable
• Differences between application procedures within and outside academia
• Authentic self-presentation in networking and job interviews
• Building and maintaining contacts
• The importance of online networks (e.g. LinkedIn) and dealing with professional networkers (recruiters, employment agencies, headhunters)

Trainer: Caroline Ketting (KettingCoaching)

From 1 October 2024 on, we will be offering webcasts on both of these topics. More information can be found in the section ‘Winter semester workshops’.

Time and location: 13:00 to 17:00, on-site

In this workshop, you will get an overview of third party funding opportunities for postdocs, so that you will be able to identify the most suitable funding for your current situation and plans. Together, we will develop an overview of the most important aspects for a convincing research proposal. At the end of the event, we will go through an example of a successful proposal.

Trainer: Inga Schepers (TU Braunschweig, Research Services)

Registration

Time and location: 9:00 to 17:00, on-site

Being able to effectively lead others is essential for professional advancement, whether you work in business, industry or academia. The first step in developing yourself as a leader is knowing yourself. During this interactive workshop, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your personal leadership styles, strengths and preferences. In addition, you will learn and practice critical skills required for anyone in a leadership role, including giving constructive feedback and delegating tasks effectively.

Trainer: Linda Block (www.lindablock.com)

Registration

Time and location: 9:00 to 17:00, on-site

Leaders in today’s global environment need to be able to communicate with, work with and motivate people from countries, cultures, disciplines and backgrounds other than their own. Members of diverse teams are likely to have different ways of thinking, working and communicating. During this interactive workshop, you will learn about some of the key differences that you might encounter, as well as strategies for effectively bridging these differences. In addition, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the impact that your own cultural and personal preferences could have on the effectiveness of your team.

Trainer: Linda Block (www.lindablock.com)

Registration

Time and location: 9:00 to 14:00, on-site

Research funding organisations such as the DFG demand checking the relevance of sex, gender and diversity in research proposals. Some journals, such as Nature, require the integration and/or outlining of gender dimensions when handing in one’s papers. Especially applied research in the STEM fields should consider this in order to be funded or published. This workshop, given by the BMBF-funded project “Geschlechterdimensionen im Blick der MINT-Forschung (GeDiMINT)“ at the TU Braunschweig, aims at giving insights to what gender dimensions in research might be and when to expect them. It also provides definitions, case studies from various disciplines highlighting literature, and advice for well-established methods.

This workshop provides the basics for assessing gender dimensions within research. Participants are invited to bring along a current research proposal, paper or project idea to check the relevance of gender dimensions in it.

Trainer: Francine Meyer, Jan Büssers (TU Braunschweig, GeDiMINT project)

Registration

Time and location: 9:00 to 17:00, online

Most of the companies pretending to work in an agile way use a hybrid approach, a mixture of two different project management frameworks. The reasons are obvious: projects are not fully complex, but include predictable elements. Furthermore, organisations fight with flexibilization and structural bureaucracy.

On the other hand, we learn from research that all stakeholders of a project, customers as well as contractors and teams, profit a lot from agility and satisfaction is significantly increasing. The difficulty is to find a good mixture of „both worlds“, since combining benefits and avoiding the shortcomings in project management is a real challenge.

We also know: hybrid project management will be the biggest trend in project management for the next twenty years, it is already now!

Participants learn about the basic principles of hybrid project management and understand the big variety of combined approaches to manage projects more flexible. Using case studies and individual examples they will apply the hybrid approach as „agility with discpline“. They learn about the toolbox of hybrid project management and the different roles of hybrid organisation in combination with e.g. SCRUM. At the end, they will have a good background for forthcoming decisions on new project designs and effectiveness in their own projects.

Participants should, as a recommendation, have basic knowledge in the field of classical or agile project management.

Trainer: Prof. Dr. Christopher Hausmann

Registration

The aim of this video is to provide you with knowledge, background and orientation for planning and developing the next steps towards a long-term academic career in Germany. The video first 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? What time frame is appropriate? The video informs you about the central requirements (also beyond publications and funding) and milestones for an academic career. It also 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 you the opportunity to take stock and reflect on your own academic profile and ideally derive the next important steps from this.

Watching this webcast is possible between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.

Trainer: Dieta Kuchenbrandt (schainundkuchenbrandt)

Registration

The aim of this video is to inform you in detail about all phases of the appointment procedure and to provide you with specific assistance and tips for your application. The video first deals with the procedure and formal aspects of the appointment process. Then all the necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, concepts) are discussed in detail and 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.

Watching this webcast is possible between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.

Trainer: Dieta Kuchenbrandt (schainundkuchenbrandt)

Registration

This online course will instruct you on paper reviewing for international peer-reviewed journals. You’ll acquire the essential background knowledge to excel in this skill, coupled with a straightforward roadmap to follow during the reviewing process. For more information on the workshop, please visit the provider's homepage.

Starting this self-paced workshop is possible between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Trainer: Gunther Tress (TRESS ACADEMIC)

Registration

Time and location: 13:00 to 14:00, online

Stays abroad are now a prerequisite for many scientific careers, but also for other career goals, stays abroad are a good addition to the CV.  In this coffee break, Ute Kopka and Francesco Ducatelli will give you an overview of funding opportunities for postdocs and will be available to answer questions about stays abroad in general.

Trainer: Francesco Ducatelli, Ute Kopka (TU Braunschweig, International House)

Registration

Time and location: 12:00 to 13:00, online

Research funders and peer-reviewed journals ask for the relevance of gender dimensions. The BMBF-funded project “Geschlechterdimensionen im Blick der MINT-Forschung (GeDiMINT)” at TU Braunschweig (situated at Braunschweig Centre for Gender Studies) offers assistance in assessing the relevance of gender in one‘s own research proposal or publication draft. In this coffee break, Francine Meyer and Jan Büssers will share their experiences, provide some insights into case studies in the STEM field and seek assistance themselves in addressing the specific needs of postdocs in this manner.

Trainer: Francine Meyer, Jan Büssers (TU Braunschweig, GeDiMINT project)

Registration