Postdoc Career Weeks at TU Darmstadt

4 weeks – 14 events – 1 goal: advance your career!

At the information, career and networking events during the Postdoc Career Weeks, you can learn about career paths, qualification programmes and support services for the postdoc phase, network with other postdocs and experienced scientists and learn from their experiences.

Who can participate?

The Postdoc Career Weeks are open to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from the Rhine-Main University Alliance:

  • Technical University of Darmstadt
  • Goethe University Frankfurt
  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Participation for members of other universities is not possible.

Programme April 2022

If not marked otherwise, all events took place online (via Zoom) and in English

April 1, 2022 | 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – online
Opening and Welcoming Ceremony

Networking and information event incl.

  • Speeches by the Vice Presidents of Research of the Rhine Main University Alliance
  • Keynote speech on science communication by Dr. Patrick Honecker, Chief Communications Officer of TU Darmstadt
  • Networking sessions with representatives and role models of scientific and non-scientific career paths (professorship at universities and universities of applied sciences (HAW), industrial research, industrial management, science management, start-up)
  • Networking lunch

April 4 – 8, 2022 | on demand
Webcast: “Sprungbrett Forschung – Bewerben auf Postdoc-Stellen” (in German)

Wie sieht eine wissenschaftliche Bewerbungsmappe aus? Welche Kompetenzen aus meiner bisherigen wissenschaftlichen Laufbahn sollte ich besonders hervorheben? Was kennzeichnet ein gutes Anschreiben? Und wie kann ich mich von anderen Bewerber*innen abheben? Zu Beginn befasst sich der Webcast primär mit der Phase vor der Einladung zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch oder –vortrag. Hier wird zunächst auf die unterschiedlichen Stellenformate für Postdocs sowie auf die Anforderungen an ein vollständiges akademisches Profil eingegangen. Anschließend erfahren Sie, wie Sie sich in schriftlicher Form optimal und an den Wissenschaftsbetrieb angepasst präsentieren, welche Besonderheiten es bei der Lebenslaufgestaltung gibt, wie Lehrerfahrungen und Lehrevaluationen Eingang in die Bewerbungsunterlagen finden können und Sie erhalten Hinweise für das Anschreiben. Darauf aufbauend befasst sich der Webcast mit der Phase nach der Einladung zu einem persönlichen Kennenlernen, angefangen bei der Vorbereitung auf ein Vorstellungsgespräch über kritische wissenschaftsspezifische Interviewfragen, bis hin zum Halten eines Bewerbungsvortrags. Es wird auf Bewerbungen auf klassische Mitarbeiter*innen-Stellen sowie auf Juniorprofessuren eingegangen.

April 5, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Next step: Postdoc? Deciding and preparing the next career step”

The interactive workshop supports doctoral candidates approaching the end of their doctorate in reflecting and deciding on whether the next career step should be in science.

April 6, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Information & networking event: “International!Mobility Programmes for Postdocs”

Information by and Q&A + networking with grant holders and/or programme managers of Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship, DAAD PRIME, Marie Curie Individual Fellowship, Erasmus + and Ernst Ludwig Mobility Grant

April 7, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Information & networking event: “In the lead!Junior Research Group Programmes”

Information by and Q&A and networking with grant holders of the junior research group programmes ERC-Starting Grant, Emmy Noether Programme, BMBF, Athene Young Investigator and Johanna Quandt Young Academy as well as with TU Darmstadt Senior Scientific Advisors Prof. Cameron Tropea & Prof. Felicitas Pfeifer

April 8, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Information & networking event: “Independent!Own Position Funding Programmes”"

Information by and Q&A and networking with grant holders of DFG, Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Career Bridging Grant & Fokus Programme as well as with TU Darmstadt Senior Scientific Advisors Prof. Wolfram Jaegermann & Prof. Arthur Benz

April 11, 12, 21 + 22, 2022 | by individual appointment
Individual Counselling

April 21, 2022 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Networking – Lunch

Informal digital networking session in an open space format on career related topics (e.g. balancing career and family, finding the right support during the postdoc phase etc.)

April 21, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Networking – After Work

Informal digital networking session in an open space format on career related topics (e.g. balancing career and family, finding the right support during the postdoc phase etc.)

April 22, 2022 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Networking – Early Bird

Informal digital networking session in an open space format on career related topics (e.g. balancing career and family, finding the right support during the postdoc phase etc.)

April 25 – 29, 2022 | on demand
Webcast: “Applying for Professorship”

The webcast provides participants with detailed information about all phases of the appointment procedure for professorships (focus Germany), and to give them concrete advice and tips for their applications. The webcast first deals with the procedure and the formal aspects of the appointment process. Afterwards, all necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, research and teaching concept) will be discussed in detail and partly illustrated with sample materials. The third part addresses all aspects of the hearing. Participants will learn about the requirements for the application talk and the demonstration lecture. In addition, the most frequently asked questions in the interview with the selection committee will be discussed.

April 26, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Discussion: Careers in Science – How to become a Professor?

Experienced as well as recently appointed full and assistant professors of the Rhine Main University Alliance describe their personal career paths, explain which stages have to be mastered on the way to professorship and share their experiences and insights. Our guests are:
  • Prof. Martina Heßler, Chair of History of Technology at the Institute of History at TU Darmstadt
  • Prof. Stefanie Kaiser, Professor at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Goethe University Frankfurt
  • Jun.-Prof. Dr. Panagiotis Bouros, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Computer Science at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz


April 27, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Information & Discussion: Prof@HAW: Voraussetzungen, Zugänge & Benefits für Professuren an Hochschulen für Angewandte Wissenschaften

Die Professur an einer Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften biete viele Vorteile: Flexibilität und Freiheit in Forschung und Lehre, Arbeit in kleinen Lerngruppen, die Möglichkeit, die Lebensläufe von jungen Menschen und den gesellschaftlichen Wissenstransfer mit zu prägen, 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 möchten wir in unserem Online-Workshop klären: Gemeinsam mit zwei Professoren/-innen von 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. Weitere Informationen: www.frankfurt-university.de/proffm
Die Veranstaltung wird vom Projekt PROFfm durgeführt, das im Rahmen des Bund-Länder-Programms „FH-Personal“ gefördert wird.

April 28, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (online)
April 29, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (in presence)
Workshop: Peer Group Supervision

Peer group supervision is an effective way of consulting among peers. Participants consult each other regularly. It is a way of joint learning and co-developing in many different ways. Being familiar with the structure and the consulting methods of peer group supervision will help you to find solutions for your current difficult situations in professional life. As a bonus, the techniques apply to consulting situations with students, etc. The information session will give you an overview of the consulting method and will help you to decide, whether you want to join a peer supervision group. If so, you will join the main course. You will learn step by step the actual procedure and the consulting methods. We will form peer groups that will meet regularly afterward. You will be able to conduct high-quality consultations on your own according to the learned consulting process.