Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers e.V. (GSO)

📣 Last Call for Applications: GSO Leadership Academy 9 Apply now - 25 fully funded fellowships are available for the 9th Leadership Academy, open to German-speaking #postdoctoral #researchers from #all #disciplines who are currently conducting research abroad or returned to Germany within the past 18 months. German citizenship is not required! Supported by the Klaus Tschira Stiftung, the program strengthens leadership skills in an #interdisciplinary, #transnational environment - while creating space to reflect, connect, and plan your next career steps. With two in-person modules in Berlin and Heidelberg, the Leadership Academy explores questions researchers face such as: ➡️ How do I build my research group and find the right style of leadership for me? ➡️ Which paths of professorship can I take, or explore career options in other sectors? ➡️ How do I grow - professionally and personally - within institutional frameworks, peer networks, and multiple roles? The program combines practical #workshops, #mentoring, and #peer #exchange - across sectors and disciplines Application #Deadline: April 22, 2025. All details & application form: https://lnkd.in/dWKEiqm Please pass it on! In the picture: Our LSA8 alumna Rima Chakaroun #GSOLA #LSA9 #LeadershipAcademy

PhD: A Must or a Waste of Time? - Insights from the 7th event in the ‘Junges Podium’ series hosted by Universitäts-Gesellschaft Hamburg e.V. Pursuing a PhD is often seen as the ultimate academic milestone. But does it still hold its value in an ever-evolving research and job market? The debate over whether a PhD is a valuable career move or a time-consuming endeavor continues. The panel discussion with four experts from different fields provided some insights! Moderated by Astrid Dose, featured: Prof. Dr. Simone Neumann, Junior Professor for Logistics at the University of Hamburg Jörg Seidel, Diplom-Physicist and energy expert at Vattenfall Dr. Hanna Proner, Director of Science & Talent at ZEIT Verlag and Managing Director of http://academics.de Dr. Christoph Senft Senft, Literature PhD and manager at semiconductor firm Nexperia Here’s what came through clearly: ✅ Why people start a PhD in the first place ➡️ Curiosity beats strategy: For most, the decision wasn’t about status or career planning. It was about diving deep into something they couldn’t let go- whether it was political polling (Hanna), postcolonial literature (Christoph), or airport boarding processes (Simone). ➡️ Career doors or detours? Some pursued academic careers. Others (like Jörg) walked away mid-dissertation - frustrated by publishing cycles and slow feedback. ✅ The reality check: What makes a PhD challenging ➡️ It’s not a guarantee. The number of doctoral researchers has risen - #permanent #academic #positions haven’t. ➡️ The system isn’t built to keep everyone. Many start with academic hopes, but most will build careers elsewhere. ➡️ #Transferable #skills are often undervalued. Industry still struggles to interpret academic experience as professional expertise. ✅ Does it help on the #job #market? It depends. ➡️ In #STEM, a PhD can be essential (think semiconductors or R&D). In business, practical #experience often wins—especially in roles like #sales or #management. ➡️ Prestige varies: In Germany, the title still carries weight. In Sweden? Less so. ✅ What PhDs really teach you ➡️ How to self-manage for years. ➡️ How to frame questions that haven’t been asked. ➡️ How to finish what you started—even if no one else is watching. ✅Panelists’ advice for anyone considering a PhD ➡️ Use this time to explore what you really care about. The freedom to shape your own work won’t come again. ➡️ Your topic doesn’t have to define your career. Just show you can learn—and go from there. ➡️ Think ahead. In 20 years, what story do you want to tell about this time? ➡️ Let go of perfection. Get it done.

📣 Upcoming Event (Not to Miss): Virtual Case Clinic for Researchers Are you in the middle of a tricky research challenge, stuck in a publication loop, or unsure about your next career step in science? This Case Clinic for Researchers might be just the clarity boost you need. Hosted by SciLead - a team deeply rooted in academic careers and leadership development - this session offers structured peer support for real-life research or career dilemmas. ➡️ You bring a challenge; your peers bring fresh perspectives. No slides. No theory. Just practical reflection and focused group work. Verena Claudia Haage, co-founder of SciLead and Leadership Academy alumna, led a powerful case clinic for our fellows last year that left a lasting impression. We know how transformative these 75 minutes can be. 🗓️ Monday, April 28, 2025 - 6:00-7:00 pm Register via SciLead: https://lnkd.in/eedapQA8

Navigating Career Transitions to Industry: Are You Telling the Right Story? Moving from #academia to #industry doesn’t mean leaving your skills behind—it means learning to show them differently. During a recent Coffee Break session, Ulrike Boehm (now R&D Scientist at ZEISS Group, formerly researcher at The National Institutes of Health and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)) and Edouard Fouché, PhD (now Data Scientist at Siemens, formerly group leader at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)) shared what helped them make that shift.   ➡️ Here are some insights from the session:   ✅ What changes—and what doesn’t In academia, you're rewarded for independence and deep understanding. In industry, things move faster. What matters is your ability to collaborate, deliver, and adapt to clear goals. 🔹As Edouard said: “In academia, you just have to be a rockstar. In industry, the expectations are more specific.”   ✅ Talk about your skills in a new way Academic training gives you strong tools—but you need to translate them. 🔹 Instead of listing your field, provide a broader description about what you actually do—like solving complex problems or managing long projects. 🔹 Use a cover letter, even if it’s optional. Don’t assume others will see how your background fits the role. Just as Ulrike put it: “Make it crystal clear that you are the perfect fit.” 🔹 Keep your CV easy to read for both people and algorithms.   ✅ Be ready to adapt This is especially true if you come from a theoretical field like mathematics. Your skills might not match a job title exactly—but abstract strengths, like approaching complexity and thinking in systems, are appreciated in industry. 🔹What matters is having a growth mindset: being open to learning, adapting, and exploring new ways to apply your expertise.   ✅ Make yourself easy to remember In academia, your name might be tied to papers. In industry, it’s more about how you show up and communicate. 🔹 Share more than just results—show how you think and work. 🔹 Connect online so people can follow what you do over time. 🔹 Decide what you want to be known for—like a Pavlovian bell, a clear signal helps others recall you in the right moment.   ➡️The takeaway? You don’t need to reinvent yourself—you just need to reframe your story. Thank you, Ulrike and Edouard, for such an encouraging and insightful session!   ❓ If someone heard your name in a meeting—what would they remember you for? #alumnode #coffeebreak

📣 Open Call: Fellowships at Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg (HWK) The HWK – Institute for Advanced Study in Delmenhorst, Germany – has launched its Annual Call for Applications, open until 15 July (12 PM CEST). Researchers from all career stages and all over the world (except Northwest Germany) are invited to apply for residential fellowships across a wide range of disciplines. Fellowship duration: 3 to 10 months Residency in Delmenhorst is required Application deadline: 15 July, 12 PM CEST What matters in your application: 🔹 The quality and originality of your research 🔹 Your academic qualifications 🔹 A strong fit with the HWK’s interdisciplinary research community 🔹 Willingness to engage and collaborate Programs include: ➡️ Regular fellowships for academics whose PhD dates back more than five years. ➡️ Junior fellowships for academics whose PhD dates back less than five years.  ➡️ Artist in Residence fellowships available to artists with a keen scientific interest. Apply here Whether your work is disciplinary or interdisciplinary, scientific or artistic, this may be the setting to rethink and deepen your research. What the fellowships offer: ✅ Room to think - independently. The HWK is a place for critical inquiry and real openness across disciplines. If you value time for deep thinking—without daily admin, committee work, or teaching - you’ll have it here. ✅ Scientific liberalism meets real interdisciplinarity. HWK welcomes scientists from all disciplines: natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities. Interdisciplinary projects are not just accepted—they’re encouraged. ✅ Strong ties to local research and industry. The HWK is close to the Universities of Bremen and Oldenburg, MARUM, ICBM, and the Alfred Wegener Institute. There’s also easy access to industry partners like Airbus. ✅ Bring your family. Fellows with partners and children are supported—from finding housing to childcare and school registration. Your research doesn’t have to come at the expense of your family life. ✅ Nature, comfort, and the occasional apple from the garden. You’ll live in a fully furnished apartment on a green campus in Delmenhorst. It’s calm, walkable, and just an hour from the North Sea. The orchard is a nice bonus. More info in the first link!

📽️ Something’s in the making... Today was shooting day at GSO - as you know, newly standing for Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers. The video will be part of our upcoming rebranding event this July, where we’ll go beyond new names and logos - to open a dialogue with institutions: 🔹What impulses does science need to have impact? 🔹What challenges shape the work in the current research landscape? 🔹What kind of support structures help researchers – and institutions – move forward? Our Rebranding means bringing into focus what’s already been there: ➡️ That GSO means honest career guidance, not quick fixes. ➡️ That our programs and build on 20+ years of experience. ➡️ That we see institutions and researchers not just as clients, but as partners in shaping research and its landscape sustainably. A big thank you to Karl Kubik for the thoughtful & all around great shoot today! If you're looking for someone who captures not just scenes but stories - you’re in good hands with him!

Webinar Recap: HAW Professorships – A Practice-Oriented Career Path – with HTW Berlin What does it take to become a professor at a University of Applied Sciences (HAW) in Germany? Our recent webinar explored this career path with insights from Prof. Dr. Helena Mihaljevic, Prof. Dr. Tine Lehmann, and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Molthagen-Schnöring from Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin! What Makes a HAW Professorship Different? Unlike traditional university positions, professorships at HAWs emphasize practice-oriented teaching and #applied #research. Teaching load is high, direct #contact with #students is central, and #collaboration with #industry is encouraged. But how do you get there - and what do you need to bring? Spoiler: It’s a mix of teaching, research, and service - and all three matter. Here’s what the panel emphasized: #Teaching ➡️ The standard teaching load is 16-18 SWS. At some institutions (like HTW Berlin), this can be reduced to 14–16 SWS with active research, “Gremienarbeit” and further other university-related activities. ➡️ A clear teaching philosophy. Document your experience, include evaluations, and qualifications. #Professional #Experience Outside Academia ➡️ At least five years of professional experience after the university degree, including a minimum of three years outside academia (e.g. in industry). ➡️ This can include applied research in companies, consultancy work, or leadership in R&D -all relating to your field and well documented. #Research ➡️ Maintaining a research profile — even while working in industry — makes a difference. Publications, conference talks, third-party funding applications, and collaborations count. ➡️ Social sciences thrive & although humanities are scarce - interdisciplinarity opens doors. #Administrative #Work ➡️ Don’t underestimate “Gremienarbeit” — involvement in committees, governance, or organizational development. ➡️ This is part of academic life. If you’ve done it, put it in your CV. #Language ➡️ German is not always mandatory, especially in English-taught programs, but it is often an asset. ➡️ Administrative responsibilities usually require at least solid working knowledge of German. Even if a professorship is still a few years away, you can set yourself up strategically: 🔸Build teaching experience early (e.g., guest lectures, adjunct roles). 🔸Stay active in research beyond academia. 🔸Highlight governance experience. 🔸Use platforms: http://academics.de and monitor HLB listings. 🔸Explore hlb.de - the Association of Professors at HAWs. Use it for community and advocacy. 🔸Reach out to departments, send initiative applications, and network within study programs. 🔸Consider demographics: a generational shift is coming - there will be many openings. The message of our experts was clear: a HAW professorship is not an “easier” or fallback academic career - it’s a highly engaged, hands-on path that calls for #motivation, #autonomy, and a #passion for applied education.

Keeping up with the Boost Fellows – Final Episode with Christin Katharina Kreutz in Gießen! We wrap up the first season of Keeping up with the Boost Fellows with Christin Kreutz, a Computer Scientist and the first KT Boost Fellow at a University of Applied Sciences (HAW). But stay tuned - Season 2 will launch in 2026, bringing you more stories from the next generation of Boost Fellows. While enjoying Christin´s homemade chocolate cake, Birte learned how she shaped her academic career: by listening to her own needs, her interests, and taking chances. Christin´s journey offers plenty of insights and tips for career planning! Her Boost Project: #LLMs and #Argument #Recommendation, exploring the risks of using large language models (LLMs) like #ChatGPT to #personalize #arguments in #debates. Can AI-generated arguments be both #persuasive and #reliable? How do we avoid #bias and #misinformation? These are questions in her research. Why a Postdoc at a #HAW? A HAW wasn’t exactly her plan - after finishing her PhD, she got the advice to apply for junior professorships right away. But instead of jumping straight into leading a research group, she wanted to focus on independent research first. A postdoc position at TH Köln, in the group of Philipp Schaer, turned out to be the perfect fit. ➡️ It was not just about the research - she was drawn to the group's dynamic, collaborative spirit and Schaer’s #leadership #style: warm, professional, and inspiring. Now: Tandem #Professor in Data Science for the #Humanities In 2024, two years into her Postdoc, Christin took the next step - becoming a Tandem Professor at TH Mittelhessen, University of Applied Sciences and the Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe. ➡️ This role allows her to gain industry-equivalent experience, a key requirement for HAW professorships, while already holding a W1-equivalent position, bridging academia and applied research. Christin’s Advice for Postdocs: 🔹 #Reflect on what you need in a position: Look beyond the institution - the team and its spirit, leadership style, and learning opportunities 🔹 #Applying for grants: Map out your CV early and identify gaps - then actively seek out funding to fill them. 🔹 Finding an international research stay: Don’t limit yourself to existing networks. Literature #reviews can lead you to new and fitting collaborations. 🔹 Considering a tandem professorship at a HAW? Be ready for #interdisciplinary work, different academic cultures, and a dynamic, non-routine job. 🔹 Best career advice she received? Set up Google #Alerts for job postings early - it helps you understand the landscape before you even apply! ___________________________________________ Klaus Tschira Boost und is a joint program by GSO and Klaus Tschira Stiftung offering flexible funding and career development to promote researchers in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science. Link to the article in the first comment! #ktboost #GSO  

What makes a research career work — and what happens when it doesn’t? The EURAXESS Smart Talks podcast is worth your time if you’ve ever looked for well-informed perspectives on what it takes to stay in research, leave it, or move between roles in science, policy, and society. It offers a combination of practical advice, big-picture questions, and space for voices often missing from the conversation. Each episode features interviews with people who have seen research careers from more than one angle - from science ministers to early-career researchers, policy advisors, innovation managers, and research administrators. ✅ What to expect: ➡️ Conversations on moving between #academia and #industry — not as an “exit,” but as a next step. ➡️ Insight into the growing field of #research #management — and why more researchers are choosing it. ➡️ Candid reflections on #purpose, #burnout, and what to do when the #system doesn’t work for you. Some standout episodes: • From the Ivory Tower of #Science to the Black Hole of #Politics – with Robbert Dijkgraaf, Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science. • #Research #Management: A Fascinating Way to Develop a Researcher’s Career – on how researchers find long-term roles beyond the lab or lecture hall. • Decoding #ERC #Grants Part: #Effective #Communication and Strategies for Success The podcast speaks in an inclusive, reflective tone — assuming the listener is familiar with the realities of research life, but also open to personal stories, policy-level views, and less conventional career paths! Take a look—and have a listen! Link in the first comment.

Sometimes, careers are shaped by lucky coincidences! That’s how Sofia Gutium came into our team - first as Student Assistant ➡️ and now as Junior Manager Community and Content! Sofia first learned about GSO while working at Humboldt University of Berlin as student assistant. As part of her project, she interviewed Birte Seffert about #mental #health for #academics. That first connection sparked her interest, and when the GSO later advertised a student assistant position, Sofia immediately applied and became the first student assistant on the team! Now, she is taking on her new role as a Junior Manager #Community and #Content, supporting communication, events, content creation, and the alumni platform AlumNode – your network by Klaus Tschira Stiftung. Sofia did her master’s in Cognitive Sciences at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain. She also has a diverse academic background that includes philosophy, educational psychology, and even interior design. Alongside her studies, Sofia gained experience in academic administration, interdisciplinary research, and content production – from podcasting to visual design. We’re happy to have you with us, Sofia! ❤️