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

📣 Join us at the GAIN25 Digital Workshops On September 25, 2025, we’ll host two sessions designed to help researchers make informed career decisions in and beyond academia: ➡️ Workshop Nr 1: "Beyond Academia: How to Build Your Career Strategy" Statistically, academia is the alternative path: fewer than 15% of doctorate holders under 45 in Germany stay at universities, and only a fraction secure a #professorship. Most researchers build careers in #industry, the #publicsector, or #nonprofits. So how do you find the right fit beyond academia? Together with experienced researchers and experts, we’ll look at: ✅ How your values and strengths can guide career decisions ✅ What to know if you’re entering the German job market from abroad ✅ How to use practical tools like informational interviews and LinkedIn research ✅ What career models are possible across sectors Hosted by: Anne Schreiter, Ph.D. Executive Director GSO and Dr. Birte Seffert, Head of Programs & Advisory Services GSO, and with panelists from the GSO network. 📅 September 25, 3:00 – 4:15 pm (CEST), in English ➡️ Workshop Nr. 2: "Returning to Germany as a Junior Group Leader – on the Example of the NRW Returning Scholars Program" Junior group leadership can be a decisive step toward a professorship. Together with Stephan Cursiefen (Ministry of Culture and Science of NRW) and two current fellows, Anne Schreiter, Ph.D. will discuss how the NRW Rückkehrprogramm supports #returning #scholars, what #challenges to expect, and how this step can fit into a long-term #academic #strategy. 📅 September 25, 6:00 – 7:15 pm (CEST), in German ➡️ Ahead of the workshop, two fellows — Andrea Kirsch (Ruhr University Bochum) and Robert Hein (University of Münster) — shared their peer-to-peer experiences and tips. You can read their interviews here: https://lnkd.in/eS6_47Dj and here: https://lnkd.in/eTGXGwQa Both sessions are part of GAIN25 Digital Workshops & Career Paths in Germany, an opportunity to learn directly from practitioners and connect with peers. Find the #registration link in the first comment!

Your Career. Your Next Step. Your GSO* Newsletter. How do you stay on top of career opportunities, funding calls, and the bigger conversations shaping research? For many in our community, the answer is simple: the #GSO* newsletter - #RealTalk #For #Researchers. The newest edition is out — and here’s a closer look at what was inside: ✅ Looking Back: Our #Rebranding Event in Berlin This summer, we took an important step: GSO is now #Guidance, #Skills & #Opportunities for Researchers e.V. ➡️ The new name makes our mission crystal clear: to #support #researchers in shaping their careers and potential. At our launch in Berlin, we also raised a bigger question: How can we collectively push for change — towards stronger leadership, fairer opportunities, and better support for international researchers? Big reforms take time, but small steps together already matter. 📅 Upcoming #Events You Shouldn’t Miss #GAIN25 #DigitalWorkshops on September 25! We’re offering two sessions as part of the GAIN25 Digital Program: ✅ Beyond Academia: How to Build Your #CareerStrategy ✅ Returning to Germany as a #JuniorGroupLeader – on the Example of the NRW Returning Scholars Program (NRW Rückkehrprogramm) Postdoc Appreciation Week #PAW2025 (Still today and tomorrow) Free webinars designed for postdocs ✅ Careers Beyond Academia — with tips on transferable skills, job titles, applications, and exploring non-academic career paths. Today, Sept. 17, - 4pm. ✅ Understanding the German Research System — a compact guide to career paths, funding, and practical resources. Tomorrow, Sept. 18, 4pm. #OpenCalls & #Deadlines 🔎 Last Call: #KTBoostFund (Deadline October 1 - CEST 23:59) Up to €120,000 in flexible funding for bold projects in biology, chemistry, computer science, geosciences, mathematics, neurosciences, or physics. Fellows gain freedom, mentoring, and support in building international collaborations. 🔎 #LeadershipAcademy10 The program for researchers who want to lead - themselves, others, and change in academia. The 9th cohort just completed its Berlin module; the next call for applications is opening soon. 🔎 Save the Date: #TobeHonest #Conference #2025 On Dec 4–5, join us online for two days of real conversations about careers in research — from PhD to professor, and across institutions, funding, and policy. 📖 Resources & Guidance Partner Spotlight: Deutscher Hochschulverband (DHV): Contracts, legal frameworks, professorship paths — the German system can feel overwhelming, especially for international researchers. In our latest article, we explore how DHV supports postdocs! #Our #Services Need a #sparringpartner for your next step? We offer #CV and #LinkedIn profile #checks, free info sessions, and tailored #workshops for #researchers. For #institutions, we support #alumni #programdevelopment, connect opportunities with #talent, and help design #careerprograms with an independent, international perspective.

📣 Last Call: Apply for the Klaus Tschira Boost Fund Are you a postdoc ready to take the next bold step in your career? The Klaus Tschira Boost Fund is still open for applications until October 1, 2025 (11:59 PM CEST). The fund offers up to €120,000 in flexible funding to support ambitious, high-risk, high-reward projects in: #Biology #Chemistry #ComputerScience #Geosciences #Mathematics #Neurosciences #Physics. Who can apply? 🔹 Postdocs at public research institutions in Germany (non-clinical fields) 🔹 Without tenure or permanent positions 🔹 Who have not yet led a junior research group ❓What’s in it for you? ✅ Freedom to pursue your own research agenda ✅ Resources to build international collaborations ✅ Personalized mentoring to shape your career trajectory ❓Want to know what the selection committee looks for? Our recent How to Apply webinar with Bernhard Renard (head of the selection committee) and Lorenz Adlung (KT Boost Fellow 2023, Junior Group Leader at Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf) broke down the essentials: ➡️ who can apply and what the fund supports? ➡️ what the jury looks for in a strong application? ➡️ how to approach the project sketch and motivation letter? ➡️ what “high-risk” actually means in practice? ➡️ practical tips on budget planning and timing! Four key takeaways: ✅ High-risk doesn’t mean reckless — it means bold and well thought through. The fund supports ideas that may not fit into traditional categories but rest on a solid foundation. ✅ Reviewers look for clarity, originality, and a sense of ownership. ✅ The motivation letter is more than a formality. It’s often where the jury connects with you as a researcher. ✅ There’s no single formula for success. But clarity, specificity, and curiosity go a long way. Watch the full recording and get a better sense of how the Boost Fund works — and whether it might be right for you - find the link in the first comment. 📅 Deadline: October 1, 2025 📆 Project Start: Between May 1 and October 1, 2026 👉 If you’ve been considering applying, now is the time. Don’t miss your chance to shape your own scientific path with the #KTBoostFund. The #KTBoostFund, a collaborative initiative between GSO* and the Klaus Tschira Stiftung.

🚀 Postdoc Appreciation Week (#PAW2025) has officially started! We’re contributing to Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany this week with three free online sessions for PhDs and postdocs in Germany and beyond. The program is designed to support researchers in exploring career options, building networks, and understanding the academic system. Our PAW #program: 🔹 Beyond Bragging: Using LinkedIn Strategically (in cooperation with Alma.Me) - hosted by Elena Hoffer, PhD (Founder of Alma.Me) & Birte Seffert (Head of Advisory and Funding Programs at GSO) How to build a meaningful #network, explore #career #options, and share your work on #LinkedIn without the pressure of self-promotion. 📆 When: Tuesday, Sept 16, 12:00 - 1:15 pm (CEST) ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/ezE_PvDQ 🔹 Careers Beyond Academia: Where to Start & How to Find Inspiration - hosted by Birte Seffert Practical advice on identifying #transferable #skills, navigating #job #titles, crafting #applications, and exploring #nonacademic #career #paths. 📆 When: Wednesday, Sept 17, 4:00 - 5:15 pm (CEST) ➡️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/eVgeKk2Y 🔹 Understanding the German Research System - hosted by Anne Schreiter, Ph.D. Schreiter, Executive Director of GSO An overview of #academic career paths, #system #structures, #funding opportunities, and helpful #contact #points. 📆 When: Thursday, Sept 18, 4:00 - 5:15 pm (CEST) ➡️ Register: https://lnkd.in/eZWNvgEF 💡 What is PAW? Launched in 2009, Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany is now a global initiative to highlight the contributions of postdoctoral researchers and to provide opportunities to connect, learn, and plan career steps. #PAW2025 brings this community spirit to Germany with a full program of events. Participation is still possible in many other sessions throughout the week, explore the full schedule here: https://lnkd.in/eTaA83u7 #PAW2025 #PostdocAppreciationWeek

📣 Exploring funding after your PhD? Join the next DFG online talk. Germany’s largest independent research funding organization, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - German Research Foundation, supports researchers at all stages between the #doctorate and #professorship. To help early career researchers get oriented, the DFG offers regular online info talks that give an overview of #funding #programs and answer your questions. Next talk up: ➡️ DFG Funding Opportunities for Postdocs 📅 When: September 15, 2025, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (CEST) via Webex (link will be posted shortly before the event) ➡️ What to expect: ✅ Overview of postdoc funding opportunities, including the #WalterBenjamin Programme, the #EmmyNoether Programme, the #Heisenberg Programme, and the #IndividualResearchGrant. ✅ Guidance on preparing a #proposal and understanding the #review #process. ✅ Space for your questions and discussion with DFG representatives. PhD candidates & postdocs of all disciplines and research support staff are welcome to join. No registration is required. ➡️ Details and access here: https://lnkd.in/eS3ncDRZ If you are planning your next career step, these talks can help you see which DFG program may fit your path.

🎉 Big news from our community: two alumni of the Leadership Academy have been awarded European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants ➡️ Max Birk, Associate Professor for Game-based Digital Mental Health Technologies at Eindhoven University of Technology, alumnus of the 8th #LeadershipAcademy. His project #GAMECHAR will use AI to analyze gameplay and distinguish between restorative and harmful play, with impact for research, policy, and design. Max and his daughter visited us in Berlin last week, just as the ERC news came out. It was wonderful to reconnect and celebrate this achievement together in person! ➡️ Sascha Feldmann, Assistant Professor in Physical Chemistry at EPFL & Research Group Leader at Harvard University, alumnus of the 6th #LeadershipAcademy. With #MACHIRO, his team will advance ultrafast microscopy to study semiconductors and explore pathways for highly energy-efficient technologies. 👏 Congratulations to both on this well-deserved recognition! And for those interested: applications for the 10th Leadership Academy will open soon, stay tuned! ____________ The GSO #LeadershipAcademy supports researchers in developing leadership skills for academia and beyond - made possible through the generous funding of the Klaus Tschira Stiftung.

Becoming a Junior Group Leader: How to Gain Independence after Returning from Abroad?   What does #academic #independence look like in Germany? For many, it begins not with a professorship but with #junior #group #leadership, a stage that combines new freedoms with growing responsibilities.   ➡️ Robert Hein knows this shift well. After postdocs in the UK and Netherlands, he returned to Germany through the #NRWRückkehrprogramm. Around the same time, he also secured a Liebig Fellowship in Chemistry. Today he is Junior Professor of #Organic #Chemistry at the University of Münster, leading a group that studies how molecules respond to electrical stimulation, linking basic chemistry to #materials #science.   ❓ What shaped his first year? 1️⃣ Strong #mentorship at the host institute 2️⃣ Experience across different #academic #systems 3️⃣ German #conferences as re-entry points 4️⃣ Hands-on support from #administration These remind us: independence is not a sudden leap. It grows step by step, shaped by networks, expectations, and negotiation.   Tips from Robert on applying and leading after the #return: ➡️ Set #expectations realistically ✅ Independence does not mean spending all day on your own research. #Teaching, #supervision, and #administration quickly become part of the role. He notes: "I knew I wouldn't have much time to do research on my own, so any chance I get feels like a bonus."   ➡️ Use #networks as anchors ✅ A strong network can ease the return after years abroad. Trusted #contacts, #mentors, and #conferences in Germany helped Robert re-establish himself.   ➡️ Know your #evaluation #benchmarks ✅ Mid-term reviews are part of most early-career positions. Robert’s benchmarks were clear: #publications, third-party #funding, positive #teaching evaluations. ✅ Tip: Always check that the criteria are transparent and realistic.   ➡️ #Negotiate beyond the obvious ✅ Tenure-track is not always possible, but other #support is, such as lab space or equipment. ✅ Tip: Use the funding you bring (e.g. Liebig, Emmy Noether, NRW Program) to gain leverage with host institutions.   ➡️ Be ready to match your #project to the #call ✅ Some programs have fixed #themes, others set yearly ones. Because Robert had already thought ahead, his ideas fit quickly when the NRW Program call came: "I didn't have to invent something new; I had already been thinking in that direction."   Robert recalls that even something as small as keeping to the 20-minute limit in the #interview made a difference - advice he followed, and it paid off. His path shows that independence is built gradually, with details that add up and open doors to leading your own group. __________ 📌 About the #NRWRückkehrprogramm Since 2007, the Ministry of Culture and Science of NRW has promoted the return of outstanding young scientists from abroad. Around 60 researchers have received up to 1.25 million euros over five years to establish research groups in North Rhine-Westphalia. Next #OpenCall coming soon!

How to Navigate an Academic Career in Germany and Who Can Help? For many #postdocs - especially for those coming to #Germany from abroad, questions around #career paths, #legal #frameworks, and #institutional #expectations can feel overwhelming: ❓ What are my real options after the #PhD? What does it take to become a #professor? How do I #negotiate an #appointment package or even understand my #contract? ✅ One place with answers and concrete #support is the @German Association of University Professors and Lecturers - Deutscher Hochschulverband (DHV). With over 33,900 members, #DHV is the largest professional body representing academics in Germany. And it’s not just for professors: postdocs, junior professors, habilitation candidates, and research group leaders are explicitly encouraged to join. We spoke with Katharina Lemke (Head of the Legal and Consulting Department) and Roya D. (Head of Marketing and Sponsorship) about what postdocs, especially #international #researchers, should know about DHV membership. Here’s what stood out: ➡️ #Legal & #career #advice ✅ Tailored guidance on appointment negotiations, contract terms (including fixed-term rules like #WissZeitVG), salary frameworks, and civil service regulations (Beamtenstatus). ➡️ Personalized #coaching ✅ One-on-one support for trial lectures, research and teaching concepts, application strategies, and even mock appointment interviews. ➡️ Weekly #professorship #listings ✅ A curated and personalized list of open professorship positions across Germany, bundled and sent directly to your inbox. ➡️ Seminars & video #training ✅ 250+ workshops annually or on-demand formats on topics like academic career paths, salary and appointment negotiations, leadership and teaching skills, and publication strategies. Many of these services are available in English, and coaching is often adapted for international researchers unfamiliar with the #German #system. ❓ Why does it matter? ✅ Because legal frameworks, contract types (like the WissZeitVG), and civil service rules (Beamtenstatus) are complex and your career decisions have long-term consequences. DHV helps you make informed choices. Still exploring your options? Even without membership, you can access explainers on higher education law, salary overviews, and DHV’s #career #newsletter “PLUS.” But if you’re preparing for a professorship or considering a return to Germany, a #membership can make the difference between going in blind or going in prepared. Find more information in the comment section!

✨ Thinking about your next #Career step in #Academia in #Germany? If There’s No Scheme – Create One. For young researchers, that’s the reality. Unlike in some countries, there isn’t one clear tenure-track ladder. You need to shape your own path. At #GAIN2025, we shared what it takes to build an academic career in Germany. GAIN is a conference in the US connecting young researchers with the German Academic System. The key #takeaways: ➡️Know the system ✅Professorship is the only permanent academic track; senior staff scientist roles are rare. HAW-professorships are possible for those with industry experience. ✅Three main routes qualify you: W1 junior professorship, group leader position, habilitation. None guarantee a professorship - they only make you eligible. ✅Tenure track is becoming more common and can often be negotiated. Germany’s Länder set many of the rules - structures vary. ➡️Know your research vision ✅Excellence alone is not enough. ✅Be clear about your long-term goals and why your research matters. ✅A strong vision positions you for independence. ➡️Communicate your fit ✅Learn what a host institution is looking for. ✅Adapt your vision to their environment and strengths. ✅Show how your work will add value. ➡️Build your own system ✅Use schemes such as Emmy Noether or NRW Returning Scholars Program. ✅If none fit, combine opportunities to create your own path. ✅Don’t wait - call research offices, talk to peers, voice your ambitions at conferences. 🔑 Bottom line: In Germany, there’s no fixed scheme - but that means you can design your own. Be strategic, proactive, and visible.

📣 Call for Applications: Klaus Tschira Boost Fund Are you a postdoctoral researcher ready to take the next bold step in your career? The Klaus Tschira Boost Fund is now accepting applications for its 7th cohort — offering up to €120,000 in flexible funding to help you turn ambitious research ideas into reality. Who can apply? Postdocs who: 🔸 work in or at intersections of #Biology, #Chemistry, #ComputerScience, #Geosciences, #Mathematics, #Neurosciences, or #Physics 🔸 are employed at a public university, university of applied sciences, or non-university research institution in Germany 🔸 do not yet hold a permanent or tenured position 🔸 are not already funded by a junior research group program As a collaborative initiative between GSO and the Klaus Tschira Stiftung, the program is designed to boost scientific careers and promote early independence for postdocs through: ✅ The freedom to pursue your own research agenda ✅ Support to build international collaborations and networks ✅ Personalized mentoring for professional and career development Pictured: Susanne Wintzheimer, KT Boost Fellow (2022–2024). During her fellowship, she advanced her research at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC. Today, she is Chair of Particle-Based Materials Chemistry (PBMC) in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy at FAU. Like Susanne, you can use the Klaus Tschira Boost Fund to carve out your own scientific path — whether by advancing a high-risk project, building new collaborations, or shaping the next chapter of your career. 📅 Deadline: October 1, 2025 (11:59 PM CEST) 📆 Project start: Between May 1 and October 1, 2026 📺 Missed our webinar? You can still access the full session with a current fellow and a member of the selection committee here: https://lnkd.in/ekZbpYSt ✅ Find details on eligibility and how to apply in the first comment. 📣 Please share with colleagues who should know about this opportunity!