Newsletter 3/2024

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News & Advice for Researchers in Academia & Beyond

Welcome to our 3rd Newsletter this year. Here is your summary:

Open Call & Webinar: KT Boost Fund 6
GSO Webinars: Meet with us @HiddenChamps, PAW & GAIN
Tbh Conference: The Future of Academia & More
10 Years Wilhelmy: Interview and Tips
Official Launch of the German Postdoc Network (GPN)
Our Services for Researchers and Research Institutions

Dear GSO Network,

One of the inconvenient truths of German Academia is that it is pretty intransparent. When you decide to embark on a career path beyond academia instead, you might find it hard to figure out how and where to start.

We cannot change the academic system or tell you what career path you should choose, but we can help you to get the information you need.

Our newsletter therefore brings together a selection of events that shed some light on the dark corners of knowledge. One of our yearly highlights is the *To be Honest- Conference: Career Real Talk for Researchers on December 5-6, 2024, with topics like the WissZeitVG, transitioning beyond academia, authentic visibility in academia, and the internal workings of selection committees.

Since researchers form the Humanities and Social Sciences are often a bit neglected, we offer two session specifically for them: The HiddenChamps webinar on Sept 24 focusses on career paths beyond academia and the session on Dec 6 during the tbh-conference discusses academic career paths. Three recently appointed professors will share their insights.

And if you still haven’t found what you were looking for, get in touch in us!

Your GSO team

PS.: As we gain more non-German speaking subscribers, we will address all of you mainly in English. Some content will remain in German (we will mark those articles accordingly)

As postdocs in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science at a German research institution you can apply for flexible funding of up to €120,000 for up to 24 months including tailored career development support.

Find all information and the online application form on the program website.

→ Application deadline: 23 October 2024.

In case you missed our webinar, here are three crucial tips from us:

1. Follow the Guidelines Closely: Review the application guidelines carefully and make sure you're meeting all requirements.

2. Start Early for Feedback: Complete your proposal well in advance to allow ample time for feedback from mentors and peers.

3. Confirm Your Eligibility: Not sure if you meet the criteria? Reach out to us early on to clarify!

This year’s webinar summary will be out shortly, follow us on LinkedIn or check our website for the update!

HiddenChamps Webinar – Careers Beyond Academia in Humanities and Social Sciences

64% of all doctoral degree holders under the age of 45 work in the business sector. It is often somewhat more difficult for humanities and social science graduates than for their STEM peers to find out which jobs and skill profiles actually suit them.

With our HiddenChamps offer we connect companies with researchers - in the next webinar, we will focus entirely on the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our guests will be Dr. Christoph Senft, HR Coordinator Talent Network & University Relations at Nexperia and Marco Miguel Valero Sanchez, Talent Acquisition Expert at Talents4Good

When: September 24, 12-1:15pm (CEST)
Register here.

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW)

The Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany is a chance to celebrate postdocs, spotlight existing networks and services, enhance connections, and integrate international scholars.
Explore the full program of events and find out more here.

We are also an active member of PAW this year and these are the topics we will cover:

Understanding the German Research System with Anne Schreiter. Get a better understanding of the German Academic System and Academic career paths. We will also cover some (inconvenient) truths and how you can deal with them proactively.

When: September 17, 2024, 4-5:15 pm (CEST)
Register for the online event here.

Careers Beyond Academia with Birte Seffert. Transitioning from academia to other sectors can be challenging. This workshop will help you understand how your skills apply to roles in business, public, and non-profit sectors - with a Q&A to address your specific concerns.

When: September 19, 2024, 4-5:15 pm (CEST)
Register for the online event here.

GAIN Digital Workshops

GAIN24 offers a digital workshop series on September 19, and we are part of it. You find all workshops and links here. Workshops with GSO:

How to Build your Strategy for a Career Beyond Academia (in English)
Join using this link.

Als Nachwuchsgruppenleiter*in (zurück) nach Deutschland – Überblick und Good Practice (in German)
Join using this link.

Rückkehrstrategien aus erster Hand (in German)
Join using this link.

Join us on December 5-6, 2024, for our 3rd tbh conference! It’s virtual and it’s free.

This event will explore important topics like the WissZeitVG, offering insights into its impact on academic careers as well as discussions about careers beyond academia, getting perspectives from employers. Sessions will cover authentic visibility in academia and offer a look at how selection committees evaluate candidates for academic positions. Another focus will be placed on academic careers in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Additionally, attendees will receive two weeks of free access to our cooperation partner’s TwentyOne Skills online courses.

Register here for the conference. You will have access to all sessions.

For a decade, the Dr. Wilhelmy-GSO Travel Expenses Program has been an initiative helping researchers attend in-person job interviews for academic positions in Germany. As the program celebrates its 10th anniversary, we explore its impact through the stories of beneficiaries. Also, we asked what motivation do researchers have to come to Germany, how long the process takes, and which Do’s and Don’ts might help you, too.

Find the article here.

The new German Postdoc Network invites you to their launch during this year's Postdoc Appreciation Week, featuring exciting keynotes, panel discussions, and a presentation about the network’s mission and initiatives! GPN focuses on fostering connections, providing resources, and supporting postdocs in their career and personal development. The event explores the benefits of networks, the work of GPN itself and a panel talk about the definition of a successful postdoc phase.

Join via Zoom (registration necessary)

You need a sparring partner for your next career step in academia or beyond? You want to have your CV or LinkedIn profile checked? We offer free info sessions to help you find the right offer for you.

If you are looking for a workshop, an input, or the moderation at your university or research institution, reach out to Anne. We tackle topics from building a career strategy, visibility and networking, applications to talent attraction and leadership for researchers.