Online advising for writing problems (in German)

The online advising for writing problems is intended to use the diverse and flexible possibilities of internet-based advising. The program is aimed at students who suffer from writing problems and want regular contact with an advisor to help them cope with these problems. A prerequisite for participation is that a concrete writing project is currently being pursued.

Optimize scientific slides – Visualize complex research results in a condensed form (IN GERMAN)

Dr. Markus Burger

The aim of the workshop is to enable you to visualize your own research results on 10 slides in a self-explanatory way, e.g. to shine at conferences or oral examinations. Around 50% of the training consists of practical exercises with “real” slides and presentations from the participants’ everyday academic life. On request, existing presentations can be sent to the trainer in advance so that he can respond even more specifically to individual challenges. The workshop takes place online via Zoom.

Scientific Writing (IN ENGLISH)

Oliver Delto M.A.
This workshop supports doctoral students in improving the efficiency and quality of their academic papers in English through a process-oriented approach. Participants will learn about all stages of the writing process – from topic identification to drafting and final revisions – and reflect on their own writing habits while discovering strategies used by professional writers. Participants should bring parts of their final thesis or other current work to the workshop so that they can apply the writing techniques presented to their own texts (e.g. thesis outline, chapter drafts, article drafts, research projects).

Introduction to Data Science with Python for Beginners (AUF ENGLISCH)

Jan Bischoff | Data Analyst
The workshop teaches basic programming skills in Python and demonstrates its application in data analysis, including data preparation, visualization and simple statistical models. Through practice-oriented practice classes, participants will acquire the ability to implement their own empirical projects independently and confidently with Python. The workshop will take place online via Zoom.

Besser schreiben mit KI? (IN GERMAN)

Dr. Vanessa Geuen | SchreibCenter am Sprachenzentrum, TU Darmstadt
The workshop provides strategies for managing extensive writing projects and reflects on the targeted use of AI-supported tools in the academic writing process.
Through practical exercises and individual analysis, participants learn to structure their writing process efficiently, use suitable tools and critically evaluate their limitations.

Leading Teams Successfully (IN ENGLISH)

Dr. Viktoria Leonhard | Coach for Leadership
This seminar teaches modern leadership skills for successfully shaping complex and changing work environments. Using best practice examples and the trainer’s experience, topics such as team motivation, targeted use of individual strengths, effective communication, and constructive conflict management are covered. Practical tools and strategies enable participants to develop an individual leadership model and apply it directly in their everyday work.

Getting the best from your supervisor (IN ENGLISH)

Vicent Botella-Soler | PhD
The development of leadership skills in academia often begins long before someone officially holds a leadership position (or feels like one!). For many researchers, their doctoral and postdoctoral years are their first opportunity to lead projects, teach, motivate, and make decisions that affect a larger team. This webinar provides a foundation for thinking about leadership and decision-making in the context of a team. Rather than focusing on technical management systems, we will explore the importance of clarity, expectations, a good work culture, and dealing with uncertainty in research environments. The emphasis is on developing awareness, expanding the repertoire of available responses, and strengthening behaviors that support healthy, thoughtful, and sustainable leadership in science.

Free registration by e-mail to Cathrin.Nourse@unimedizin-mainz.de with the following details: webinar(s) you wish to attend; position (e.g. doctoral candidate, postdoctoral researcher, group leader), full institutional affiliation.

Leadership and supervision in academia: multiple perspectives for greater effectiveness (IN ENGLISH)

Dr. Matteo Garavoglia | impulsplus
The workshop provides a sound understanding of team dynamics and leadership strategies, including intercultural aspects, and supports participants in developing their supervision and leadership skills in a targeted manner. Practical methods, individual coaching and reflection on one’s own leadership style are used to develop concrete tools for effective team leadership and long-term performance improvement.

Leading for Tomorrow (IN ENGLISCH)

“Leading for Tomorrow” is a workshop for doctoral candidates, postdocs, and young physicists in industry and business, specifically designed to prepare them for leadership and management roles. The workshop imparts fundamental skills in leadership, self-management, and project work, and provides insights into management positions in academia, research institutions, and companies. Through practical workshops, case studies, and exchanges with experts, it supports the development of a well-considered, individualized career perspective.

Project management for beginners (IN GERMAN)

Horst Harrant | PMH Project Management Services
This workshop teaches the basic methods and tools of project management, from defining objectives and planning to controlling and project completion.
Participants learn how to organize projects in a structured manner, manage risks and use resources efficiently to ensure successful and cost-effective implementation.

[Online Coaching]: Individual career coaching for postdocs (IN GERMAN)

What comes after your doctorate or postdoctoral phase? In the phase after obtaining a doctorate, the challenge often lies in making more fundamental career decisions and developing and implementing an individual strategy for your own career. In fact, as an academic, you have excellent opportunities to embark on a professional path that suits you.
The Human Resources Development of the JGU would like to support you in developing and implementing your own career strategy with an individual coaching offer. If you decide to take advantage of this offer, you have the opportunity to discuss and work on your individual advising needs in up to 5 coaching sessions with an external career coach.

Confident communication of strengths: Intensive training for demanding recruitment processes (IN GERMAN))

Wolfgang Leybold
The workshop teaches doctoral students what to expect in demanding application and selection processes and how they can prepare for them in a targeted manner. Participants analyze their own strengths, motivation, and professional skills and use this as a basis for developing a convincing argumentation strategy for application situations. Through practical exercises and simulations, they learn how to handle interviews and assessment centers authentically, confidently, and strategically.
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FORTHEM MasterClass for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (IN ENGLISH)

Postdoctoral researchers who wish to apply for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF) are cordially invited to participate in the FORTHEM MasterClass for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026, which will take place online from April 20 to 22, 2026.

Der dreitägige Workshop bietet Hilfestellung bei der Erstellung eines wettbewerbsfähigen MSCA-Antrags, einschließlich Einblicken von erfahrenen Trainern, ehemaligen Gutachtern und erfolgreichen Bewerbern. Die Teilnehmer haben außerdem die Möglichkeit, ihre eigenen Projektideen vorzustellen und zu diskutieren.

DFG Prospect Series: DFG Funding Opportunities for Research Careers (IN GERMAN AND ENGLISH)

The German Research Foundation (DFG) offers a series of online information events on funding opportunities for young researchers. These events provide an excellent overview of DFG programs for the period between completing a doctorate and obtaining a professorship, including the Walter Benjamin, Emmy Noether and Heisenberg programs.

If you are interested in planning your research career or preparing your own grant application, you are cordially invited to participate. Participation is open to doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers from all disciplines. No registration is required: Webex links will be published shortly before each event.

Further details and the access links can be found on the DFG website.

Get That Job After Your Doctorate! (IN ENGLISH)

Andrew Cerniski
This interactive workshop for doctoral students covers applications for industry and international postdoctoral researcher positions in English. You will learn how to create compelling CVs and cover letters and how to present yourself well in an interview. The workshop will examine sample CVs and cover letters (including real and successful ones) to identify their strengths and the differences between industry and postdoctoral researcher applications. You will work with other participants in pairs and small groups to complete short practice classes and role-plays with feedback from your trainer.

Blended Learning: Interview-Praxis-Workshop, Vom Gesprächs-Leitfaden zur souveränen Interviewführung (AUF DEUTSCH)

Dr. Sarah Weber | sinnweberei
The workshop teaches the methodological basics of qualitative interviews and enables participants to independently develop interview guidelines and conduct interviews in a reflective manner. Through blended learning elements, practical exercises and feedback, they learn how to confidently manage interview situations and overcome challenges in the interview process.

Forschungsbasierte Hochschullehre – Ein Praxis-Workshop für Dozierende in der Physik (IN GERMAN)

In this practice-oriented workshop, physics lecturers will learn about research-based, activating teaching methods that have proven empirically effective – even in large classes. Participants will try out formats such as peer instruction, flipped classroom, and scale-up, reflect on their theoretical foundations, and apply them specifically to their own teaching practice. Supported by collegial exchange and feedback, a sustainable professional community will be fostered for the further development of evidence-based university teaching.

Wissenschaft auf die Bühne gebracht! (IN GERMAN)

Dr. Alexander Lammers | Science Communicator
The workshop teaches basic communication skills and systematically introduces storytelling, from brainstorming to developing your own presentation.
At the same time, stage presence, body language and dealing with nervousness are trained, supplemented by practical exercises with feedback.

Meeting the Unexpected in Talks and Discussions (AUF ENGLISCH)

Ric Oquita | impulsplus
The workshop uses improvisation, free spokesperson and role play to train the confident handling of unexpected situations during presentations and discussions as well as building authority and composure. Communication and breathing techniques are combined with practical exercises, individual feedback formats and the development of a short presentation to promote clear, focused and confident performances.

Optimize scientific slides – Visualize complex research results in a condensed form (IN GERMAN)

Dr. Markus Berger | Slidewriting
The workshop teaches conceptual techniques for clearly structuring and visually condensing complex research results and translating them into a self-explanatory presentation with your own slides. Through a high practical component, participants develop a concrete draft of their presentation and learn to adapt content to the target group and prepare it logically. The workshop takes place online via Zoom.

Breaking Barriers: Mastering Effective Communication and Managing Conflicts (IN ENGLISH)

Dr. Alexander Britz | Facilitating Science
The workshop teaches practice-oriented communication and conflict resolution strategies, with a particular focus on empathy, feedback culture and negotiation techniques in an academic context. Using interactive methods, participants learn to recognize conflicts at an early stage, deal with them constructively and strengthen their communication skills in leadership and supervisory situations.

Academic burnout (IN ENGLISH)

Desiree Dickerson | PhD
In the high-pressure environment of academia, burnout has become an increasingly common challenge. This webinar takes an in-depth look at burnout in academia and distinguishes it from mere stress or temporary exhaustion. We will examine the underlying causes and key triggers, such as excessive workload, lack of control, and insufficient support.
Participants will gain insights into recognizing the signs of burnout and learn effective strategies for coping and recovery. We will offer proactive measures for burnout prevention, emphasizing the importance of self-care, balanced workloads, and building strong support systems.

Free registration by e-mail to Cathrin.Nourse@unimedizin-mainz.de with the following details: webinar(s) you wish to attend; position (e.g. doctoral candidate, postdoctoral researcher, group leader), full institutional affiliation.

11th Interdisciplinary Symposium Women in STEM Fields

The event offers a diverse program of high-caliber specialist presentations, interactive workshops, and personal accounts of experiences from different career paths. Topics such as body language and empowerment, the use of AI in science, and getting started with EU research funding are taught in a practical and application-oriented manner.

The focus is not only on professional inspiration, but also on individual development. Participants gain new perspectives for their everyday working lives, receive concrete suggestions for their career planning, and benefit from intensive exchange in an interdisciplinary environment. The event combines inspiration, networking, and targeted skills development in a professional setting.

Working in Diverse Teams – Intercultural Competences (IN ENGLISH)

In an increasingly networked world, science brings together different cultures, beliefs and perspectives. In order to work effectively across borders and disciplines, researchers need cultural awareness and adaptability.

• Understand and navigate the complexities of the global science landscape
• Recognize and cope with culture shock
• Develop cultural intelligence for academic and professional success
• Promote diversity and inclusion in research and teaching

In cooperation with TwentyOne Skills, GRADE offers more than 35 asynchronous online courses. Each three-month course phase starts in January, April, July and October. Participants can register at any time and receive access to the online platform of TwentyOne Skills for three months.

Getting the PhD done! Time-management and Self-organization for Doctoral Candidates (IN ENGLISH)

Dr. Sita Schanne | University of Heidelberg
The workshop teaches key strategies for self-organization in the doctoral process, including time management, goal setting and self-motivation. Through reflection on individual modes of operation and practical exercises, participants learn how to organize their daily work in a structured, efficient and sustainable way.

Are you in the transition phase between two career stages and planning to apply for external funding for your own position at TU Darmstadt?
The Career Bridging Grant offers short-term financial support for outstanding young researchers who are in the application phase for external funding and wish for a seamless continuation of their research activities at TU Darmstadt.

The amount of funding depends on your research experience and the planned individual external funding:

• Advanced doctoral candidates/postdoctoral researchers up to (next) postdoctoral researcher: expected funding of €1,800/monthly.
• Postdoctoral researcher to junior research group leadership: expected funding of €2,100/monthly.

Further information and application

Reconciling an academic career with family duties or working with a physical disability often presents particular challenges for doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers. To provide financial compensation in these cases, TU Darmstadt offers the Equality Grant.

Who can apply?
Doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers who expect to incur significant additional costs due to family obligations or physical disabilities.

What is funded?

• Funding for caregivers or accompanying persons during research-related activities
• Extension of childcare during demanding phases (e.g., final phase of the doctoral dissertation)
• Support by assistants after parental leave or due to health limitations
• Contribution to school or childcare costs during a research stay abroad

Further information and application

The FES doctoral degree scholarships are aimed at doctoral candidates of all disciplines (except medicine) who are admitted to a doctorate at a state or state-recognized German higher education institution. In addition to financial support, scholarship students benefit from an extensive network, interdisciplinary colloquia, and socio-political conferences.

Who can apply?

• Doctoral candidates at a German higher education institution or university of applied sciences
• Excellent degree and a significant research project
• Socio-political engagement and identification with the values of social democracy

Sponsorship benefits

• Financial support: €1,550 monthly (from October 2025: €1,650) + €100 flat-rate research allowance
• Funding period: Typically three and a half years
• Non-material support: Seminars, skills training, networking meetings, and mentoring

Application up to approximately two years before submission of the doctoral dissertation

• Early application recommended to benefit from the funding for as long as possible

Further information and application

The Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light (MPL) awards funding through the Herbert-Walther-Fellowship to outstanding international visiting scholars in the field of optics and quantum optics, as well as to students interested in a doctorate at the MPL.

The MPL supports students who are interested in a doctorate at the institute.

Conditions

• Monthly funding corresponding to a doctoral candidate salary
• Maximum funding period: 6 months
• Tax-exempt according to §3, Section 44 EStG

The Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light issues the fellowship agreement. The fellowship regulations of the Max Planck Society apply.

Further information and application

The Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light (MPL) awards funding through the Herbert-Walther-Fellowship to outstanding international visiting scholars in the field of optics and quantum optics, as well as to students interested in a doctorate at the MPL.

Suitable candidates hold a doctoral degree in a research-relevant field.

Conditions:

• Monthly funding from €2,500
• Tax-exempt according to §3, Section 44 EStG
• Personal health insurance required
• Submission of a scientific report after completion of the stay

The Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light issues the fellowship agreement. The fellowship regulations of the Max Planck Society apply.

Further information and application

The Evonik Foundation supports outstanding young researchers in the natural sciences with the preparation of master’s theses, doctorates, and postdoctoral projects. In addition to financial support, the foundation places particular emphasis on substantive and personal supervision of the scholarship students.

Doctorates: 2 years (with option for renewal by 1 year), €1,850 monthly
Additional support: Grants for specialist literature and scientific conferences

The Werner Schwarze Fellowship is awarded annually to young researchers who conduct research in the field of amino acids.

Requirements for the fellowship award

• Research project must match the current funding focus
• Excellent academic performance
• Academic training cannot be financed by own funds or other grants

Further information and application

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom supports outstanding young researchers who pursue an innovative and significant research project. The fellowship offers parent-independent funding that does not have to be repaid. Approximately 150 doctoral candidates from Germany and abroad are supported annually.

Scope of funding

Duration: Initially 1 year, renewal possible for up to 3 years (in exceptional cases for up to 1.5 additional years due to illness or childcare)

Non-material support

• Workshops, seminars, and training in scientific and practice-oriented areas
• Topics: academic writing, presentation techniques, career planning, project management
  Financial support for stays abroad:
• Research, field, and archival work
• Conference Attendance

Requirements for the application

• Admission to a doctorate at a higher education institution
• Above-average academic and examination performance
• Commitment to liberal values and an open society

Applications are accepted at any time.

The fellowships are awarded from funds of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research or the Federal Foreign Office.

Further information and application

The Daimler and Benz Foundation supports young researchers on their academic career path with its fellowship program for postdoctoral researchers and junior professors. The aim is to strengthen their scientific autonomy and support them in the early phase of their research activities.

Scope of funding

Duration: 2 years
Funding amount: €40,000

Possible uses:

• Research trips & conferences
• Organization of own scientific events
• Hiring of research assistants
• Acquisition of research equipment & specialized materials

Important Information

• The fellowship may not be used to cover living expenses
• Applicants must have temporary employment or alternative funding
• Fellowship recipients participate in networking meetings of the Foundation

Application requirements

• Own institutional affiliation with a scientific institution in Germany or a German research institution abroad
• Proof of scientific autonomy, e.g., as a junior professor or head of a junior research group
• Scientific excellence and clear academic career planning

Further information and application

The Azrieli Fellowship enables international doctoral candidates to undertake a three- to four-month research stay at Israeli higher education institutions to promote international collaborations.

Who can apply?

• International doctoral candidates of all disciplines
• Enrolled at a higher education institution outside Israel
• At least one year of doctoral program completed
• No prior academic experience in Israel
• Confirmed supervision by an Israeli professor

Sponsorship benefits

• Fellowship amounting to 12,000 ILS per month
• Funding period: 3–4 months
• Support for accommodation, living expenses, flight, fees, and health insurance

Application period

• Online application: March 3, 2025 to April 22, 2025
• Funding start: From November 2025
• Number of fellowships: up to 5
• Selection notification: June 2025

Further information and application

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PFs) support researchers with a doctoral degree who wish to advance their careers through international mobility and interdisciplinary projects. The aim is to promote research excellence and offer researchers new skills and networking opportunities.

Scope of funding

• European Fellowships: 1–2 years
• Global Fellowships: 2–3 years (of which 1–2 years in a third country + 1 year return phase to Europe)

Non-material support

• Research stays abroad for professional development
• Networking and interdisciplinary collaborations
• Possibility of a placement in industry for up to 6 months

Financial support

• Living and mobility allowances
• Additional support for family allowances, long-term leave, and special needs
• Research costs, further training opportunities, and administrative costs

Requirements for applications

• PhD degree at the time of application
• Maximum 8 years of research experience (career breaks and activities outside of research are not counted)
• International mobility required: The applicant must not have lived or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the last 36 months
• Open to researchers of all nationalities and disciplines

Application & selection procedure

• Next call opens: May 8, 2025
• Application is made together with a host institution (university, research center, company, SME)
• Applications with ≥85% evaluation that are not funded receive a “Seal of Excellence”

The fellowships are awarded from EU funding within the framework of the Horizon Europe Program.

FORTHEM MasterClass on MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025

Further information and application