Postdoc Academic Career Support (PACT)

Career Development Talks

Am I well positioned for an academic career? What experience and skills am I still lacking? What is the job situation in my subject? Could leaving science sooner or later turn out to be the better alternative?

During the postdoc period at ºÚÁÏÊÓÆµ, a series of career development meetings are scheduled to support you in your individual career planning. The postdocs are to be supported here with regard to the assessment of their current situation, their personal career goals and the review of these goals.

Documents for the preparation of these discussions can be found on our.

Workshops & Coaching

  • General information

    Date: 1–3 September 2025

    Format: Leonardo Hotel, Tiergartenstr. 117, 30559 Hannover

    Target group: Helmholtz Postdocs (1-2 years after PhD; designed for, but not limited to)

    Trainer: Emma Ford and Dr. Steve Hutchinson (C4C)

    Language: English

    Participants: 24 (5 places for ºÚÁÏÊÓÆµ postdocs)

    Application closed ()

    Objective

    The future of the world of work is changing more than ever, and these challenging times often make career and future planning less predictable. Opportunities for researchers are broad in terms of sector, and trends are demonstrating that more and more researchers are seeking roles outside of academia.

    Whether you see your future inside or outside of academia, what do you need to make good decisions about your future and your career? And are you taking responsibility for making those decisions?

    This focused and interactive online event will help to develop your thinking about your future and career: What is good for me and how can I achieve it?

    We consider:

    • Academic & non-academic careers
    • How to make the best decision(s) for you?
    • Making the best of yourself - what do you have to offer?
    • How do you market yourself in a targeted way?
    • Building your networks – who is on team you?

    The approach of the event will be interactive, discursive, but pragmatic and above all supportive, so that the participants can take ownership of their future.

  • General information

    Date/Time: February 20, 2026, between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm

    Duration: 45 min

    Target group: Postdocs and Associated Researchers who want to plan their next career steps taking into account their medium to long-term scientific career goals

    Format: online, one-on-one coaching

    Trainer: Dr. Beate Scholz (Scholz CTC Coaching GmbH Trier)

    Language: English or German

    Application will open in January 2026: 

    Objective

    As a postdoctoral researcher in the qualification phase, you often need to reflect on your current position and skills and weigh up different career and funding options. This is especially true during the transition between the various stages of qualification or at the end of the qualification phase when you become eligible for appointment. Discussions with superiors and the private environment are important at this point, but usually have the disadvantage that the direct interests of the conversation partners also come into play.

    This coaching offer therefore chooses a fundamentally different approach by focusing on your previous experiences and plans. The aim is to jointly develop strategies for the further development of your scientific career in the light of your individual goals.

    Key elements

    • Elaboration of short and medium-term career steps as well as a long-term career prospection
    • If applicable, deduction of a suitable funding profile
    • CV Feedback

  • General information

    Next date: September 2026

    Format: online

    Target group: ºÚÁÏÊÓÆµ Postdocs and Associated Researchers

    Participants: 8

    Trainer: Dr. Beate Scholz (Scholz CTC Coaching GmbH Trier)

    Language: English

    Goal

    The workshop offers participants support in further planning their academic careers, focusing on securing research funding while taking their career profiles into account. A successful academic career is closely tied to the ability to develop a distinct and recognizable research profile.

    Objective

    Especially during transitional phases in their academic careers, researchers often feel the need to reflect on their position and competencies, and to weigh various career and funding options against each other. This is particularly relevant during transitions between qualification phases or at the completion of a qualification, when becoming eligible for a leadership position in academia. 

    Knowledge of research and career funding programs, as well as an understanding of one's own strengths and interests, are crucial prerequisites for making informed decisions about the next steps in career development. Moreover, potential employers and funders increasingly require clearly defined descriptions of applicants' career and research profiles to assess their suitability for a specific institution or program.

    The coaching session on the second day of the event aims to support participants in their reflections on the further development of their academic careers by offering an external perspective, as well as providing guidance on developing a research funding strategy.

    Click  for more information.

Further Information

  • : Job market and career guide for science and research in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

    : Worldwide jobs in science

    : Global jobs in science

    : Job vacancies in science and research management

    : Job market for environmental professionals

    : The career portal for Engineers, IT, Physicians & Scientists

    : Job portal for geoscientists and geophysicists

    : Job offers for geoscientist

    : Job vacancies for Geophysicist

    : Germany-wide public service jobs

    : Public service jobs in Schleswig-Holstein

  • Guidelines for the Postdoc Phase within the Helmholtz Association

    (academics.com): Information for postdocs in Germany

    : Site of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with information on the German research landscape as well as career options and funding opportunities for postdocs in Germany

    : Funding database of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection with information on funding programs, funding organizations and Corona aid.

    :Information, advice, and training on the EU framework programme for research and innovation

    : Guidance, Skills and Opportunities for Researchers