GAUSS Career Blog

Career Information and Announcements

2016/02/29
by Katrin Wodzicki
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One-Day Event “Careersteps for Postdocs in Academia and Industry”, 25 April 2016

On April 25, 2016, a one-day event for postdoctoral researchers at Göttingen Campus and German Max Planck Institutes will take place at Max Planck Campus Göttingen. This event focuses on supporting young scientists in planning their next career steps inside and outside of academia. I jointly organize this event together with Dr. Christiane Haupt (Administrative Headquaters of the Max Planck Society), and Dr. Ulrike Gerischer (Max Planck Institute for biophysical Chemistry).

Participants can select from different workshops and learn about career services at Göttingen Campus and within the MPS. Furthermore, by attending an interview with Max Planck Vice President Bill S. Hansson, young researchers can gain insight into career issues. The event will be opened by Ulf Diederichsen, Vice President of the University of Göttingen, and Reinhard Jahn, Chair of the commission for promotion of young scientists within the MPS and Director at the MPI-BPC.

The full program and the link to registration you find here.

Registration just started. Please note that slots for participation in the workshops are limited.

2016/02/23
by Katrin Wodzicki
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Two Half-Day Workshops “Science Management – a career option for me?” (in German), 21 March and 15 April 2016

<— Both workshops are already fully booked –>

These workshops are a special offer organized in cooperation with Dr. Vera Bissinger, Central Coordination Mentoring on Göttingen Campus, Dr. Bettina Ross, GGG, and Dr. Sabine Heerwart, GSGG. As it deals with science management in Germany, and for science management in Germany good to very good German skills are required, the workshop will be in German.

Ankündigung des Workshops “Wissenschaftsmanagement – Ist das was für mich?”

Wir freuen uns, zwei Workshops “Wissenschaftsmanagement – Ist das was für mich?” ankündigen zu können.

Zielgruppe: Promovierende und Postdoktoranden des Göttingen Campus.

Datum des 1. Workshops: Montag, 21. März 2016, 13:00-17:00 Uhr
Dauer: 4 Stunden
Trainerinnen: Dr. Vera Bissinger (Zentrale Koordination Mentoring) und Dr. Bettina Ross (GGG)
Ort: Von-Siebold-Straße 4, Seminarraum im 1.OG

Datum des 2. Workshops: Freitag, 15. April 2016, 9:00-13:00 Uhr
Dauer: 4 Stunden
Trainerinnen: Dr. Sabine Heerwart (GSGG) und Dr. Katrin Wodzicki (GGNB Career Service)
Ort: Friedländer Weg 2, Seminarraum

Anmeldung: http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/521128.html

Details zum Inhalt:

Einige Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innen sehen das Wissenschaftsmanagement als eine Chance, der Wissenschaft treu zu bleiben und gleichzeitig mehr Planungssicherheit zu bekommen. Andere Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innen haben den Bereich Wissenschaftsmanagement noch gar nicht ins Blickfeld möglicher Karrierewege genommen. Beide Gruppen wissen jedoch in der Regel wenig über dieses Berufsfeld, dessen Anforderungen und langfristigen Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten. Für alle, die gern mehr darüber erfahren möchten und sich fragen, ob der Wechsel für sie interessant sein könnte, haben der GGNB Career Service und die zentrale Koordination Mentoring diesen 4-stündigen Workshop entwickelt.
–> Für jene, die den Einstieg in dieses Berufsfeld im Anschluss an den Workshop in Angriff nehmen wollen, bietet die zentrale Koordination Mentoring ein spezielles Mentoring Programm an (WeWiMento – Wege ins Wissenschaftsmanagement). Die nächste Bewerbungsrunde für WeWiMento startet im Oktober 2016.

Der Workshop soll

  • in die Rahmenbedingungen des Wissenschaftsmanagement in Deutschland und die Funktionen und Fähigkeiten eines Wissenschaftsmanagers/ einer Wissenschaftsmanagerin einführen,
  • einen Raum anbieten, in dem die Teilnehmer*innen über sich selbst und ihre Passung zum Berufsfeld “Wissenschaftsmanagement” reflektieren können und
  • erste Strategien aufzeigen, sich dem Berufsfeld “Wissenschaftsmanagement” zu nähern.

Nach dem Workshop wissen die Teilnehmer*innen

  • in welchen Organisationen und Positionen Wissenschaftsmanager*innen in Deutschland tätig sind,
  • welche allgemeinen Fähigkeiten und Kenntnisse von Wissenschaftsmanager*innen erwartet werden,
  • welche Fähigkeiten und Kompetenzen sie selbst auszeichnen und
  • ob eine tiefergehende Beschäftigung mit dem Berufsfeld Wissenschaftsmanagement für sie interessant ist.

2016/02/22
by Katrin Wodzicki
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Workshop “Präsentation in Bewerbungsgesprächen”, 11. März 2016

We are happy to announce the first half-day workshop on interview skills. In contrast to most of our workshops, this workshop will take place in German, at least this time, to prepare those of you who are applying to the German labor market for which German skills are often requested, mostly already in the application process.

Datum: Freitag, 11. März 2016, 13-17 Uhr

Ort: GZMB, Justus-von Liebig-Weg 11, Seminarraum 0.232

Dauer: 0,5 Tage

Trainerin: Dr. Katrin Wodzicki

Zielgruppe: Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innen in der Bewerbungsphase

Ziel: Üben der Selbstpräsentation im Bewerbungsprozess durch Trainer- und Teilnehmerfeedback

Du wartest auf die ersten Einladungen zu Vorstellungsgesprächen und möchtest Dich darauf vorbereiten oder Deine Selbstpräsentation in Vorstellungsgesprächen verbessern? Dann besuche unseren Workshop “Präsentation im Vorstellungsgespräch”! Dich erwarten ein kurzes theoretisches Input und vor allem viel Raum für Training und Reflektion von Interviewsituationen. Dabei wird ist es nicht notwendig, dass jeder Teilnehmer/ jede Teilnehmerin selbst in die Rolle des Interviewten schlüpft. Eine aktive Teilnahme aller Teilnehmer*innen wird jedoch vorausgesetzt.

BEACHTE: Teil des Workshops ist intensives Teilnehmerfeedback. Folglich sollten Teilnehmer*innen bereit sein, offen über sich selbst zu sprechen, ihre Bewerbungsunterlagen zu teilen und mit den anderen Teilnehmer*innen gemeinsam zu trainieren.

SPRACHE: Auch wenn Du kein deutscher Muttersprachler bist und Dich auf Positionen in Deutschland bewirbst, möchten wir Dich ermuntern, an der deutschen Variante des Workshops teilzunehmen. Wenn nötig, ist ein Wechsel in die englische Sprache möglich. Allerdings solltest Du bereit sein, das Interviewtraining selbst auf Deutsch auszuprobieren. Fordere Dich selbst heraus!

Vorarbeiten: Nach der Bestätigung Deiner Anmeldung werden wir Dich bitten, eine konkrete Stellenausschreibung sowie Deinen Lebenslauf einzuschicken.

Anmeldung: Wenn Du an diesem Workshop teilnehmen willst, registriere Dich hier und schreib eine E-Mail an Dr. Katrin Wodzicki (ggnb-career@gwdg.de).

2016/02/17
by Katrin Wodzicki
0 comments

Recommended Reading: Boehringer Ingelheim Blog Post about Application Papers

I just read this great article about CV and cover letter writing on the blog of Boehringer Ingelheim. It precisely summarized the most important points to consider when applying, not just to Boehringer Ingelheim.

Also interesting might be a collection of career paths of people working for the company in different kind of sections (i.e., research & development, production, business functions, corporate functions).

Have a look!

2016/02/15
by Katrin Wodzicki
0 comments

Workshop “Grant Writing for Natural and Life Scientists”, 21-22 March 2016

— Fully booked already —

We are happy to invite to the next workshop on “Grant Writing“ with Dr. Christina Schütte.

Workshop dates: Monday, 21 March 2016, 10:00-18:00, and Tuesday, 22 March 2016, 9:00-17:00 o’clock
Place: GZMB building, seminar room 0.232
Trainer: Dr. Christina Schütte
Duration: 2 days

Registration: Email to Kirsten Pöhlker (ggnb@gwdg.de), including, if available, your StudIP username

The aim of this course is to familiarize participants with the strategies for writing successful grant applications to various funding bodies (BMBF, DFG). The corresponding funding principles will be exemplified in exercises for preparing work plans and writing abstracts for grant applications.

Contents:

  • General points to consider when writing a grant application
  • Structuring a story
  • General points on good scientific writing
  • The different parts of a grant application and their contents
  • Strategies for successful grant applications: What information is necessary, how and where should it be presented?
  • Differences between different funding bodies and funding principles (stress on DFG-, BMBF- and EU-funding)
  • Common mistakes in grant applications and how to avoid them
  • Analysis of grant abstracts provided by the participants (optional)
  • Exercises for writing a grant abstract and for structuring a work plan

Requirements for participation:

The course is aimed at postdocs and late-stage PhD students in the natural and life sciences who are currently preparing or will recently prepare a grant application.

Participants will be asked to prepare a short “mini-grant application” (4 pages + scientific CV) as pre-work for the course until about one week before the workshop – please take this into consideration when planning participation in this course.

These mini-grant applications will be evaluated by other participants individually before the course and in an evaluation session within the course. Each participant will also evaluate 3-4 proposals by others in the 4-5 days before course start. This will provide extensive feedback for all participants on their applications, but most importantly, will provide a clear impression of the situation and the view of potential evaluators.

After registration, you will get more detailed information about the “mini-grant application”.

2016/02/04
by Katrin Wodzicki
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Workshop “Academic Career Planning”, 23 February 2016

—- This workshop will be postponed to a later date. —-

We are happy to announce the first workshop “Academic Career Planning“.

Workshop date: Tuesday, 23 Feburary 2016, 13:00-18:00 o’clock
Duration:
0.6 day
Place: GZMB building, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, seminar room 0.232
Trainer: Dr. Katrin Wodzicki

Target group: Junior researchers with a PhD degree and the aim to follow an academic career

Goal: Reflecting about your next career steps based on the discussion of success factors in academia and your achievements so far

Do you wonder whether you are on a successful way to a senior scientist position in Academia? Do you wonder what is expected of you to gain a permanent position in Academia? In the workshop, you reflect about your own achievements so far. Based on the discussion of success factors in academia, you will be enabled to make decisions about your next career steps and set priorities in this respect. The workshop will facilitate the exchange with other participants, to benefit from each other and to strengthen your network on Göttingen Campus.

Pre-work after Registration: Participants will be asked to specify their challenges in terms of academic career planning. Furthermore, a CV has to be submitted, including all relevant and most recent information about the participant’s academic career so far.

Registration: Please register here and email to Dr. Katrin Wodzicki, including a short statement on your motivation to join the workshop (Why this workshop? Why now? Why academic career?).

2016/02/02
by Katrin Wodzicki
0 comments

Workshop “Leading Without A Leadership Position”, 7 March 2016

We are happy to announce the next workshop “Leading without A Leadership Position” with Dr. Gudrun Henne.

Workshop date: Monday, 7 March, 10:00-17:30 o’clock
Duration:
1 day
Place: GZMB building, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, seminar room 0.232
Trainer: Dr. Gudrun Henne

Target group: Junior researchers with at least some responsibilities to lead students, technical staff or cooperation projects without “right of command”

Goal: Getting to know approaches to lead without a leadership position

Postdocs often work with other scientists and scientific staff without a formal leadership position. The challenge is to lead people despite the absence of managerial authority. How to deal with experienced and much older scientific and technical staff? How to lead young scientists (Master students, doctoral students) who pursue own scientific interests? How to cooperate with scientists from other institutions for applications, project management and similar?
The workshop trains how to lead people without “right of command” and how to motivate and engage scientists and staff who are not direct reports. Leading without a leadership position is a frequently occurring situation and dealing with it skillful can be learned.

Remarks of previous participants:
“It is a great course if you want to systematize and broaden your knowledge about communication and leadership.”
“Very fruitful and insightful, practical and applied.”

Registration: If you are interested to take part in the workshop, register here and write an email to Dr. Katrin Wodzicki (ggnb-career@gwdg.de), including a short statement on your motivation (2-3 sentences).