Workshops for Postdocs

Regarding the registration form: Please make sure you add a motivational statement for each registration. The statement becomes crucial when the number of applicants exceeds the maximum number of participants that can take part in a course.

You need to use your TUM email address to register for a workshop. If you do not have a TUM email address (yet), please explain your situation in the motivation statement to ensure that you are eligible. Researchers who still join TUM during the next months with a position or fellowship can already register for workshops. Researchers who are not affiliated with TUM cannot take part in the workshops but are welcome to our Munich Postdoc101 Talks.

Workshop Registration & No Show: We invite professional external trainers for our workshops, who usually work with small groups of 8-12 postdocs. Since these workshops are very expensive and many postdocs are interested in participating, we need participants to be fair and only accept their workshop spot if they are really able to participate in the full workshops. We often have a substantial amount of last-minute cancellations due to other commitments or participants who do not show up at all. This is not only frustrating for us and unfair for other postdocs, but may also reduce the funding we receive the conduct these workshops in the future. Given the fact that dropouts due to disease or quarantine are likely during the winter semester, we would really ask you to make sure that participate in the respective workshop you have been selected for or cancel as soon as possible (ideally, 10 days) at postdoc-application@tum.de before the workshop. Researchers who do not show up for a workshop or cancel last minute are not able to participate in future workshops organized by the TUM Talent Factory.

Description: Nature Masterclasses comprises a wide range of online courses on writing scientific articles, publishing, research collaboration, scientific data management and storytelling for scientists. Since TUM has an institutional subscription to Nature Masterclasses this is a unique opportunity as a TUM member to take advantage of the valuable information in these courses. To access the course offerings through the Nature Masterclasses platform we invite you to visit our website for more details.

Description: Every scientist who decides to stay permanently in academia, sooner or later faces what is supposed to be career’s hardest challenge: Applying for full professorship. The aim of the webcast is to provide participants with detailed information about all phases of the appointment procedure for professorships (focus Germany), and to give them concrete advice and tips for their applications. The webcast will first deal with the procedure and the formal aspects of the appointment process. Afterwards, all necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, research and teaching concept) will be discussed in detail and partly illustrated with sample materials. The third part addresses all aspects of the hearing. Participants will learn about the requirements for the application talk and the demonstration lecture. In addition, the most frequently asked questions in the interview with the selection committee will be discussed.

Trainer: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt studied Psychology at the University of Greifswald, spent her postdoctoral years at the Center of Excellence in Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC, Bielefeld University), and was a visiting professor for Social Psychology at the University of Osnabrück. In addition, she completed a two-year training program in management consulting and coaching (Deutsche Psychologenakademie). Today, she is the co-owner of schainundkuchenbrandt, working as a trainer and coach dedicated to the interests and concerns of scientists in academia. Her work particularly focuses on career planning and applying for professorships. 

Webcast details and registration: As a member of TUM, you can register for access to the webcast on our website.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–13.00

Target group: This workshop is designed for Postdocs who lead or aspire to lead project groups and/or doctoral students.

Description: Becoming an effective leader is a lifelong learning journey. This interactive workshop is designed to provide you with fundamental leadership skills that will enhance your effectiveness as a leader. The workshop will cover key concepts and practical tools that will enable you to communicate better, foster a positive work environment, and increase your team’s productivity.

Contents:

• Defining your role as a leader
• Crucial communication skills: Listening deeply; Leading focussed conversations and scientific discussions with questions
• How to motivate others
• How to give feedback effectively

Method: Each workshop day will include hands-on tools, interactive exercises, case studies and group discussions that will enable participants to apply the concepts to their own research projects and work environments. By the end of the training, participants will have a better understanding of their leadership style and how to communicate effectively with their team members.

Trainer: Ania Smolka is a business coach, leadership and communications trainer working with diverse scientific communities. She acquired her Diploma in Psychology at the University of Münster in 2011 and co-founded the I2A Network, a self-organized group of facilitators that specialises in team and individual leadership learning journeys.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 09:00 –17:00 (incl. breaks)

Target group: This workshop is designed for postdocs and early-career-scientists.

Description: The workshop is both about acquiring and managing third-party funding but with a focus on managing the funding.

Aims:

• Getting an overview of the most important project sponsors as well as third-party funders,
• Getting to know the peculiarities of programs and project lump sums,
• Understanding third-party funding as "holistic" resource planning (basic funding, third-party funding, overhead, revenues),
• Being able to recognize and avoid common mistakes in the application process and in this way increasing one's own funding chances,
• Deepening the knowledge of third-party funding management in organizational (administration) as well as qualitative aspects (control, sustainability)

Contents:

• What is third-party funding?
• Acquiring, obtaining and managing third-party funding
• Project sponsors
• Quality management
• Financing plan
• Program and project lump sum
• Call for funds and proof of use
• Controlling and risk management

Trainer: Magnus M. Gees is a trainer at ZWM – Zentrum für Wissenschaftsmanagement e. V. Speyer (Center for Science and Research Management). He works as a consultant individually and cooperatively, especially with clients from the field of research, university and R&D departments of the economy. His consulting and teaching approach is holistic and sustainable. His goal is to support clients in identifying and activating potential – in order to be able to make optimization better!

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–15.00

Description: One of the most challenging tasks in science is getting continuously funded with creative and convincing proposals. Therefore, organizational and writing tools have to be learned early in a scientist’s career. The aim of this course is to provide international postdocs with an opportunity to build their understanding, skills and confidence in writing and evaluating their own grant proposals to get funded. Special emphasis is put on project management in grant writing, key message, abstract, structure, work packages, texting, scientific storytelling, data visualization, contingency plans, appropriate funding calls, financials, and the evaluation process. Examples from the trainer’s successful research grants (DFG, EU, etc.) will be used. The participants create their individual proposals with title, abstract, outline, work packages and financial plan. Specific details for the first DFG proposal will be of central importance.

Topics:

• Grant Proposal
• Key Message
• Scientific Storytelling
• Project and Time Management in Grant Writing

Trainer: Dr. ès sc. habil. Alexander Schiller  was a DFG Heisenberg fellow and juniorprofessor for inorganic chemistry at the University of Jena (Germany). In 2011 he started the project Schiller & Mertens. Since 2016 he is a full-time trainer, certified coach and facilitator: teaching advanced research skills, such as communication in science, team building and leading competences and didactics and methodology in university teaching. As researcher and group leader Dr. Schiller knows the challenges of scientists and addresses them interactively in an innovative setting. He is a member in the „Bundesverband für Training, Beratung und Coaching“. Since 2018, Dr. Schiller is a „Certified Advanced Coach“ by the The Thiagi Group, Inc.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–17.30 (incl. breaks)

Description: Successful grant proposal writing is a fundamental basis to fund a career in research. There are plenty of national and international funding programmes with different funding schemes. Each scheme has its individual context and thematic focus, eligibility and funding rules, submission and evaluation process, and evaluation criteria. Thus, the detailed features and aspects of a successful proposal in one funding scheme are naturally differing from those of a successful proposal in another. However, the process of how to work out these details is a common denominator to the different schemes. It requires skills way beyond the ability to work out a research idea in detail.

Therefore, this workshop focuses on (a) how to develop your idea for a project into a sound work programme, (b) how to match it to the requirements of the funding programme, and (c) how to facilitate the communication with the reviewer by presenting your complex ideas in an easy-to-understand way. To achieve this, we will try out the RaumZeit Toolkit for designing and communicating your research project convincingly by working on your own research project. This may be a new idea for a grant proposal or your current research project.

Transfer of workshop contents into real-life grant proposal writing: Participants can get individual feedback on their proposal with respect to the workshop contents once they have written the first draft any time after the workshop.

Trainer: After obtaining her PhD in Astrophysics, Dr. Sabine Preusse decided to quit academia in 2006 and move on to the project management of European Funded Research projects in the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum. Besides writing grant proposals and being a project manager in the field of production technologies, she further trained herself as a business economist (IWW) and a professional business trainer. With this, she founded her own company RaumZeit e.K. Coaching Training Beratung in 2011 and is now (also as a professional business coach) supporting researchers of all levels and disciplines in grant proposal writing, the implementation of research projects, dissemination and exploitation of project results, and Open Educational Resources. Since 2011, Sabine Preusse has given more than 150 two-day workshops on grant proposal writing and more than 80 coaching sessions with respect to grant proposal writing, design of research projects, and career for young researchers, postdocs, and professors.

Format: TUM Info-session / Online mini-workshop via Zoom, 09:15-10:15

Target group: The workshop is tailored to postdocs (all levels) who are keen to learn more about the large European Funding landscape and are willing to collaborate on an international level.

Description: The workshop aims to provide postdoctoral researchers with an overview of the funding opportunities available for collaborative research projects, mainly within the competitive Horizon Europe program.

Participants will learn about the EU Funding &Tender Portal, the application process, eligibility criteria, and evaluation criteria for obtaining funding. The workshop will use case studies, examples, and testimonials to provide attendees with practical insights and strategies on how to develop successful EU-proposals. The workshop will also explore strategies for building international research networks and partnerships with industry in this context.

Please note that the focus of the workshop is NOT on the individual funding schemes such as MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships and ERC Starting Grants (see our Workshop on 20 June).

Aims:

• Finding collaborative funding opportunities within your field of research
• Understanding eligibility criteria
• Understanding the main differences within programs (e.g. Pillar II/EIC) and calls (RIA/IA/CSA)
• Be able to navigate through the documentations of a certain call
• Become familiar with the different support options in the European Funding Landscape (TUM ForTe, BayFor, National Contact Points)

Trainers:

Dr. Astrid De Clercq is an expert on European funding programs for collaborative research.

Nadja Garchery has many years of experience in the field of European research funding, with a focus on ERC Grants. They both work in the EU and International Research Support Team of the TUM Office for Research and Innovation (TUM ForTe)

Format: On-site workshop, City Center Campus, 09.30–14.00

Description: The demands of research and teaching often lead to exhaustion, overload and stress. Even worse, tight deadlines, busy schedules and huge workloads threaten to impair our mental health. With the normalization of remote work, these challenges have increased even more. To a large extend these challenges are influenced by how we manage our energies. This compact, research-based workshop provides insights and methods to work in a productive and sustainable way. In addition to individual practices, the workshop also helps to set up structures that support students and colleagues to work more efficiently. The concepts and methods are illustrated with examples of highly productive researchers, leaders, and creatives. The participants will be given the opportunity to share their best practices and receive additional information and resources to keep up the great work without sacrificing mental health and well-being.

Contents:

• The best practices and guidelines for sustainable productivity
• Practical insights into the conditions and mechanisms of great work: increasing energy, focus and clarity for yourself and the people you work with.
• How to rest and recover
• How to deal with stress and increase positivity about work
• Answers to your individual topics and concerns (feel free to use the little survey before the workshop)

Trainer: Stephan Pfob is a speaker, author and New Work guide at Berlin Alley. He is specialized in feedback and the psychology of work and has extensive work experience in different fields, ranging from academics to administration, teaching, information design and business intelligence. Berlin Alley is an agency for New Work helping to build a culture of collaboration, continuous learning and human-centered work – for individuals, teams and organizations of all sizes.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–15.00

Description: One of the most challenging tasks in science is getting continuously funded with creative and convincing proposals. Therefore, organizational and writing tools have to be learned early in a scientist’s career. The aim of this course is to provide international postdocs with an opportunity to build their understanding, skills and confidence in writing and evaluating their own grant proposals to get funded. Special emphasis is put on project management in grant writing, key message, abstract, structure, work packages, texting, scientific storytelling, data visualization, contingency plans, appropriate funding calls, financials, and the evaluation process. Examples from the trainer’s successful research grants (DFG, EU, etc.) will be used. The participants create their individual proposals with title, abstract, outline, work packages and financial plan. Specific details for the first DFG proposal will be of central importance.

Topics:

• Grant Proposal
• Key Message
• Scientific Storytelling
• Project and Time Management in Grant Writing

Trainer: Dr. ès sc. habil. Alexander Schiller  was a DFG Heisenberg fellow and juniorprofessor for inorganic chemistry at the University of Jena (Germany). In 2011 he started the project Schiller & Mertens. Since 2016 he is a full-time trainer, certified coach and facilitator: teaching advanced research skills, such as communication in science, team building and leading competences and didactics and methodology in university teaching. As researcher and group leader Dr. Schiller knows the challenges of scientists and addresses them interactively in an innovative setting. He is a member in the „Bundesverband für Training, Beratung und Coaching“. Since 2018, Dr. Schiller is a „Certified Advanced Coach“ by the The Thiagi Group, Inc.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–11.30

Target group: This workshop is designed for postdocs of all levels.

Description: Have you enjoyed research and teaching in the past years, but now you think it is time to change? Or maybe you are not sure yet whether to stay in academia or not, but would like to learn more about other possibilities before making any decision? In this course, which has been specifically developed for postdocs, we will not only broaden your view about everything you can do with your qualification, but also give you practical tips on how to reach your personal goals.

Contents:

• Job opportunities in- and outside of academia
• How to sell your skills
• Job application strategies

Trainer: Dr. Karin Bodewits comes from the Netherlands where she studied Biology. After spending some time at Puleva Biotech in Spain and Unilever in China, she completed a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Edinburgh. In 2012, she founded the successful company NaturalScience.Careers, a seminar and talk provider for natural- and life scientists. In this function, she became book author, short story writer, speaker and workshop leader and published a wide range of career and soft skills related articles in magazines like Chemistry World and Naturejobs. She wrote the Career Fables for Science Careers.

Format: TUM Info-Session / Online mini-workshop via Zoom, 09:15-10:15

Target group: This Info-Session is tailored to early career researchers who are keen to learn more about the individual funding schemes of ERC Starting Grants and MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Description: This Info-Session aims to provide postdoctoral researchers with an overview of ERC Starting Grants and Postdoctoral Fellowships of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) as important individual funding opportunities within the competitive Horizon Europe program.

Participants will gain insights about the application process, eligibility criteria, and evaluation criteria for obtaining funding. They will also learn about support structures available to TUM Postdocs to successfully pursue these funding opportunities.

Please note that the focus of the workshop is NOT on the collaborative research projects (see our Workshop on 04 May).

Aims:

• Finding individual funding opportunities within your field of research
• Understanding eligibility and evaluation criteria of different programs
• Understanding the respective application processes
• Becoming familiar with the different support options in the European Funding Landscape (TUM ForTe, National Contact Points)

Trainers: Mirjam Dallmeier and Wael Mousa work at the TUM Office for Research and Innovation (TUM ForTe) and are experts on the European funding programs of ERC and MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Format: TUM Info-Session / Online mini-workshop via Zoom, 13.00–15.30

Target group: The workshop addresses funding programs suitable for doctoral researchers in their final year and early-career postdocs.

Description: It is well known that pursuing a career in academia can be tedious and many young researchers continue their career beyond a PhD without being aware of the career system. They are expected to raise third-party funds, but are not given any advice and training on how to apply for these funds.

In this workshop, you will get an overview of the largest funding organizations in Germany and the third party funding system, as well as general insights in the career paths at a university. The workshops aims at early-career researchers and doctoral students who want to gain insight into the system and prepare for their first application in Germany.

Aims:

• After the seminar, the participants know research support and career services offered by the TUM Office for Research and Innovation (TUM ForTe), in particular by its National Research Support team and TUM Talent Factory, and other support structures at TUM.
• Participants understand an academic career system in Germany (e.g. from a postdoc position through research group leader to a professorship)
• Participants know funding options for postdocs, main German funding organizations and their programs.
• Participants know sources and tools to identify calls for proposals for third-party funding.

Trainers: Dr. Tiffany Paulisch and Carla Herrmann work at the TUM Office for Research and Innovation (TUM ForTe) and are experts on national funding programs and research and industry cooperations. They also coordinate the TUM Talent Factory for Postdocs, a program offering a range of career services to TUM postdocs and to external postdocs interested in joining the TUM.

Cooperation Partner: TUM Graduate School

Format: On-site workshop, City Center Campus, day 1: 9.00-17:00; day 2: 9.00-13.00

+ Individual consultancy sessions (optional) in the following days

Target group: This workshop is designed for postdocs with initial leadership experience or senior postdocs.

Description: The transition from postdoc to independent research group leader is an exhilarating, yet challenging experience. This workshop raises critical awareness of how to navigate research leadership with confidence. Reflecting different styles of leadership, it provides hands-on tools and techniques to develop vision and mission, set goals, identify needs, recruit and develop research staff, manage expectations, and review progress. It also addresses the challenges of operating successfully in a 360-degree leadership context.

Your benefits: By participating in the workshop, you will be better equipped to:

• understand what makes an effective research leader, manager, and mentor,
• build a talented team with a variety of individual behaviours, experiences, and skills,
• create a welcoming and invigorating research environment,
• set out vision and direction for your research group,
• employ appropriate tools and techniques to foster progress,
• advance your career as an independent researcher.

Methods: This highly interactive workshop employs theoretical input and practice scenarios, plenary discussions, individual and small group work, experience sharing, and expert advice.

Trainer: Dr. Thomas Koch is a research management consultant, certified business trainer and coach. Holding a PhD in physical chemistry from the UK, he builds on more than ten years of international research experience. For twelve more years, he has worked as a research manager and senior administrator, delivering high-level support and advisory services for both researchers and university top management at universities in Bochum (RUB) and Munich (LMU). In 2016, he started up his own consultancy academic futures to provide hands-on workshops and individual guidance for researchers to realise their research ideas and career objectives.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00-17.00

+Individual consultancy sessions (optional) in the following weeks

Target Group: Postdocs with at least 2 years of postdoc experience and Research Groups Leaders who are preparing to apply for professorships. If you want to obtain more general information about how to apply for professorships, we recommend you to take part in the Webcast "How to apply for Professorships" (see below) any time.

Description: The workshop aims to give you insights into the application procedure for professorships (focus: Germany) – a procedure that is highly formalized but often lacks transparency and differs in many aspects from other application formats in academia. In this seminar, we deal with your written application as well as topic-related and strategic advice for your selection interview, application presentation and demonstration lecture. We focus on different aspects of the appointment procedure, such as typical and critical questions during the selection interview, potential snares during the demonstration lecture, or ambivalent interests among the members of the audition committee. Moreover, we work on how to present yourself and your academic profile successfully and how to emphasize your particular expertise.

After the workshop, participants have the opportunity to take part in a one-hour individual coaching session. Participants can use this, for example, to receive feedback on application documents, to reflect on previous experiences in appointment procedures, to prepare for a specific hearing or to work on further individual questions.

Trainer: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt studied Psychology at the University of Greifswald, spent her postdoctoral years at the Center of Excellence in Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC, Bielefeld University), and was a visiting professor for Social Psychology at the University of Osnabrück. In addition, she completed a two-year training program in management consulting and coaching (Deutsche Psychologenakademie). Today, she is the co-owner of schainundkuchenbrandt, working as a trainer and coach dedicated to the interests and concerns of scientists in academia. Her work particularly focuses on career planning and applying for professorships.

Format: On-site workshop, City Center Campus, day 1: 9.00-17:00; day 2: 9.00-13.00 +Individual consultancy sessions (optional): 12 January 2023

Target group: New research group leaders and professors with tenure track, and/or advanced postdocs.

Description: The transition from postdoc to independent research group leader is an exhilarating, yet challenging experience. This workshop raises critical awareness of how to navigate research leadership with confidence. Reflecting different styles of leadership, it provides hands-on tools and techniques to develop vision and mission, set goals, identify needs, recruit and develop research staff, manage expectations, and review progress. It also addresses the challenges of operating successfully in a 360-degree leadership context.

Your benefits: By participating in the workshop, you will be better equipped to:

• understand what makes an effective research leader, manager, and mentor,
• build a talented team with a variety of individual behaviours, experiences, and skills,
• create a welcoming and invigorating research environment,
• set out vision and direction for your research group,
• employ appropriate tools and techniques to foster progress,
• and advance your career as an independent researcher.

Methods: This highly interactive workshop employs theoretical input and practice scenarios, plenary discussions, individual and small group work, experience sharing, and expert advice. It is limited to 12 participants and will be presented in English.

Trainer: Dr. Thomas Koch  is a research management consultant, certified business trainer and coach. Holding a PhD in physical chemistry from the UK, he builds on more than ten years of international research experience. For twelve more years, he has worked as a research manager and senior administrator, delivering high-level support and advisory services for both researchers and university top management at the universities in Bochum (RUB) and Munich (LMU). In 2016, he started up his own consultancy academic futures to provide hands-on workshops and individual guidance for researchers to realise their research ideas and career objectives.

Format: Online Workshop via Zoom, 9.00–17.00 +Individual consultancy sessions (optional) in the following weeks

Target group: early-career Postdocs

Description: The postdoc years are essential for academic career development. During this period, scientists are often torn between conflicting priorities of intellectual independence, on the one hand, and meeting professional obligations towards their employers, on the other hand. Postdocs are expected to develop an independent publication record, apply for external funding, create a distinct research profile, build a teaching portfolio, communicate their research, build a network, undertake research stays abroad, etc. etc.

Which of these tasks are particularly important? What are the top priorities? Which time frame is appropriate and compatible with my personal private priorities? How important is the habilitation? The first part of the seminar will be dedicated to learning about and evaluating the various requirements for a long-term career in academia (Focus: Germany). Based on this, you will review your current academic profile. Following this reflection, you will develop and specify your next goals and the major steps towards qualifying for a long-term academic career.

Trainer: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt studied Psychology at the University of Greifswald, spent her postdoctoral years at the Center of Excellence in Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC, Bielefeld University), and was a visiting professor for Social Psychology at the University of Osnabrück. In addition, she completed a two-year training program in management consulting and coaching (Deutsche Psychologenakademie). Today, she is the co-owner of schainundkuchenbrandt, working as a trainer and coach dedicated to the interests and concerns of scientists in academia. Her work particularly focuses on career planning and applying for professorships.

Format: On-site workshop, 9.00–16.30, City Center Campus

Description: Teamwork is essential in academia, but it has never been easy. Especially giving and receiving feedback does not come natural to us. In recent years and across all fields, its relevance has increased: We need to learn more, collaborate better and create a culture of trust and mutual aid. How do we rise to this challenge? – The good news is that decades of empirical work, alongside recent innovations, offer practical methods that make feedback work.

This Workshop offers specific strategies and tools to form a culture of constructive feedback for academic teams. It helps to establish the right mindset, provides psychological insights and enables an exchange about best practices, processes and rules.

Focal points of the Workshop:

• giving feedback that is candid and caring
• soliciting feedback (from busy people)
• handling emotions in difficult conversations
• building structures that support constructive feedback
• forming an appreciative mindset
• identifying and dealing with the needs behind the need for feedback

Trainer: Stephan Pfob is a speaker, author and New Work guide at Berlin Alley, is specialized in feedback and the psychology of work. He has extensive work experience in different fields, ranging from academics to administration, teaching, information design and business intelligence. Berlin Alley is an agency for New Work. We help building a culture of collaboration, continuous learning and human-centered work – for individuals, teams and organizations of all sizes.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 13.00–15.30

Target group: The workshop addresses funding programs suitable for doctoral researchers in their final year and early-career postdocs.

Description: It is well known that pursuing a career in academia can be tedious and many young researchers continue their career beyond a PhD without being aware of the career system. They are expected to raise third-party funds, but are not given any advice and training on how to apply for these funds.

In this workshop, you will get an overview of the largest funding organizations in Germany and the third party funding system, as well as general insights in the career paths at a university. The workshops aims at early-career researchers and doctoral students who want to gain insight into the system and prepare for their first application in Germany.

Aims:

• After the seminar, the participants know research support and career services offered by the TUM Office for Research and Innovation (TUM ForTe), in particular by its National Research Support team and TUM Talent Factory, and other support structures at TUM.
• Participants understand an academic career system in Germany (e.g. from a postdoc position through research group leader to a professorship)
• Participants know funding options for postdocs, main German funding organizations and their programs.
• Participants know sources and tools to identify calls for proposals for third-party funding.

Trainer: Dr. Olga Malets and Dr. Tiffany Paulisch work at the TUM Office for Research and Innovation (TUM ForTe) and are experts on national funding programs and research and industry cooperation. Tiffany Paulisch also coordinates the TUM Talent Factory for Postdocs, a program offering a range of career services to TUM postdocs and to external postdocs interested in joining the TUM.

Cooperation Partner: TUM Graduate School

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–12.00 +Individual consultancy sessions (optional)

Target Group: Postdocs who identify as women

Description: Due to social and cultural conditioning, women in academia face a number of challenges when it comes to (in-) visibility and recognition. This workshop invites participants to reflect on intersectional differences in their experience as women in academia. Leading and working as part of a team brings different dynamics for women than for our male counterparts – as do the expectations women face in- and outside of work. 

In the course of this workshop, we dive into the dynamics at play in a number of scenarios and discuss strategies on how to approach them and move forward without neglecting our own values and goals.

Some topics and situations are too personal to elaborate in a group setting. 

Participants can therefore book an optional individual session to discuss their questions confidentially.

Trainer: Prof. Dr. Christine Lohmeier is a communication scholar and a certified coach. Christine offers personalized services for academics dealing with overwhelm and anxiety. She also supports her clients in reaching their next big goal.

Being an active academic herself, Christine intimately knows the challenges many PhD students, postdocs and professors face.

She uses cutting-edge cognitive-based techniques and insights from developmental and positive psychology to teach her clients how to bring joy and fun into their day-to-day while pursuing their goals.

„I help my clients reflect, gain clarity and develop strategies to deal with challenges inside and outside of the academy.“

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–15.00

Description: One of the most challenging tasks in science is getting continuously funded with creative and convincing proposals. Therefore, organizational and writing tools have to be learned early in a scientists’ career. The aim of this course is to provide international Postdocs with an opportunity to build their understanding, skills and confidence in writing and evaluating their own grant proposals to get funded. Special emphasis is put on project management in grant writing, key message, abstract, structure, work packages, texting, scientific storytelling, data visualization, contingency plans, appropriate funding calls, financials, and evaluation process. Examples from the trainers’ successful research grants (DFG, EU, etc.) will be used. The participants create their individual proposals with title, abstract, outline, work packages and financial plan. Specific details for the first DFG proposal will be of central importance.

Topics:

• Grant Proposal
• Key Message
• Scientific Storytelling
• Project and Time Management in Grant Writing

Trainer: PD Dr. ès sc. Alexander Schiller is a chemist from LMU Munich and PhD in bioinorganic chemistry from EPF Lausanne. Dr. Schiller is a full-time trainer for transferable skills with Schiller & Mertens. He facilitates effective communication for scientists, engineers, physicians and other rational minds as trainier and coach. He is a “Certified Facilitator and Advanced Coach” from The Thiagi Group Inc. He has a 20-years teaching experience at LMU Munich, EPF Lausanne, UC Santa Cruz, and FSU Jena (Lehr-Zertifikat Advanced, Habilitation in 2015, Venia legendi in Inorganic Chemistry).

Format: On-site workshop, City Center Campus, day 1: 9.00-17:00; day 2: 9.00-13.00  +Individual consultancy sessions (optional)

Target group: This workshop is now open for all postdocs.

Description: The transition from postdoc to independent research group leader is an exhilarating, yet challenging experience. This workshop raises critical awareness of how to navigate research leadership with confidence. Reflecting different styles of leadership, it provides hands-on tools and techniques to develop vision and mission, set goals, identify needs, recruit and develop research staff, manage expectations, and review progress. It also addresses the challenges of operating successfully in a 360-degree leadership context.

Your benefits: By participating in the workshop, you will be better equipped to:

• understand what makes an effective research leader, manager, and mentor,
• build a talented team with a variety of individual behaviours, experiences, and skills,
• create a welcoming and invigorating research environment,
• set out vision and direction for your research group,
• employ appropriate tools and techniques to foster progress,
• and advance your career as an independent researcher.

Methods: This highly interactive workshop employs theoretical input and practice scenarios, plenary discussions, individual and small group work, experience sharing, and expert advice. It is limited to 12 participants and will be presented in English.

Trainer: Dr. Thomas Koch  is a research management consultant, certified business trainer and coach. Holding a PhD in physical chemistry from the UK, he builds on more than ten years of international research experience. For twelve more years, he has worked as a research manager and senior administrator, delivering high-level support and advisory services for both researchers and university top management at the universities in Bochum (RUB) and Munich (LMU). In 2016, he started up his own consultancy academic futures to provide hands-on workshops and individual guidance for researchers to realise their research ideas and career objectives.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 10.00–14.00

Description: This workshop focuses on the relationship between interdisciplinary and field specialization with a twofold question.

On the first day, we look at the dimensions of interdisciplinary work in your individual academic profile. We will first clarify the formal framework, definitions, and professional realities of interdisciplinary work in your field. For the individual situation, we look at the impact that interdisciplinary has on research frameworks as well as on career paths. Then, you can decide which elements you want to include in your self-descriptions and for which strategic target.

The second day is dedicated to collaboration in multidisciplinary teams or cooperation. We understand multidisciplinary as a kind of diversity. Therefore, we look at ways to effectively distribute roles and tasks in terms of common goals. We work through different strategic scenarios and best practices for multidisciplinary teamwork.

Topics:

• Profile analysis
• Self-branding
• Identifying transfer potential
• Interdisciplinarity vs. specialization
• Working in interdisciplinary teams

Trainer: PD Dr. Mareike Menne received her PhD and habilitation in Early Modern History from Paderborn University. After her post-doctoral fellowship in the DFG-GK Archives – Power – Knowledge at Bielefeld University, she was in academic management at Stuttgart University. In 2013, she founded her consultancy on academic career planning, professionalization of academic self-governance and leadership, and resilience.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–16.30

Description: Writing a proposal means promoting your science! With your proposal, you need to convince the reviewers that your project is more relevant, more important and more promising than those of your competitors and that hence the money should be going to you. This is not easily done and there are several do’s and don‘ts to consider.

The aim of this course is to familiarize participants with the strategies for successful grant applications to various funding bodies. It consists of lecture-style sequences with active participation by the audience, dealing with the theory of good scientific writing, the basics of grant applications and the principles of different funding bodies, as well as hands-on exercises on aim definition, structuring a workplan, writing a grant summary and your scientific CV. Additional information and exercises on writing good scientific texts in English will deepen the writing experience.

Trainer: The workshop will be conducted by Dr. Christina Schütte, co-founder and senior consultant of ProSciencia Beratungs GmbH, who is specialized in grant writing, scientific writing, presentation and scientific project management. She has a background in Chemistry/Biochemistry and worked at the Neurobiology laboratory at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen before co-founding ProSciencia in 2004. She has extensive first-hand experience in managing projects both in science and in education.

Course format & mandatory work: Participants are required to do some work (writing a mini-grant proposals of about 4 pages and a scientific CV) in between the two sessions. These proposals will be shared with other participants.

Registration: If you plan a specific proposal, please specify in the motivation statement for which program you plan to write a proposal.

Format: Online-Workshop via Zoom, 9.00–16.00

Target group: Postdocs working in intercultural contexts

Description: This workshop helps participants to explore those issues that most often affect communication in terms of team dynamics and to investigate those intercultural aspects that most frequently pose challenges to groups characterised by a high degree of internationalisation. Throughout the workshop, participants are encouraged to identify the specific role that each individual plays within a team. Within this context, the workshop is always characterised by a constant alternation between theoretical insights and hands-on practical experiences to provide participants with the tools to enhance their group’s professional potential. On the first day, participants attend the workshop all together as a single group. On the second day, the participants join the trainer for a series of one-to-one sessions characterised by a dedicated tailor-made approach.

Contents in brief:

• Challenges and areas of conflict typical of international contexts.
• Basic principles of a constructive and objective-oriented discussion technique.
• Conflict management: strategies for addressing challenging communication dynamics.
• Being aware of one’s own role in a team and how to best mix and match different skills.
• Giving and receiving constructive feedback as a member of a team.

Methodology:

• Individual and group (i.e. team) feedback.
• Theoretical background (intercultural surveys).
• Role-play and case studies.
• One to one feedback.
• Group exercises.

Trainer: Dr. Matteo Garavoglia is Research Associate at the University of Oxford’s Centre for International Studies and Adjunct Professor at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. Previously, he was the Italy Program Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Centre on the United States and Europe and Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nietze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC. Matteo was educated at the universities of London (SOAS), Paris (Sciences Po) and Berlin (FUB). He lived in twelve countries across four continentsand speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish and German (Kurzbiographie auf Deutsch).

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 10.00–14.00

Target group: This workshop is designed for Postdocs and Doctoral Candidates in their last year/preparing their first independent projects

Description: The qualification phase in particular is characterised by project work. For postdocs, this often means working on the project as well as working in the project. Experience shows that intuitive management carries us a long way. But it can also quickly reach its limits: for example, due to lack of resources, conflicts, unclear requirements or overload. The workshop therefore aims to enhance intuitive and experiential competence with a systematic approach to project management. We will look at both the project planning for grant proposals and the tools for project management in academia.

Contents:

• How to set goals and objectives
• How to create a project plan for scientific projects and proposals
• How to track progress and milestones
• How to manage risks
• How to communicate with stakeholders

Trainer: PD Dr. Mareike Menne received her PhD and habilitation in Early Modern History from Paderborn University. After her post-doctoral fellowship in the DFG-GK Archives – Power – Knowledge at Bielefeld University, she was in academic management at Stuttgart University. In 2013, she founded her consultancy on academic career planning, professionalization of academic self-governance and leadership, and resilience.

Date: 25–26 July 2022

Format: ***NEW: Online workshop***, 9.00–15.00 + Individual consultancy sessions (optional): 28 July 2022

Target group: This workshop is designed for postdocs with at least two years of postdoc experience who do not have their own group yet, but are preparing for the next steps. Researchers who already have their own group can register for the upcoming course in November 2022.

Description: The transition from postdoc to research group leader, from being a member of somebody else’s group to becoming an independent researcher, is an exhilarating, yet challenging experience. This hands-on workshop offers practical advice and techniques for establishing effective leadership, identifying needs, setting goals and managing expectations, recruiting and developing research staff, and reviewing progress. It also addresses aspects of self-management and developing yourself as PI. Overall, the workshop aims to raise critical awareness of how to build, lead and support a productive research team.

By participating in the workshop, you will be better equipped to…

• understand what makes an effective research leader, manager, and mentor,
• build a talented team with a variety of individual behaviors, experiences, and skills,
• create a welcoming and invigorating research environment,
• set out vision and direction for your research group,
• establish yourself as an independent researcher.

What this course is not about: How to fund your research group.

Trainer: Dr. Thomas Koch is a research management consultant and certified business trainer and coach. He provides hands-on workshops and individual guidance for researchers to realize their research ideas and career objectives. He also supports higher education institutions and research consortia in implementing strategic initiatives and preparing grant proposals. Holding a PhD in physical chemistry from the UK, he builds on 10 years of international experience as a researcher and 12 years of professional experience as a research manager and senior administrator at universities in Bochum (RUB) and Munich (LMU).

Date: 23 June 2022

Format: On-site workshop, 14.00–18.30

Description: The demands of research and teaching often lead to exhaustion, overload and stress. Even worse, tight deadlines, busy schedules and huge workloads threaten to impair our mental health. With the normalization of remote work, these challenges have increased even more. To a large extend these challenges are influenced by how we manage our energies. This compact, research-based workshop provides insights and methods to work in a productive and sustainable way. It is targeted at postdocs but open for graduate students as well. In addition to individual practices, the workshop also helps to set up structures that support students and colleagues to work more efficiently. The concepts and methods are illustrated with examples of highly productive researchers, leaders, and creatives. The participants will be given the opportunity to share their best practices and receive additional information and resources to keep up the great work without sacrificing mental health and well-being.

Contents:

• The best rules for sustainable productivity and how to implement them.
• Practical insights into the conditions and mechanisms of great work: increasing energy, focus and clarity for yourself and the people you work with.
• How to rest and recover (all you need to know about sleep and taking breaks efficiently).
• How to deal with stress and increase positivity about work.
• Tips for managing your physical energies (f. e. exercise, sitting in a healthy way).

Trainer: Stephan Pfob is co-founder, trainer, and new work guide at Berlin Alley, specialized in feedback and the psychology of sustainable work. He has extensive work experience in different fields, ranging from academia to administration, teaching, business intelligence, and information design. He is the co-author of Wertschätzung. Ein Praxisbuch, coach at Science & Startups, and trainer for TUM ForTe since 2020.

cancelled / postponed to the next semester

If you would have wanted to participate, please write an email to postdoc-application@tum.de.

Date: 10 June 2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–17.15

Description: This workshop is aimed at young researchers who want to understand the logic of peer review processes in more detail. The workshop will present different peer review strategies and background information from the perspective of science funders. Participants will prepare short (mock) proposals and act as reviewers in two mock review sessions. By "re-enacting" a review process, participants learn how a review really works. They recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the peer review process, also because they have the opportunity to make all the typical "mistakes" of both applicants and reviewers at the same time. In this way, they benefit twice: as applicants, they will be able to address reviewers much more specifically in the future, and at the same time they will gain experience that will allow them to facilitate a better peer review in their role as reviewers.

Trainer: Dr. Oliver Grewe did his PhD in neuroscience. After his postdoc, he started working in science management at the German National Academic Foundation in Bonn. Subsequently he worked at the Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony (WKN), and is currently working as a scientific officer in the Volkswagen Foundation, being responsible for the "Freigeist Fellowships" program for young scientists. Dr. Grewe has many years of experience in science, science management and coaching.

Mandatory Preparations: The selected participants need to submit a one-page proposal for a fictional call for applications three weeks before the workshop and prepare a short presentation. These proposals will be shared with other participants so that they can act as reviewers during the workshop.

Date: 24–25 May 2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 24 May 22, 13.00–17.00 & 25 May 22, 09.00–12.00

Description: The interdisciplinary and interactive training invites postdoctoral researchers to gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the cross-cutting fields of science communication and public engagement. Participants will gain competences with a strong relevance for academic and non-academic career paths, as well as for national and international grant proposal writing. The dialogue-oriented course will empower researchers via a mix of input, reflections, and practical sessions. A major goal of the training will be to enable participants to develop a science communication strategy related to their individual research topic.

Learning Outcomes: Participants will…

• get to know national and international developments and best practice examples in science communication and public engagement;
• gain an overview of current trends in national and European funding scenarios, especially Horizon Europe, BMBF, DFG;
• learn how to plan strategic communication and stakeholder engagement activities related to their research topic.

Trainer: Dr. Annette Klinkert is an internationally experienced workshop facilitator, trainer, and science communicator. Since 2012 she is CEO of city2science, a German company developing innovative communication approaches connecting scientific institutions with urban and regional development strategies. She has created and organized a number of large-scale science communication formats across Germany, such as the science festivals GENIALE, FameLab Germany, WissensNacht Ruhr, MakerFaire Ruhr, and Expedition Wissenschaft Paderborn. Since 2016, Annette Klinkert is the Executive Director of the European Science Engagement Association EUSEA, an international network of more than 120 science organizations, science festivals, foundations, and public institutions.

Date: 18 May 2022 (new!)

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 10.00–12.30

The new EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation "Horizon Europe" provides excellent – though highly competitive – funding opportunities for the next years (2021-2027). The major part of the programme’s budget is dedicated to collaborative research in project consortia.

This webinar (to be held in English) will give an overview of the funding lines for collaborative research in Horizon Europe, namely the different thematic clusters and the Pathfinder programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC). It will provide information on the application process and advice on proposal writing and networking on the European level. Participants will have the possibility to ask their questions on EU research funding and get hands-on individual advice.

Trainers: Members of the KoWi Brussels team

Date: 10 & 17 May 2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–17.30

Description: Successful grant proposal writing is a fundamental basis to fund a career in research. There are plenty of national and international funding programmes with different funding schemes. Each scheme has its individual context and thematic focus, eligibility and funding rules, submission and evaluation process, and evaluation criteria. Thus, the detailed features and aspects of a successful proposal in one funding scheme are naturally differing from those of a successful proposal in another funding scheme. However, the process of how to work out these details is a common denominator to the different funding schemes. It requires skills way beyond the ability to work out a research idea in detail.

Therefore, this workshop focuses on (a) how to develop your idea for a project into a sound work programme, (b) how to match it to the requirements of the funding programme, and (c) how to facilitate the communication with the reviewer by presenting your complex ideas in an easy-to-understand way. To achieve this, we will try out the RaumZeit Toolkit for designing and communicating your research project convincingly by working on your own research project. This may be a new idea for a grant proposal or your current research project.

Transfer of workshop contents into real-life grant proposal writing: Participants can get individual feedback on their proposal with respect to the workshop contents once they have written the first draft any time after the workshop.

Trainer: After obtaining her PhD in Astrophysics, Dr. Sabine Preusse decided to quit academia in 2006 and move on to the project management of European Funded Research projects in the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum. Besides writing grant proposals and being a project manager in the field of production technologies, she further trained herself as a business economist (IWW) and a professional business trainer. With this she founded her own company RaumZeit e.K. Coaching Training Beratung in 2011 and is now (also as a professional business coach) supporting researchers of all levels and disciplines in grant proposal writing, the implementation of research projects, dissemination and exploitation of project results, and Open Educational Resources. Since 2011, Sabine Preusse has given more than 150 two-day workshops on grant proposal writing and more than 80 coaching sessions with respect to grant proposal writing, design of research projects, and career for young researchers, postdocs, and professors.

Registered persons have been noticed. If you would have wanted to participate, please write an email to postdoc-application@tum.de.

Date: 10–11 May 2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 10.00–14.00

Description: This workshop focuses on the relationship between interdisciplinary and field specialization with a twofold question.

On the first day, we look at the dimensions of interdisciplinary work in your individual academic profile. We will first clarify the formal framework, definitions, and professional realities of interdisciplinary work in your field. For the individual situation, we look at the impact that interdisciplinary has on research frameworks as well as on career paths. Then, you can decide which elements you want to include in your self-descriptions and for which strategic target.

The second day is dedicated to collaboration in multidisciplinary teams or cooperation. We understand multidisciplinary as a kind of diversity. Therefore, we look at ways to effectively distribute roles and tasks in terms of common goals. We work through different strategic scenarios and best practices for multidisciplinary teamwork.

Topics:

• Profile analysis
• Self-branding
• Identifying transfer potential
• Interdisciplinarity vs. specialization
• Working in interdisciplinary teams

Trainer: PD Dr. Mareike Menne received her PhD and habilitation in Early Modern History from Paderborn University. After her post-doctoral fellowship in the DFG-GK Archives – Power – Knowledge at Bielefeld University, she was in academic management at Stuttgart University. In 2013, she founded her consultancy on academic career planning, professionalization of academic self-governance and leadership, and resilience.

Date: 27 April 2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 13.00–15.00

Target group: Doctoral researchers in their final year and early-career postdocs (max. 2 years after completing their doctorate)

Description: It is well known that pursuing a career in academia can be tedious and many young researchers continue their career beyond a PhD without being aware of the career system. They are expected to raise third-party funds, but are not given advice and training on how to apply for these funds.

In this workshop, you will get an overview of the largest funding organizations in Germany and the third party funding system, as well as general insights in the career paths at a university. The workshops aims at early career postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students who want to gain insight into the system and prepare for their first application in Germany.

What this workshop is not about: Applying for funding for research groups & larger collaborative projects.

Trainer: The course will be conducted by Dr. Olga Malets from the National Funding Team of TUM ForTe. At TUM, TUM ForTe and especially its program TUM Talent Factory is the central point of contact for young researchers who are planning to apply for third-party funding. We assist young researchers who are already working at TUM as well as work on bringing young talents to TUM for a long-term career. Our services include the support of researchers who apply for funding and provision of information about opportunities and programs.

Registration: Doctoral researchers who are members of the TUM Graduate School need to register via the TUM-GS, postdocs should register via the general form. Seats are not limited for this workshop!

Date: 28–29 April 2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00–15.00

Description: One of the most challenging tasks in science is getting continuously funded with creative and convincing proposals. Therefore, organizational and writing tools have to be learned early in a scientists’ career. The aim of this course is to provide international Postdocs with an opportunity to build their understanding, skills, and confidence in writing and evaluating their own grant proposals to get funded. Special emphasis is put on project management in grant writing, key message, abstract, structure, work packages, texting, scientific storytelling, data visualization, contingency plans, appropriate funding calls, financials, and evaluation process. Examples from the trainers’ successful research grants (DFG, EU, etc.) will be used. The participants create their individual proposals with title, abstract, outline, work packages, and financial plan. Specific details for the first DFG proposal will be of central importance.

Topics:

• Grant Proposal
• Key Message
• Scientific Storytelling
• Project and Time Management in Grant Writing

Trainer: PD Dr. ès sc. Alexander Schiller is a chemist from LMU Munich and holds a PhD in bioinorganic chemistry from EPF Lausanne. Dr. Schiller is a full-time trainer for transferable skills with Schiller & Mertens. He facilitates effective communication for scientists, engineers, physicians, and other rational minds as trainer and coach. He is a “Certified Facilitator and Advanced Coach” from The Thiagi Group Inc. He has a 20-years teaching experience at LMU Munich, EPF Lausanne, UC Santa Cruz, and FSU Jena (Lehr-Zertifikat Advanced, Habilitation in 2015, Venia legendi in Inorganic Chemistry).

Course format: Please note that preferences for this workshop will be given to TUM Postdocs who have not participated in another grant writing workshop at TUM.

The selected participants do not have to prepare a proposal beforehand.

Date: 7–8 April 2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 7 April 2022, 13.00–17.00 & 8 April 2022, 09.00–12.00

Description: The presentation of scientific content to diverse audiences and media poses a particular challenge for researchers. The interactive and practical workshop presents benefits, challenges, barriers and goals of public communication of research topics. It includes concrete tips and tools for the design and implementation of an individual public engagement strategy. A focus point will be on the concept of “storytelling”. The emotional and fascinating telling will be introduced with concrete best practice examples and tested using interactive exercises. Afterwards the method and its application will be collaboratively reflected by the group. Furthermore, the workshop will present dialogue oriented public engagement formats that can be applied with various stakeholders.

Trainer: Dr. Annette Klinkert is an internationally experienced workshop facilitator, trainer and science communicator. Since 2012 she is CEO of city2science, a German company developing innovative communication approaches connecting scientific institutions with urban and regional development strategies. She has created and organized a number of large-scale science communication formats across Germany, such as the science festivals GENIALE, FameLab Germany, WissensNacht Ruhr, MakerFaire Ruhr and Expedition Wissenschaft Paderborn. Since 2016, Annette Klinkert is the Executive Director of the European Science Engagement Association EUSEA, an international network of more than 120 science organisations, science festivals, foundations and public institutions.

Date: 21-22/03/2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00-17.00 hs.

Target Group: Postdocs with at least 2 years of postdoc experience and Research Groups Leaders who are preparing to apply for professorships. If you want to obtain more general information about how to apply for professorships, we recommend you to take part in the Webcast "How to apply for Professorships" any time.

Description: Every scientist who decides to stay permanently in academia, sooner or later faces what is supposed to be career’s hardest challenge: Applying for full professorship. The workshop aims to give you insights in the application procedure – a procedure that is highly formalized but often lacks transparency and differs in many aspects from other application formats in academia. In this seminar, we deal with your written application as well as topic-related and strategic advice for your selection interview, application presentation and demonstration lecture. We focus on different aspects of the appointment procedures, such as typical and critical questions during the selection interview, potential snares during the demonstration lecture or ambivalent interests among the members of the audition committee. Moreover, we work on how to present yourself and your academic profile successfully and how to emphasize your particular expertise.

Trainer: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt studied Psychology at the University of Greifswald, spent her postdoctoral years at the Center of Excellence in Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC, Bielefeld University), and was a visiting professor for Social Psychology at the University of Osnabrück. In addition, she completed a two-year training program in management consulting and coaching (Deutsche Psychologenakademie). Today, she is the co-owner of schainundkuchenbrandt, working as a trainer and coach dedicated to the interests and concerns of scientists in academia. Her work particularly focuses on career planning and applying for professorships. 

Date: 8/02/2022

Format: Online workshop, 9.30-17.30 hs. 

Description: Teamwork is essential in academia, but it has never been easy. Especially giving and receiving feedback does not come natural to us. In recent years and across all fields, its relevance has increased: We need to learn more, collaborate better and create a culture of trust and mutual aid. How do we rise to this challenge? – The good news is that decades of empirical work, alongside recent innovations, offer practical methods that make feedback work.

This Workshop offers specific strategies and tools to form a culture of constructive feedback for academic teams. It helps to establish the right mindset, provides psychological insights and enables an exchange about best practices, processes and rules.

Focal points of the Workshop:

• giving feedback that is candid and caring
• soliciting feedback (from busy people)
• handling emotions in difficult conversations
• building structures that support constructive feedback
• forming an appreciative mindset
• identifying and dealing with the needs behind the need for feedback

Trainer: Stephan Pfob is a speaker, author and New Work guide at Berlin Alley, is specialized in feedback and the psychology of work. He has extensive work experience in different fields, ranging from academics to administration, teaching, information design and business intelligence. Berlin Alley is an agency for New Work. We help building a culture of collaboration, continuous learning and human-centered work – for individuals, teams and organizations of all sizes.

Date: 4/02/2022

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00-17.15 hs.

Description: This workshop is aimed at young scientists who want to understand the logic of peer review processes in more detail. The workshop will present different peer review strategies and background information from the perspective of science funders. Participants will prepare short (mock) proposals and act as reviewers in two mock review sessions. By "re-enacting" a review process, participants learn how a review really works. They recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the peer review process, also because they have the opportunity to make all the typical "mistakes" of both applicants and reviewers at the same time. In this way, they benefit twice: as applicants, they will be able to address reviewers much more specifically in the future, and at the same time they will gain experience that will allow them to facilitate a better peer review in their role as reviewers.

Trainer: Dr. Oliver Grewe did his PhD in neuroscience. After his postdoc, he started working in science management at the German National Academic Foundation in Bonn. Subsequently he worked at the Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony (WKN), and is currently working as a scientific officer in the Volkswagen Foundation, being responsible for the "Freigeist Fellowships" program for young scientists. Dr. Grewe has many years of experience in science, science management and coaching.

Preparations: The selected participants need to submit a one-page proposal for a fictional call for applications three weeks before the workshop and prepare a short presentation. These proposals will be shared with other participants so that they can act as reviewers during the workshop.

Date: 27-28/01/2021

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00-17.00 hs.

Description: In this workshop, you will gain a practice-oriented introduction to the most important methods and tools in project management. You will learn how to professionally initiate, plan and monitor projects, as well as how you can motivate your team from the very beginning within the triangle of time, cost and quality. You will obtain valuable skills that will enable you, together with your team, to successfully tackle even complex tasks. We look at classical and agile methods and discuss the particularities of projects in the filed of research and development.

Trainer: The course will be conducted by Dr.-Ing. Katrin Schickhoff. Dr. Schickhoff is project management for experts, trainer and consultant for project management, communication and team leadership for project managers and executives since July 2000. She was project coordinator for several national programs in Germany and worked as acting partner with several institutions, corporations and ministries for research funding. She is a certified trainer for communication, sales and project management.

Date: 20/01/2022

Format: Online-workshop [Talk] via Zoom, 9.30-12.15 hs.

Target group: This talk is designed for research group leaders and advanced postdocs who are currently planning to apply for professorships or have already applied for positions. Kindly refer to this in your motivational statement.

Description: The talk will give a brief overview of the possibilities for the appointment package negotiations and the salary negotiations. The trainer will show the basic principles of the salary system for professors in Germany and give a structural overview of the W-Salary systems as well as of the possibilities for negotiating appointment increments.

Trainer: Hans-Conrad Ostermeyer is a lawyer as well as in-house lawyer at the Deutscher Hochschulverband (DHV). He gives legal advice to the members of DHV and supports members during their appointment negotiations. His areas of expertise are university law, public service law and employment law.

Date: 10-11/01/2022 + follow up 12-13/01/2022

Format:  Online workshop via Zoom on January 10 & 11: 9.00-16.30 hs.
Individual session on January 12 or 13 online via Zoom.

Target group: This workshop is designed for research group leaders and advanced postdocs who already have their own group (e.g. TUM Junior Fellows). Mid-career postdocs without their own group can register for the workshop in November.

Description: The transition from postdoc to research group leader, from being a member of somebody else’s group to becoming a fully-fledged independent researcher is an exhilarating experience - but also very challenging.

This workshop offers practical advice and techniques for establishing an effective leadership style, identifying needs, setting goals and managing expectations, recruiting and developing research staff, reviewing progress and dealing with underperformance.

By participating in the workshop, you will be better equipped to:

• Understand what makes an effective research leader and manager
• Set out vision and direction for your research group
• Relate short-term actions to longer-term strategies
• Build a talented team with a variety of individual behaviours, experiences, attitudes and skills
• Create a welcoming and invigorating research environment
• Manage your resources effectively
• Organise your time and workload to maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Establish yourself as a research leader at your institution and in your research field

What this course is not about: How to fund your research group.

Trainer: Dr. Thomas Koch is a research management consultant, certified business trainer and coach. Holding a PhD in physical chemistry from the UK, he has 11 years of international experience as a researcher throughout Europe. He also has 13 years of experience as a research manager and senior administrator delivering high-level support and advisory services for both researchers and university top management at the universities in Bochum (RUB) and Munich (LMU). In 2016, he started up his own consultancy Academic Futures to provide hands-on workshops and individual guidance for researchers to realise their research ideas and career objectives.

Date: 13&14/01/2022+follow-up, 9.00-17.00 hs 

Format: Online workshop via Zoom

Description: Writing a proposal means promoting your science! With your proposal, you need to convince the reviewers that your project is more relevant, more important and more promising than those of your competitors and that hence the money should be going to you. This is not easily done and there are several do’s and don‘ts to consider.

The aim of this course is to familiarize participants with the strategies for successful grant applications to various funding bodies. It consists of lecture-style sequences with active participation by the audience, dealing with the theory of good scientific writing, the basics of grant applications and the principles of different funding bodies, as well as hands-on exercises on aim definition, structuring a workplan, writing a grant summary and your scientific CV. Additional information and exercises on writing good scientific texts in English will deepen the writing experience.

Trainer: The workshop will be conducted by Dr. Christina Schütte, co-founder and senior consultant of ProSciencia Beratungs GmbH, who is specialized in grant writing, scientific writing, presentation and scientific project management. She has a background in Chemistry/Biochemistry and worked at the Neurobiology laboratory at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen before co-founding ProSciencia in 2004. She has extensive first-hand experience in managing projects both in science and in education.

Course format & mandatory work: Participants are required to do some work (writing a mini-grant proposals of about 4 pages and a scientific CV) in between the two sessions. These proposals will be shared with other participants.

Registration: Please specify in the motivation statement for which program you plan to write a proposal.

Date: 03/12/2021 and 17/12/2021

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 14.00-17.00 hs.

Description: In this active workshop, you practice several techniques that improve your happiness and your mental resilience. Recent scientific research offers a range of exercises such as the gratitude attitude, finding flow, practicing concentration, define direction in your life, etc. Expert-trainer Bas Jansen is a psychologist who helps you apply such techniques. During the workshop, you can try and discover which of the techniques work for you and which are right for you.

The exercises help to reduce stress, perfectionism, mental filtering, future anxiety, and other negative mental states. They will support your ‘growth mindset’ and help you prevent and solve stress, as well as simply add to your quality of life.

In between the course days, you put the techniques of your choice to practice, and reflect on their usefulness on the second workshop.

Trainer: The workshop will be conducted by Bas Jansen, a psychologist and senior ElroyCOM Trainer. ElroyCOM Training is a certified CRKBO educational institute that specializes in training scientists on various career levels. Please note that the trainer is accompanied by an actor here to reenact specific situations that researchers might be confronted with. So you may expect a rather dynamic and personal workshop. If you are not sure that that’s your thing, we will also organize a Postdoc101 Talk on a similar topic in June.

Date:  29-30/11/2021 + follow up 1-2/12/2021

Format: Online workshop via Zoom on Nov. 29 & 30: 9.00-15.00 hs.
Individual Session on Dec. 1 or 2 online via Zoom.

Target group: This workshop is designed for postdocs with at least two years of postdoc experience who do not have their own group yet, but are preparing for the next steps. Researchers who already have their own group can register for the course in January.

Description: The transition from postdoc to research group leader, from being a member of somebody else’s group to becoming a fully-fledged independent researcher is an exhilarating experience – but also very challenging. This workshop offers practical advice and techniques for establishing an effective leadership style, identifying needs, setting goals and managing expectations, recruiting and developing research staff, reviewing progress and dealing with underperformance.

By participating in the workshop, you will be better equipped to:

• Understand what makes an effective research leader and manager
• Set out vision and direction for your research group
• Relate short-term actions to longer-term strategies
• Build a talented team with a variety of individual behaviours, experiences, attitudes and skills
• Create a welcoming and invigorating research environment
• Manage your resources effectively
• Organise your time and workload to maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Establish yourself as a research leader at your institution and in your research field

What this course is not about: How to fund your research group.

Trainer: Dr. Thomas Koch is a research management consultant, certified business trainer and coach. Holding a PhD in physical chemistry from the UK, he has 11 years of international experience as a researcher throughout Europe. He also has 13 years of experience as a research manager and senior administrator delivering high-level support and advisory services for both researchers and university top management at the universities in Bochum (RUB) and Munich (LMU). In 2016, he started up his own consultancy Academic Futures to provide hands-on workshops and individual guidance for researchers to realise their research ideas and career objectives.

Date: 25/11/2020

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 14.00-16.30 hs.

Target group: Doctoral researchers in their final year and early-career postdocs max. 2 years are completing their doctorate.  The workshop addresses funding programs suitable for doctoral researchers in their final year and early-career postdocs. Please do not register if you are not eligible!

Description: It is well known that pursuing a career in academia can be tedious and many young researchers continue their career beyond a PhD without being aware of the career system. They are expected to raise third-party funds, but are not given any advice and training on how to apply for these funds.

In this workshop, you will get an overview of the largest funding organizations in Germany and the third party funding system, as well as general insights in the career paths at a university. The workshops aims at early career researchers and doctoral students who want to gain insight into the system and prepare for their first application in Germany.

Invited guest: We are very happy that Dr. Omar Ramon Serrano Oswald, Research Associate at the Chair for European and Global Governance at the TUM School of Governance will join us for the workshop to talk about his experience as a postdoc and third-party funding applications. Dr. Serrano Oswald recently successfully applied for a DFG Research Grant, and will be happy to share his experience with us. Before joining TUM, he has been teaching and conducted research in China, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

What this workshop is not about: Applying for research funding groups & larger collaborative projects. If you are looking for more information for these formats, refer to our Postdoc101 series.

Trainer: The course will be conducted by Dr. Neele Meyer and Dr. Sarah Förster from the TUM Talent Factory and National Funding Team of TUM ForTe. At TUM, the TUM Talent Factory is the central point of contact for young researchers who are planning to apply for third-party funding. We assist young researchers who are already working at TUM as well as focus on winning young talents over for a long-term career at TUM. Our services include the support of researchers who apply for funding and provision of information about opportunities and programs.

Registration: Doctoral researchers who are members of the TUM Graduate School need to register via the TUM-GS, postdocs should register via the general form. Seats are not limited for this workshop

Date: 08 & 29/11/2021

Format: Online workshop via Zoom on Nov. 8 and 29, 14:00-16:30 hs.
Plus self-Study on an online learning platform and optional a weekly 1-hour discussion on Nov. 15 & 22, 14:00-15:00 hs.

Description: Every week has 7 days, 168 hours or 10080 minutes… a lot of time to do a lot of things! Still, many of us suffer from the feeling of always having too little of it. You might not give it enough thought on how you actually want to spend it and how to distribute it between your career, family, friends and hobbies. During this online workshop we will analyse the individual schedules of the week and provide tools and ideas to make best use of your time investment. Furthermore, we will discuss how to balance science and life in different contexts and how to plan your days in a flexible work environment. The aim is not only to work more efficiently and to reduce personal stress, but also to be more satisfied and successful in your career and your personal life.

Topics on the basic principles of time-management:

• What do I want to achieve this year professionally and personally?
• Your 168 hours: How much do you actually work? How much of this is towards your goals?
• For what to spend time?
• How to (not) schedule your calendar?
• E-mails, meetings and phone calls
• Science-life balance

Course format: The course will be held on an online learning platform, where a live session with the participants will take place on the start and end day of the course. In addition, participants have the possibility to request one hour of weekly online consultation with the trainer. All participants will receive a script of the course in PDF format for offline and future use so that they can work through the material offline as well as after the course.

Trainer: The workshop will be conducted by Dr. Karin Bodewits from NaturalScience.Careers, who has a background in biology and biochemistry and is the founder of NaturalScience.Careers. She is the author of books, short story writer, speaker and seminar leader.

Datum: 25-26/11/2021

Format: Präsenzworkshop City Center Campus, 9.00-16.30 Uhr

Dieser Workshop wird in deutscher Sprache abgehalten.

Zielgruppe: Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen.

Beschreibung: Wie kann ich die Komplexität meines Forschungsprojekts sowie zentrale Ansätze und Erkenntnisse der Dissertation wirkungsvoll vermitteln? Mit einem gut strukturierten Vortragsaufbau, einer geschliffenen Rhetorik in Abstimmung eigener non-verbaler Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten und dem damit verbundenen authentischen Vortragsstil gelingt es, mit den eigenen wissenschaftlichen Themen in einen wirkungsvollen und nachhaltigen Austausch zu kommen.

In diesem Seminar geht es darum, in wissenschaftlichen Präsentationen eindeutige und inspirierende Kernbotschaften zu vermitteln. Die Teilnehmer:innen lernen, das Interesse der Zuhörerenden zu gewinnen und deren Aufmerksamkeit zu halten. Im Zentrum des Seminars stehen dabei aktive Übungen und deren vertiefende Wiederholung mit dem Blick auf individuellem Fortschritt. Sie werden in ihrem eigenen authentischen Redestil gestärkt und lernen, Atem, Körpersprache und Stimme als unterstützendes Element zu integrieren. Somit wird ein authentischer Rede- und Vortragsstil kreiert und durch wiederholtes Üben abrufbar gemacht. Darauf aufbauend wird reflektierend ein professioneller Umgang mit kritischen Fragen trainiert. Individuelles Feedback macht das eigene Potenzial sichtbar, stärkt die Präsentation und somit auch die Außenwirkung.

Trainerin: Tinka Kleffner ist nicht nur Profi-Sprecherin & Schauspielerin, sondern auch Kommunikationstrainerin & Systemische Beraterin. Frau Kleffner verfügt über einen reichen Erfahrungsschatz rund um die Themen Präsentation, Kommunikation & starke Auftritte in der Gruppe sowie im Einzelcoaching.

Registration: Please note that this workshop is only open to researchers in Social Sciences and Humanities at TUM. If you are a researcher with an interdisciplinary focus, make sure to elaborate this in the motivation statement. The statement can be written in German for this workshop.

Date: 05-06/10/2021

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9.00-15.00 hs.

Description: One of the most challenging tasks in science is getting continuously funded with creative and convincing proposals. Therefore, organizational and writing tools have to be learned early in a scientists’ career. The aim of this course is to provide international Postdocs with an opportunity to build their understanding, skills and confidence in writing and evaluating their own grant proposals to get funded. Special emphasis is put on project management in grant writing, key message, abstract, structure, work packages, texting, scientific storytelling, data visualization, contingency plans, appropriate funding calls, financials, and evaluation process. Examples from the trainers’ successful research grants (DFG, EU, etc.) will be used. The participants create their individual proposals with title, abstract, outline, work packages and financial plan. Specific details for the first DFG proposal will be of central importance.

Topics:

• Grant Proposal
• Key Message
• Scientific Storytelling
• Project and Time Management in Grant Writing

Trainer: PD Dr. ès sc. Alexander Schiller is a chemist from LMU Munich and PhD in bioinorganic chemistry from EPF Lausanne. Dr. Schiller is a full-time trainer for transferable skills with Schiller & Mertens. He facilitates effective communication for scientists, engineers, physicians and other rational minds as trainier and coach. He is a “Certified Facilitator and Advanced Coach” from The Thiagi Group Inc. He has a 20-years teaching experience at LMU Munich, EPF Lausanne, UC Santa Cruz, and FSU Jena (Lehr-Zertifikat Advanced, Habilitation in 2015, Venia legendi in Inorganic Chemistry).

Course format: Please note that preference for this workshop will be given to TUM Postdocs who have no participated in our general Grant Writing Workshop or the MSCA Writing Camp in the past.
The selected participants do not have to prepare a proposal beforehand. This workshop will be repeated in April 2022.

Date: 12-13/10/2021

Format: Online workshop via Zoom, 9:00-12:30 hs. and Individual 1-on-1 Zoom session within 2 weeks after the workshop.

Description: Academic study and research offers many opportunities to professionally network - which are too often missed or under-utilised. This workshop and follow-up sessions will develop the required skills and habits to help build professional, collaborative connections and contribute to personal career success.

The programme is formatted to comply with current Covid-19 restrictions with an initial group workshop (maximum 8 participants) observing social distancing followed by smaller group sessions (maximum 4 participants) via Zoom and completing with individual, customised sessions (Zoom), arranged flexibly to suit each participant.

Core Skills covered:

• Proactive “person-to-person” networking with peers at a conference and online
• Developing a clear and effective compelling narrative
• Adapting to various behaviour types and international/cultural demographics
• Managing body language & dealing with nerves and anxiety
• Assertive and respectful communication techniques
• Optimizing non-verbal communication habits
• Enhancing fluency of scientific English (for non-native speakers)
• Developing practical & technical skills for web-based communications
• Developing an engaging and credible online professional presence

Trainer: The workshop will be conducted by Dr. Paul Charlton who has over 20 years of relevant experience, now utilized in both designing and delivering the most useful content in a challenging, interactive and highly actionable format. For more details about Paul, please visit his linkedin profile.

Date: 21/10/2021

Format: Online workshop via Zoom. Timing: 9.00 – 12.30 hs.

Description: Career pathways in German University Medicine are characterized by numerous different options. This online seminar focusses in a compact and detailed way on different pathways to scientific independency. Therefore the existing specific junctions and qualifications in order to gain access to a full professorship in German University Medicine will be outlined. Further, the seminar features an overview to an optimized application to a full professorship in German University Medicine.

Based on the knowledge as legal counsel in field and career coach it may as well provide guidance and useful help for the process of settling within the jungle of oppertunities in German University Medicine.

Topics:

• Career pathways: Habilitation or Junior-Professorship?; Perspectives on different career tracks
• Legal aspects: Limited / short term contracts (WissZeitVG); First call: limited / probationary period; Tenure Track / Fast Track; Ban of internal candidates? (Hausberufung)
• Application within and outside Academia: Typical compendium of documents requested
• Procedures of selection: A succesful hearing; On-Site-Visit of candidates; On top: Assessment Center

Trainer: The course will be conducted by Dr. Steffen Moritz Rützenhoff, Legal counsel for Medical and Public Law from Deutscher Hochschul Verband (DHV).  Dr. Rützenhoff, studied law at the universities of Bonn and Florence, as well as at King's College in London. Since 2019, Dr Rützenhoff has been advising members of the German Association of Higher Education Institutions (Deutscher Hochschulverband). He also works as a coach in the context of individual appointment and career counselling. Since 2020, Dr. Rützenhoff has been the state executive director of the Saxony state association of the DHV in addition to his work as legal counsel.

In addition to the Postdoc Workshops, the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning offers a wide range of programs for the lifelong education of leaders and professionals from science, business and society at all stages of their career. For example, see the Program on Effective Science Management.

The TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning stands for evidence-based, future-oriented and sustainable continuing education. Adopting a holistic approach, it offers a wide range of individual courses and structured programs to support professionals in academia and business to advance their capabilities and to face current and future job-related and societal challenge effectively.

TUM ProLehre | Media and Didactics offers a wide range of courses and certification to improve your teaching, expand your teaching skills and make best use of the design possibilities of Educational Technologies.

Courses on Literature Research, Data Management, Academic Publishing, and Research Impact

The University Library supports you with a wide range of publishing and consultation services in such areas as research data management, citation, open access, and bibliometrics.

The Library’s training programme focuses on services, skills and techniques that will support researchers in their daily work. In compact courses, you will learn how to search literature efficiently, cite correctly, apply for open access funding, navigate publication procedures, manage research data sustainably and increase your research impact.

All dates and the complete course program is available on the Library’s website: https://www.ub.tum.de/en/courses.
For more information, please contact the Library’s Information Literacy Team: workshops@ub.tum.de

TUM horizons offers advanced training on personality development, project management, communication skills and intercultural communication.

Please note that the courses are only for the TUM employees, scholarship holders can usually not take part. In addition, you need to register for the courses immediately when the new program comes out at the beginning of the semester.

For updated information, please visit the following website.

TUM Global Dialogue Series

The TUM Liaison Officers in Beijing, Brussels, Mumbai, San Francisco, and São Paulo regularly organise event in their regions. The Dialogue Series provides an opportunity to learn more about TUM's dialogue with international cooperation partners.

Find out more about their programme on the website of the TUM Global & Alumni Office.

Join the TUM Community if you are leaving TUM

TUM connections all around the world: More than 81,000 TUM Alumni and current students in Germany and abroad are part of the TUM Community. Members of the worldwide network support and accompany each other from the beginning of their studies throughout all phases of life. Within the TUM Community the Women of TUM are a lively network that is growing rapidly and connects women across continents, generations, hierarchies and disciplines. Before leaving TUM, join the TUM Community to stay connected.

Additionally as a member of TUM or TUM Alumni you have access to extensive career services: Make use of career webinars about job hunting strategies, advice on your application documents and salary negotiations. You can have your CV and cover letter checked online or book an individual career counseling session. Find all the career offers here: www.community.tum.de/career

For updated information, please visit this website as well as this one.

Before leaving TUM, join the Network to stay connected.

Scientists at TUM can discuss individual concerns (e.g. career planning, work-life balance, etc.) with professional coaches in individual coaching sessions. Coaching enables the participants to reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses for a professional and scientific career, to draw up a personal career plan or to test their own goals and motivation for executive functions. Individual coaching is currently offered online.

The offer is coordinated by TUM Equal Opportunity (TUM Chancengleichheit). You can find more information here. (https://www.chancengleichheit.tum.de/en/career-and-training/coaching/individual-coaching/)

Researchers in Medicine can also take part in the KeCK mentoring of the Koordinierungsstelle für Chancengleichheit und Karriereplanung, Dean's Office of the Faculty of Medicine.

German Language Courses

The TUM Language Center provides German language courses for international fellows and offers intercultural communication courses and events to enhance intercultural discourse. They offer special courses for the TUM staff, which makes it also a great opportunity to meet other researchers at TUM.

For updated information and other languages offers, please visit this website.

English Writing Center

The English Writing Center offers free one-to-one consulting in English writing to all members of the TUM community. The Center is staffed by both professional language instructors and student Writing Fellows, all of whom are native (or near-native) English speakers. Contact them to develop long-term proficiency in English writing or to polish your papers in process!

For updated information, please visit the following webpage.

The TUM Institute for Advanced Study regularly invites TUM scientists and their guests for coffee! Meet other scientists and listen to a short talk (10-15 mins) on a recent major TUM publication or issue. For updated information, please visit this website.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Wednesday Coffee Talks will be streamed online.