Hamburg Postdoc Days 2025: Academic Career Perspectives

Workshop 1: Developing Your Emerging Research Ideas for Funding Proposal

• Target group: Early-stage postdocs (usually between 1-3 years after their doctorate)
• Time: Morning workshop session (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM) 

Don’t let funding calls pass you by because your great research ideas are still just in your head. This workshop gives you the space and tools to start turning those ideas—no matter how early-stage—into a clear and workable proposal. Whether your ideas are ones you’ve been pondering for a while, discussed with colleagues, or just beginning to take shape, this session will help you organise and develop them so you’re ready when the right funding opportunity arises.

Trainer

Dr. Tracey Stead is a trainer, facilitator and certified professional coach, with over 20 years of experience that spans academia and research, public and private sector. Over the past eight years Tracey has established a successful training and development consultancy working across the UK and internationally. She specialises in leadership coaching, training and development with researchers and facilitating collaborative events with researchers, stakeholders and funders.

Workshop 2: Funding Opportunities for Postdocs

• Target group: Early-stage postdocs (usually between 1-3 years after their doctorate)
• Time: Morning workshop session (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM) 

What funding is available for postdocs and what should you consider when submitting an application? This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of national funding formats with a focus on the German Research Foundation (DFG) and supplementary information on federal funding and foundations. Special focus will be on funding formats for postdocs, both in the early as well as in the more advanced phase. Following the presentation there will be enough time for your questions.

Trainer

Nora Glaubrecht manages the Early Career Research Support team for postdoctoral funding at the University of Hamburg. Her work focuses on supporting third party funding applications and promoting innovative research of junior researchers. Prior to this role, she served as a research coordinator of the MIN Graduate Center, where she was responsible for improving doctoral supervision at the MIN faculty. Nora’s academic experience also includes postdoctoral positions at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen and the University of Copenhagen.

Workshop 3: Mastering Grant Interviews and Presentations for Funding Panels

• Target group: Experienced postdocs (usually after 3 years of receiving their doctorate)
• Time: Morning workshop session (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM)

In this hands-on session, you will get an overview of some of the most essential techniques for delivering convincing and engaging science project presentations to external panels. Drawing on over ten years of experience with scientific grant coaching, especially ERC Interview Grant Training, this workshops offers practical tools for improving your presentation skills. You will learn how to structure your talk clearly, open with purpose, and end with style. We’ll also explore effective ways of handling Q&A rounds and introduce rhetorical techniques to help you articulate your research vision in a way that is compelling and accessible. Expect an interactive session with active participation and opportunities to experiment with new approaches. Please note: the workshop is intended as an introduction — not a deep dive — into some of the most relevant strategies for grant-related presentations.

Trainer

Dr. Michael Gordian is a trainer and seminar leader specializing in grant training, rhetoric and science communication for scientists. With extensive experience, he currently facilitates workshops and coaching sessions at 17 German universities and numerous international research institutions. He is currently excited about flow activities, surfing, and designing innovative learning games.

Workshop 4: Navigating Your First Professorship Appointment

• Target Group: Junior Group Leaders/W1-professors
• Time: Morning workshop session (9:30 AM - 12:30 PM)

This session is designed to guide independent researchers through the key steps of the academic appointment process in Germany. Topics will include:

• The Application Process
• Application Documents
• The Trial Lecture
• The Committee Interview

Participants will gain practical advice, examples, and strategies to navigate each stage of the appointment process successfully. 

Trainer

To be announced

Workshop 5: Career Planning in German Academia

• Target Group: Early-stage postdocs (usually between 1-3 years after their doctorate)
• Time: Afternoon workshop session (2:15 - 5:15 PM) 

In this workshop participants are first introduced to the different career paths in the German academic system. The workshop then continues on explain the and access routes to these different paths e.g. to a Junior Research Group or a W1 professorship, discuss the importance of careful planning and networks and also look at alternatives to a “classic” path within academia and outside of academia.

Trainer

Dr. Linda Jauch is the head of Hub of Academic Career & Research Culture (HARC) at the University of Hamburg. She has worked in early career researcher development for more than 12 years and is also a member of the advisory board of the German University Association of Advanced Graduate Training (GUAT / UniWiND).

Workshop 6: Essentials of a Strong Academic Portfolio

• Target Group: Early-stage postdocs (usually between 1-3 years after their doctorate)
• Time: Afternoon workshop session (2:15 - 5:15 PM) 

This workshop guides early career researchers through the essentials of building a compelling academic portfolio, helping them showcase their achievements, demonstrate the impact of their work, and highlight their potential for future academic roles. Participants will explore strategies for effectively presenting research, teaching, and service contributions, and gain practical tips to strengthen their profile, make a strong impression in applications, and stand out in competitive academic environments.

Trainer

To be announced

Workshop 7: How to Write Winning Third-Party Funding Applications

• Target Group: Experienced postdocs (usually after 3 years of receiving their doctorate)
• Time: Afternoon workshop session (2:15 - 5:15 PM) 

This workshop is designed to help you transform your research ideas into a compelling funding proposal and significantly improve your chances of success. You will learn how to strategically approach the writing process to avoid last-minute stress and clearly communicate your research to a wide range of reviewers.

In this workshop, you will learn to:

• Structure and write each section of your proposal for maximum impact.
• Clearly articulate the significance and benefits of your research to non-specialists.
• Understand the review process from the inside and tailor your proposal to meet reviewer expectations.
• Identify common mistakes and learn practical tips to avoid them.

A key feature of this workshop is its focus on demystifying the review process. By understanding what happens after you submit your application, you will gain a clear advantage, enabling you to position your work to succeed against other excellent proposals.

Trainer

For over 15 years, Marc Abernathy has supported researchers across all disciplines in crafting winning proposals for highly competitive third-party funding. His expertise includes successful proposal development for major national and international funding bodies, including: ERC (StG and CoG), DFG, DAAD, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Volkswagen Stiftung and Human Frontier Science Programme.