„Lots of food for thought, useful and actionable advice”International Researcher Day on 16 November 2022

29 November 2022

Photo: Jan Schmidt

Research is international. The collaboration and personal exchange between researchers across languages, nations and cultures fosters the most innovative projects. Staying abroad can also have a very positive impact on an academic career. Hamburg is a popular location on the career path of many international researchers. At the Hamburg Research Academy's first International Researcher Day on 16 November, participants had the opportunity to find out more about the German academic system and Hamburg as a research location. In line with this year’s focus on doctoral researchers, we provided all the basics for a successful doctorate journey.

How does the German academic system work and what career paths are there after my doctorate? How do I develop my research profile and build a network with other researchers? And how do I deal with the issues of mental health, discrimination and racism, that might affect my everyday work? These are just some of the questions addressed at the International Researcher Day. The English-language event took place online so that people from abroad, planning a research stay or doctorate in Hamburg, were able to participate. Depending on their interests and needs, participants put together their individual time table.

10 tips from the sessions:

Get to know the German research landscape
Germany's research landscape is unique and complex. Understanding the structures and processes of universities, non-university research institutions and third-party funding providers is key to successfully plan your future research projects. For more information, "Research in Germany" offers an overview and a detailed brochure.

Compile your competence portfolio
What skills do I have and how can I use them professionally and develop them further? Reflecting on your own skills and strengths is the important first step of a successful career development. Take a look at our interdisciplinary qualification program to acquire new skills.

Prepare your academic career well in advance
Know the possible career paths after the doctorate so that you can prepare for them early. You can find an overview of academic career paths at Research in Germany. Apply for one of our career programs to prepare yourself for an academic career after your doctorate.

Establish a productive relationship with your supervisor
One of the key variables contributing to a successful doctorate is a productive relationship between the doctoral researcher and the supervisor. In The PhD Chronicles you can read about expectations, your own impact on the relationship and experiences from other doctoral researchers.

Managing your doctoral project efficiently
A doctoral journey usually takes between three and five years. There are some useful tools to keep track of your time and project management and to optimize your workflow. The podcast Hello PhD offers tips and tricks for a successful doctorate.

Ask for support and improve your working and living conditions
Take advantage of support services so that you can fully concentrate on your doctorate. If you have questions about residence status, insurance, or offers for families, you can find advice here: Hamburg Welcome Center, Welcome Service at Universität Hamburg, Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – BeSI.

Take care of your mental wellbeing
Take care of your health and seek help as early as possible. Take advantage of the offers of the city of Hamburg, private organizations and your university. In addition, we recommend the blog A Happy PhD.

Build a safe and supportive workplace
An inclusive and non-discriminatory work culture helps everyone to be more creative and productive and to enjoy everyday life. Take an active role in shaping your working environment, seek support when you face challenges (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency or at your university) and develop appropriate strategies (HRA spotlight – Active Bystander Training).

Network strategically
Networking can contribute significantly to your career development. Plan your networks strategically to benefit from them in the long term. You can find information at Academics and in HRA workshops such as Strategic Networking. Put theory into practice and get started at the HRA City Walks or the HRA Doctoral Council.

Reflect intercultural collaboration and communication
Misunderstandings and ambiguities can occur in any research context and may complicate teamwork. Reflect on your communication styles and those of your colleagues to improve your collaboration. Find out more about the topic in our HRA spotlight – Intercultural Awareness for International Collaboration.

Wie geht es weiter?

What’s next?

The next International Researcher Day is planned for autumn 2023 with a focus on international postdocs. Until then, please visit our course platform to find workshops, information sessions and networking events for doctoral and early career researchers.

Good to know:

Find out about the support offers for doctoral researchers, postdocs and international researchers in general at your university. Depending on the university, there are international offices, equal opportunity offices, anti-discrimination officers, ombudspersons, family offices and counseling centers for conflicts and mental health issues, who will be happy to help you.