Hamburg Research Academy
The HRA Year in PicturesYear in Review: 2025
15 December 2025
Photo: HRA/Wied
Whether at the first Hamburg Postdoc Days, inspiring career events or our City Walks, 2025 was marked by exchange, learning and professional growth. We would like to thank everyone whose curiosity, commitment and ideas shaped the HRA’s work throughout the year.
With expanded programmes and new impulses for personal development, the HRA continued to support doctoral researchers and postdocs in a more targeted way in 2025. A particular focus was placed on strengthening career guidance services, helping researchers at different career stages to explore professional pathways and develop well-informed next steps. The international perspective was also broadened: through the EUGLOH programme Making an Impact, the HRA fostered European networking and conveyed valuable skills for academic careers within and beyond universities. At the same time, the Postdoc Network and the newly elected Doctoral Council actively advanced key topics such as good supervision and internationalisation, highlighting how vibrant and diverse the HRA community is.
Join us on a short journey through the highlights of the past year and explore our year in review in the image gallery.
Photo: HRA
January, February & March: City Walks
The year began with inspiring City Walks that took participants to three very different museums: the International Maritime Museum, the Police Museum, and the Museum of Nature. These English-language walks offered early-career researchers the opportunity to discover Hamburg from new perspectives, gain insights into urban history and scientific culture, and engage in conversation with peers across disciplines.
The dates for 2026 are already set!
Photo: HRA
April: By Doctoral Researchers, for Doctoral Researchers
In April, the new Doctoral Council was elected. The council continues to work with dedication to support exchange formats, highlight the needs of doctoral researchers, and ensure that their perspectives are represented in university processes. A warm thank you goes to all current and former members for their commitment! New doctoral researchers are always welcome – whether for regular exchange or to actively shape the council’s work.
Photo: HRA
April & September: Information Days for Prospective Doctoral Researchers
In April and September, we hosted our Information Days for Prospective Doctoral Researchers – one of our most popular recurring formats for Master’s students and recent graduates of HRA member institutions. Through short inputs and Q&A sessions participants received guidance on key aspects of beginning a doctorate, including developing a topic, finding supervision, and securing funding.
Particularly valuable, as participants noted, was the exchange with current doctoral researchers from different disciplines and backgrounds – research assistants, scholarship holders, members of the HRA Doctoral Researchers’ Council – as well as experts from the Family Office, the Central Scholarship Office, and Arbeiterkind.de.
Photo: HRA/Helm
May: Promovierendentag – “Finding Your Voice – Presence in Academia”
The 2025 HRA Promovierendentag revolved around the power of one’s own voice – both literally and metaphorically. On 22 May, more than 80 doctoral researchers from the HRA member universities gathered at betahaus in Hamburg’s Sternschanze district to explore visibility, presence, and communication skills in academia.
A highlight of the day was the concluding Science Slam, where research was presented with humour, passion and creativity.
Read more about the event in this article. We look forward to welcoming everyone again on 21 May 2026!
Photo: HRA
July: International Programme “Making an Impact!”
In July, the HRA travelled to the Universidade do Porto for the second edition of the “Making an Impact!” programme, held within the EUGLOH alliance. The programme brought together 28 doctoral researchers from several European universities for a week of collaboration in an international setting.
Participants explored topics related to science communication and career development, engaged in practical training sessions on interview and presentation techniques, and reflected on how to tailor their research communication to different audiences. Personal strengths and competencies also played a central role throughout the week.
In our interview, you can also read first-hand reflections from one of the participants.
Photo: HRA/Helm
New this year: HRA Career Counseling
With our new counseling offer, we support doctoral researchers and postdocs in identifying their strengths, exploring career options, and gaining greater clarity for their next steps. Whether they are aiming for a career within or beyond academia, the career coaching provides space – in group or individual sessions – for personal questions and well-informed decisions.
Photo: HRA/Wied
September: Fifth Hamburg 3MT Competition
In September, it was that time again: nine doctoral researchers from four Hamburg universities presented the topic of their dissertations – each in just 180 seconds. Hall 424 in the Oberhafen district was well filled, and more than 140 guests enjoyed an entertaining evening of impressive presentations.
First place went to Charlotte Goblirsch from Hamburg University of Technology for her talk “Exciting, Green… and Ignored: The Hidden Struggle of Sustainable Delivery.”
In our article, she shares her experiences preparing for the competition and standing on stage.
Photo: UHH, RRZ/MCC, Mentz
November: Hamburg Postdoc Days
In November, the HRA hosted the first-ever Hamburg Postdoc Days. Around 60 postdocs from various Hamburg universities came together for two days devoted to academic career development.
At the opening event, four professors shared personal and honest insights into their career paths – the detours, uncertainties, and the small and big successes that ultimately led them to their professorships.
A full recap is available in this article.
Photo: HRA
November: New Members of the Hamburg Research Academy
The Hamburg Research Academy continues to grow and is delighted to welcome two new associated members: the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH) and the Hamburg Institute for Social Research (HIS). Their membership strengthens the HRA as a vibrant network for early-career researchers in Hamburg who wish to connect across disciplines and expand their professional skills.
Read more in this article.
Photo: HRA
We Say Thank You!
A dynamic and inspiring year lies behind us — shaped by intensive exchange, new impulses and many moments of shared growth. We would like to sincerely thank you for the wide-ranging support and the trustful collaboration throughout the year. Your engagement in our programmes, projects and committees made a tangible contribution to the HRA’s work in 2025.
We look forward to everything the coming year will bring!
