HRA-Senate receptionsmall step in the town hall—a milestone for early career researcher support

25 May 2018, by HRA -Team

Following 2 years of intensive preparation and planning by members of the Board of Directors, managing director Elena Nendza, and all participating partners, it is now official: on 25 May 2018 the Hamburg Research Academy (HRA), the new central point of contact for Hamburg’s doctoral and early career researchers, was inaugurated in a ceremonious Senate reception in the Hamburg Town Hall.

Following 2 years of intensive preparation and planning by members of the Board of Directors, managing director Elena Nendza, and all participating partners, it is now official: on 25 May 2018 the Hamburg Research Academy (HRA), the new central point of contact for Hamburg’s doctoral and early career researchers, was inaugurated in a ceremonious Senate reception in the Hamburg Town Hall.

To open the event, second mayor and senator of the Hamburg Ministry of Science, Research and Equal Opportunity, Katharina Fegebank gave a dynamic welcome speech. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Lenzen[UV1] , chair of Hamburg’s State Higher Education Conference (LHK) and president of Universität Hamburg, and Prof. Dr. Marc Föcking, scientific director of the HRA, gave an overview of the special role of the HRA as an institution run jointly by 9of Hamburg’s higher education institutions and its purpose; namely, to advise, train, and network doctoral and early career researchers.

To follow, guest speaker Dr. Ernst Dieter Rossmann, federal member of the German Bundestag and chair of its Permanent Committee on Education, Research and Technology, bestowed his congratulations and underscored the importance of doctoral and early career researchers for Germany. He concluded his “baptism speech” with the words: “May the child lose no time learning to walk.”

As far as learning to walk is concerned: we are growing and getting bigger all the time!

The Hamburg Research Academy has seen much activity over the past few months. We have managed to recruit advisors for the various areas and a team assistant. Currently, we are working on the first innovative projects: a “bar camp” and the implementation of our cross-disciplinary program of advising and courses. Further colleagues will join our team, so that we will be able to open our doors to Hamburg’s doctoral and early career researchers in the Winter Semester 2018.

We would like to extend our particular thanks to our member universities and cooperation partners as well as to all those who have supported the Hamburg Research Academy.

We look forward to working together with all of Hamburg’s academic and scientific institutions in the future and we would like to express our thanks for the successful opening ceremony in the Hamburg Town Hall.