Balancing Research and Family: Tips for Parents Doing a DoctorateGuest article by the HRA Doctoral Council

18 March 2024

Photo: HRA/Dumitrascu

Research and family obligations are a balancing act: temporary contracts, low wages, frequent moves, and a high degree of flexibility pose a special challenge. Thus, for many researchers, the question about balancing research and family is a significant one.

Below, we at the Doctoral Council list offers, contact points, and networks that can help parents doing a doctorate:

Offers from Hamburg universities

Hamburg’s universities offer an extensive range of opportunities for researchers with families. Here is a selection:

Parents' lunch break: At the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), there is a lunch meeting every second Wednesday of the month to get together with other parents.
Mobile toy boxes: As trivial as it may seem, this offer can save the day: Universities such as the Universität Hamburg (UHH) and the TUHH offer toy boxes in various buildings that can be borrowed.
Emergency childcare: Is your childcare spontaneously canceled and you can't go to work or attend an event? You can find emergency childcare services at various universities, e.g. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg), University of Fine Arts Hamburg (HFBK) and UHH. You can also apply for subsidies for childcare costs.
Family rooms: In the event of short-term childcare difficulties, various universities have parent-child offices as well as breastfeeding and quiet rooms available. E.g. at the Helmut Schmidt University (HSU), UHH, HFBK, HFMT and TUHH.
Funding programs: Keep your eyes open for funding and support programs. At the UHH, for example, there is a great re-entry program that supports early career researchers after parental leave and the resulting interruption of their qualification project.
Advising and information: The family offices at the universities provide advice and information. In addition, institutions such as Pro Exzellenzia plus, the HRA or individual faculties and clusters offer events on balancing work and family life.

Find out more about offers from individual universities:

Universität Hamburg
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW)
Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) (German only)
HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU)
Helmut Schmidt University (HSU) (German only)
The Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT) (German only)
Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg
Bucerius Law School (BLS) (German only)

The Hamburg Research Academy and the Universität Hamburg Family Office jointly offer a regular information session on doing a doctorate if you have a family: HRA Spotlight—Promovieren und Familie. See our course portal for current events.

HRA Doctoral Council: Peer-to-peer advising

For current and prospective doctoral researchers

Are you seeking support and exchange among equals prior to or during your doctoral studies? The Doctoral Council is happy to share experiences and advise you.

Our peer-to-peer advising is based on mutual learning and development. You can discuss questions, concerns, and challenges confidentially, get tips, and hear about our experiences.

Make an appointment(promovierendenrat"AT"hra-hamburg.de). We look forward to meeting you!

Center of Excellence Women and Science (CEWS)

In the wake of the Standards, Guidelines and Quality Assurance for Measures for Gender Equality in Academia (StaRQ) project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the CEWS created an online platform with research tools and information related to equal opportunity measures.

Research overview
Tools and resources
Survey-based studies
Legal situation in Germany

INKA

The INKA online information system provides an exemplary overview of equal opportunity measures in research and teaching. Under "Vereinbarkeit" (compatibility), you can find measures from academic institutions on:

childcare
returning to work
nursing care for relatives
family offers
information and advising

Mutterschaft und Wissenschaft (Motherhood and academia) network

The Mutterschaft und Wissenschaft (German only) network offers a forum to anyone who identifies as a mother*, works in academia, and wishes to exchange, network, and mutually support and inform.

workshops
systemic individual advising
networking (newsletter and local group meetings)
readings from one’s own books

Alma Mater writing help

Writing help (German only). For mothers. Targeted support with academic writing processes.

One-on-one coaching
Group coaching
The Alma-Magazin

Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation

Founded in 2004, the Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard-Foundation promotes science and research and supports young female academics with children by providing the freedom and mobility necessary for an academic career. The foundation wants to help prevent the loss of outstanding talent in scientific research. It targets female doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers in a subject area in the field of experimental natural sciences or medicine.

Academic parenthood: 5 tips from the Family Office

We reached out to the Family Office at the Universität Hamburg for some valuable tips for doctoral researchers who are juggling research and family responsibilities:

Utilize university support services: Seek advice from your university's family or equal opportunities office, especially on the family policy component of the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (WissZeitVG) and available childcare services.
Stay informed: Contact the equal opportunities officers and/or family offices at your university and/or faculty. There is often a newsletter to which you can subscribe. This will keep you up to date with funding programs.
Participate in events: Join events that address balancing academia and family life. These events can provide insights and strategies for managing both aspects effectively.
Build a support network: A strong network of friends and/or relatives can be just as helpful as contact and dialogue with other doctoral researchers with child(ren).
Communicate with your partner: Talk to your partner about the distribution of tasks in the family – Hashtag#MentalLoad. Make sure that care work is shared between the partners. For example, if both partners work part-time they can divide care work fairly between each other.

Balancing a doctorate and family life is challenging, but with the right support and resources, it is manageable. Let's support each other in finding a balance that works!