I would like to run for the Doctoral Council because my dissertation focuses on higher education, and I am truly passionate about creating an environment that supports doctoral students rather than leaving them to fend for themselves. I regularly take advantage of the Hamburg Research Academy’s programs—especially for networking, structure, and motivation—and I have seen firsthand how much they can improve the experience.

My goal on the Doctoral Council is to focus particularly on direct support and networking: through active participation in peer-to-peer counseling (including my initial experience with systemic coaching), so that questions can be addressed in confidential conversations and concrete next steps can be identified.

I also want to help shape the organization and further development of co-working formats and events, such as the weekly co-working sessions and events like the Long Night of Writing or Writing Weeks. This way, cross-university support can become a reliable fixture—so that connections are formed and mutual exchange remains a part of everyday life.

Dear PhD students,

My name is Sarah Böning. I am 28 years old and have been pursuing my PhD at the UKE since 2025. My PhD project focuses on bioinformatics methods in pediatric oncology. I am originally from Berlin and moved to Hamburg for my PhD. Therefore, I know from personal experience how challenging it can be to arrive in a new city, make connections, and navigate the structures of a new university.

I first learned about the PhD Student Council at the PhD Student Day. The diverse events and offerings immediately inspired me and sparked a desire to get involved. At the same time, I believe it is very important to have an advocacy group for doctoral students that champions their interests and serves as a point of contact for questions and support.

The exchange between doctoral students from different disciplines and departments is particularly close to my heart. Shared challenges unite us—or, to put it with a nod to High School Musical: “We’re all in this together.” That is why I greatly appreciate initiatives such as the co-working space, the Long Night of Writing, or the PhD BBQ. I would be happy to help plan and organize such events and contribute to creating further opportunities for networking.

Furthermore, I would like to advocate for greater visibility of existing programs and activities so that as many doctoral students as possible can benefit from them.
For these reasons, I would be delighted to become a member of the Doctoral Student Council and actively support networking and advocacy for doctoral students.

Best regards,
Sarah

My name is Daniel García Rodríguez, and I am a doctoral student at the Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI) at UKE. I am standing for election to the doctoral council because I value a doctoral culture that combines scientific excellence with openness, strong connections, and meaningful support for all doctoral researchers.

My own path through different scientific and professional environments has shown me how valuable diverse perspectives are for research and how important it is to strengthen the dialogue between academia and the private sector. As an international doctoral researcher, born in Spain, having lived in the United Kingdom, and currently working in Hamburg, I am familiar with the challenges that can arise from language barriers, administrative procedures, and navigating unfamiliar systems.

For that reason, I want to work toward better guidance and stronger support for international doctoral researchers. Through my role as secretary of CERFA, the Society of Spanish Researchers in Germany, I have also gained experience in organization, communication, and academic networking, which I would be glad to contribute to the work of the doctoral council.

I began my PhD in Linguistics at the University of Hamburg in April 2026 and am motivated to contribute to a supportive, inclusive, and internationally connected doctoral community. My research focuses on language and communication, and I value collaboration across disciplines and cultures.

Before starting my PhD, I worked for over 14 years in research, project management, and international organizations, including the United Nations, Google Singapore, and the Asian Development Bank. These experiences strengthened my skills in communication, stakeholder engagement, and representing diverse communities.

As an international researcher, I would also like to strengthen connections between Hamburg and research communities in Asia. Through my academic and professional networks in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Singapore, I hope to support international exchange and collaboration. If elected, I will work to ensure that doctoral researchers feel represented, supported, and connected.

Hello, I’m Anton, 28 years old, and I’ve been pursuing my Ph.D. in music psychology at the Institute for Systematic Musicology since last year.

During my studies at various locations, I’ve seen how much an active student council can accomplish and how much its absence is felt. I am therefore excited about the opportunity to work with the Doctoral Council not only to represent the interests of doctoral students in Hamburg, but also to create spaces and organize activities that foster exchange.

I spend a lot of time communicating my research through science communication. That is why I would like to expand the science communication workshops and formats with the Doctoral Council.

As a student in a small field, it is particularly important to me to strengthen the network of doctoral students in Hamburg. I am convinced that structured exchange across disciplinary boundaries enriches the doctoral experience for everyone involved—both professionally and personally.

I am pursuing my Ph.D. at HAW Hamburg in the field of cognitive architectures for autonomous robotics. By running for the HRA Doctoral Student Council, I hope to help further strengthen the network of doctoral students in Hamburg and promote academic exchange across disciplinary boundaries.

Research thrives on new perspectives. Interdisciplinary exchange, in particular, often opens up new ways of thinking, collaborations, and solutions that would not emerge within one’s own field. That is why I am committed to creating and strengthening spaces for interaction, discussion, and collaboration among doctoral students from different disciplines.

My goal is to stimulate synergies between the research projects of doctoral candidates in Hamburg, to promote knowledge transfer, and thereby to actively help shape and further develop the doctoral culture in Hamburg.