Postdocs and W1-Professors
The Hamburg Research Academy is committed to improving the conditions for postdoctoral researchers, early career research group leaders, academics pursuing their Habilitation, and W1-Professors in Hamburg. You can take advantage of the Hamburg Research Academy's services if you are employed at one of the member institutions or have a comparable externally funded position.
You are at a stage in your career in which you are gaining further qualifications and must make important decisions? To support you in this, we have compiled specific information, offers, and activities related to research funding, HR development, and family services. We can also help you find the right contacts and advice for external funding applications, financial support for research and conference trips, and questions about the best continuing education opportunities for your career.
Career phases after the PhD
The first two years after completing your doctoral studies (the early postdoc phase) should be used for career orientation. Do you wish to stay in academia or are careers outside of the university also an option? If you would like to pursue an academic career, then external funding applications for projects or your own position are of vital importance. If you plan to move into industry or elsewhere, you should do so immediately (or shortly after) after completing your doctoral studies – the longer you wait, the harder the transition can be.
Over the next four to six years as a experienced postdoc, you should aim to be appointed to a permanent position / tenured professorship and to develop your academic profile. In this phase, you will need to apply for further external funding and publish your academic work. You should also gain experience in teaching and supervising doctoral students, projects and staff as well as developing your project coordination and management skills. Ideally, you would also try to apply for your own research group. Special funding programs are available for these positions.
These career phases are governed by the Academic Short-Term Labor Contract Act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz), which limits an academic's qualification phase to twelve years. The Family Office at University of Hamburg (UHH) provides a useful overview on these stipulations and any exceptions to these. We also hold regular spotlights on the WissZeitVG - please check out our course portal.
