Career programs

The Hamburg Research Academy aims to provide effective career support to final-year doctoral and postdoctoral researchers at all career stages. It has developed 4 career programs, which enable participants from all subjects and member universities to attend exclusive workshops and work together over the course of several months. Intensive collaboration fosters interdisciplinary exchange and helps participants establish solid networks that benefit them in their future careers.

All participants receive a certificate on completion of a program. The HRA also offers ongoing guidance to participants after the program has concluded. They will be invited to HRA events as “research ambassadors” or “business ambassadors,” depending on their chosen career paths.

Program 1: Doctorate Done—What Now? Planning and Starting a Career

Target group: Final-year doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers in the early stages of their careers

Format: Peer-mentoring, workshops

Intended duration: Januar 2021 to June 2021

Content: The program helps final-year doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers in the early stages of their careers plan their future academic or non-academic careers effectively and take productive first steps (e.g., substantiating goals, contacting potential employers, securing external funding).

Further Information & Registration (in German)

Program 2: Navigating successfully in Academia for Experienced Postdocs, Early Research Group Leaders and Junior Professors

Target group: Experienced postdoctoral researchers, early career research group leaders, junior professors

Format: Peer-mentoring, workshops

Intended duration: Sept 2021 - May 2022

Details & registration

Program 3: Take-Off—Strategies for Starting a Non-Academic Career

Target group: Postdoctoral researchers

Format: Group coaching, workshops

Intended duration: tba

Content: What do non-university employers expect from doctoral graduates? Which useful academic skills do doctoral graduates bring to the table? This program encourages individual career development for postdoctoral researchers looking to start a non-academic career. It offers insight into various occupations and provides guidance on applying for jobs to support the transition to the non-academic labor market.

Program 4: Future Leaders in Academia—On Track for a Professorship

Target group: Postdoctoral researchers

Format: Group coaching, workshops

Intended duration: tba

Content: This program aims to provide individual support to highly promising postdoctoral researchers for up to 36 months following completion of the doctorate. Qualification modules help participants take their next career steps (e.g., acquiring funding for a distinguished and externally evaluated early career research group, applying for a tenure-track professorship or an equivalent international position).