November 20, 2025: Effective digital note taking with Obsidian

Disorganized notes, scattered references, and constant tool-switching make research more stressful than necessary. Researchers need a smart, reliable system that keeps everything connected, easy to find, and ready to use. In this practical lecture, I will introduce Obsidian, a powerful markdown-based note-taking software. You will learn how to use Obsidian to organize your work, from tracking to-do lists and meetings to collecting notes and references, recording ideas, and linking them into mind maps - all in one interconnected place.

When? Thursday, November 20th, 4-5 pm

Where? Webex

Meeting link:
https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin-en/j.php?MTID=mef9175e064c5472abdf1379b70234285

Meeting number:
2780 770 6115

Meeting password:
j8pMDg68mRj

Join from a video system or application
Dial 27807706115@fu-berlin.webex.com
You can also dial 62.109.219.4 and enter your meeting number.

Meeting password for video system
58763468

Join by phone
+49-619-6781-9736 Toll
+49-89-95467578 Toll
Access code: 27807706115

Global call-in numbers
https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin/globalcallin.php?MTID=m231125809d2464b5ad037f68966328cf

Meeting password for audio
58763468

Overview Doctorate Procedure

1. Supervision, Topic and Funding

What are the requirements for admission? What has to be done before starting the doctorate? What funding opportunities are there?

2. Start of Work

What insurance cover is required at the start of work?

3. Admission

When and where should I submit my application for doctorate admission? What documents are required for admission?

Mitgliedschaftsverhältnis FU / Enrollment

4. FU Membership and Enrollment

Is there a need to become a member of the FU Berlin? Is enrollment including the student ID card and the semester ticket necessary?

Regelbearbeitungszeit / Standard Time to Completion

5. Standard Time to Completion

What is the standard time to completion for the doctorate? What should I do if the standard time can not be met? How can a change of supervisor take place?

Schreiben der Dissertation / Writing the Thesis

6. Writing the Thesis

Is a monograph necessary or may a cumulative work also be submitted? What must be considered? What should be on the title page?

7. Submission of the Thesis

How many copies have to be submitted? What should be taken into account when submitting a cumulative thesis? Which forms are necessary for submitting the thesis?

8. Review and Display Period

Who appoints the doctoral committee? How is the review procedure organized? How long is the display period?

9. Defense of the Thesis

Who organizes the disputation? When should the disputation be announced? How many members of the doctoral committee must be present? How long does the disputation take?

10. Publication of the Thesis

When does the publication take place? Which kinds of publication are possible? Is the publication required for the award of the certificate?

11. Awarding of the Doctoral Degree

When can the title be used? When and where do I get the certificate?

Das Alumni-Magazin „wir“ der Freien Universität Berlin erscheint zwei Mal im Jahr.

12. Offer: Joining the Alumni Network of ERG

How can I register for the alumni network of the Ernst-Reuter-Gesellschaft? What are the advantages?

Image Credits

Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy

Graduate Center / Doctorate