Career Perspectives with a PhD in Natural & Life Sciences // March 12, 5 – 6 pm

Looking for career options after your doctorate? And not sure what is “out there”? With the series "Career Perspectives with a PhD in Natural and Life Sciences", we would like to offer an opportunity for interactive and informal exchange about career-related topics.

On Thursday, March 12, we welcome Dr. Gina Dörpholz, a biochemist who works as scientific lead / research officer at Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC).

All information and the meeting link can be found on this website.

On April 9, we welcome  Dr. Patrick Saloga, a chemist now working as patent attorney at Maucher Jenkins. Mark your calendars!

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Open online consultation hours from the Graduate Center // Tuesdays from 11 - 12

The graduate center coordinator Simone offers regular open online consultation hours.

The consultation is always strictly confidential!

You have questions about:

• the mentoring programs at our department,
• the awarded titles Dr. rer. nat. or Ph.D.,
• the planning of your further career, training and education offers,
• the admission obligation on good scientific practice
• or any other topics related to your doctorate?

None of your problems are too small or unimportant—come by and ask your questions.

Join me online via Webex (please wait in the lobby - I will let you in as soon as the consultation room is free). Always on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.

The advisory service is also open to master's students who seek advice in starting a doctorate. Please feel free to pass on this information.

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Info event series: Doctoral studies at the BCP department // March 27, 11 am – 12 pm

The Graduate Center is organizing an information series for doctoral candidates at the BCP department. Once a month, the focus will be on a specific topic related to doctoral studies at the department, with a short input and the opportunity to ask questions.

The next info event in our series takes place in March 2026 and deals with the topic “Thesis Writing”

Is a monograph necessary or may a cumulative work also be submitted? What must be considered when writing a cumulative thesis? What are the requirements for a cumulative thesis? What should be on the title page? Is there a template? In which languages can I write the dissertation? Can unpublished publications (in preparation, submitted) also be included in the cumulative dissertation?

Join the online meeting, gather some information and ask your questions!

Further information and the Webex link can be found here: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/graduiertenzentrum/promovierende/veranstaltungen/info-events/index.html

Here you will also find the presentations of past information events as well as helpful links on the respective topic.

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Online Workshop “Effective Digital Note-taking Using Obsidian” // April 27, 28 & May 5

This workshop introduces effective digital note-taking and knowledge management principles using Obsidian, a free and flexible software. Through hands-on practice, participants will learn to use Obsidian to organize different aspects of their work.

Who is the course for? Doctoral researchers registered at the BCP department, Postdoctoral researchers at the BCP department

When?  27. & 28. April, 5. May 2026; 2 – 4 pm

Where? Webex Online Course (Please note that a video camera and a microphone are necessary for this course.)

Info & Registration: Register by April 8 via this website.

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Dahlem Research School (DRS)

The DRS summer semester workshop program is published. Registration opens Wednesday, March 18 at 12:00 noon. Get ready to secure your spot: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/course_list.

Open Door Talk Doing Your Doctorate@FU / Financing the Doctorate (online)

Date: 11. März 2026, 14:00-16:00 hrs / 2:00-4:00 pm Berlin time
Format: online 
Language: English

Learn more about the different possibilities of doing a doctorate at Freie Universität Berlin, important administrative steps, potential challenges and how to find funding for your doctoral research.

Please pre-register if you want to receive the talk presentation after the event (see below).
→ Direct online access for the Open Door Talk:
meeting link: https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin/j.php?MTID=m6fd95186e5cadcdfa9cc102ca01b4204; Meeting number (access code): 2793 563 6904; Meeting password: mdCHtJBW625 (63248529 when dialing from a phone or video system)
→ Please pre-register here to receive information after the event

ROSALIND-FRANKLIN-AWARD FOR RESEARCH INTEGRITY - Call for nominations 2026
Description: The award honors researchers at Freie Universität Berlin who have promoted research integrity through their exceptional dedication.
Target group: All members and organizational units of Freie Universität Berlin can nominate candidates. The nominee must be a member of Freie Universität Berlin at the time of nomination. Acting ombudspersons and members of the investigatory commission may not be nominated.
Deadline: 31.03.2026
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/gwp/rosalind-franklin-preis/index.html

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Berlin University Alliance (BUA)

E-Learning Module “Good Research Practice for Doctoral Researchers”

This online course covers responsibility and misconduct in research, managing research data, identifying and avoiding questionable research practices, plagiarism, authorship & publication, and conflicts in doctoral supervision. 
You can complete the course at your own pace. To fulfill the obligation to provide proof of participation in a course on good scientific practice worth at least one credit point (12 full hours) you also have to complete the optional chapter 2.2 Statistical Inference.

MENTAL HEALTH  - Strengthened and healthy through the doctoral thesis 

Especially in challenging times, it is crucial to know strategies for maintaining your well-being. Work on developing a positive mindset, identify stress factors, and discover helpful resources for your doctoral journey. Learn about and try out relaxation techniques. This way, you can face challenges with greater confidence and achieve your personal goals more efficiently. 
Date: March 11 and 12, 2026 & April 10, 2026 as follow up
Venue: https://www.umwelt-bildungszentrum.de/  
Registration: https://programm.zewk.tu-berlin.de/de/events/019932de-d297-7763-87e7-e3f346f66c45

How to get into the German (non-academic) job market! A workshop for international doctoral candidates

This course prepares doctoral students for their thesis defense by offering practical guidance on structuring and delivering a clear, convincing presentation, as well as building strong arguments. It also addresses how to handle challenging questions during the discussion and provides strategies for responding confidently. Participants have the opportunity to practice their presentation in a mock defense setting and receive feedback, even if they are still in the writing phase.

Instructor:	Dr Philippa Cook
Date:	23 & 24/03, 09:00-16:00
Location:	Humboldt Graduate School, Luisenstr. 56, 10117 Berlin, room 122 (ground floor)
Language:	English
Budget Points:	14

KICK OFF YOUR DOCTORATE 

The retreat is an on-site event. In order to create a space in which you can focus on your doctoral project and engage with other doctoral researchers, we meet at a conference hotel close to Berlin. Participants will be accommodated in single rooms.
Date(s): April 22 - 24, 2026
Venue: https://www.hotel-sommerfeld.de/  
URL: https://pretix.eu/cgss/kick-off-26-en/

ERFOLGREICH IN DIE PROMOTION

Der Retreat findet vor Ort statt. Um einen Raum zu schaffen, in dem Sie sich auf Ihr Promotionsvorhaben konzentrieren und sich mit anderen Doktoranden austauschen können, treffen wir uns in einem Tagungshotel in der Nähe von Berlin. Die Teilnehmer werden in Einzelzimmern untergebracht.
Date(s): April 20 - 22, 2026
Ort: https://www.hotel-sommerfeld.de/
URL: https://pretix.eu/cgss/kick-off-26-de/

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Online-Befragung Arbeitsstress und gesundheitliche Belastungen bei Promovierenden // Teilnahme bis Ende März

Im Rahmen einer Masterarbeit in Soziologie und Gender Studies an der Universität Bielefeld wird erforscht, wie sich Stress und Belastungen während der Promotion auf die Gesundheit von Promovierenden auswirken – insbesondere unter Berücksichtigung geschlechtsspezifischer Unterschiede und struktureller Rahmenbedingungen im Wissenschaftssystem. 

Damit soll an aktuelle Diskurse zu bestehenden Gender Gaps im Wissenschaftssystem angeknüpft und das Ziel verfolgt werden, bestehende Forschungslücken zu geschlechtsspezifischen Belastungen Promovierender zu schließen.  

Ihre Angaben sind daher nicht nur für diese Masterarbeit sowie den erfolgreichen Abschluss des Forschungsprojekts sehr wertvoll, sondern helfen auch dabei, fundierte Erkenntnisse über Belastungen im Promotionskontext sowie bestehende Ungleichheiten im Wissenschaftssystem zu gewinnen und für diese zu sensibilisieren.

Die Umfrage richtet sich an Promovierende und wird circa 10 Minuten in Anspruch nehmen.

Zielgruppe: Promovierende aller Fachrichtungen

Zeitraum: Die Befragung läuft bis Ende März

URL: https://utfragen.uni-bielefeld.de/index.php/248198?lang=de