Know how to make your knowledge work for you
PIER Education Platform (PEP)
The PIER Education Platform (PEP) for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers is a cooperation of research schools on the the science campus Bahrenfeld. The PIER Education Platform offers transferable skills training, language courses, and career orientation for early stage researchers.
The portfolio is tailor-made for doctoral researchers, and focuses on the needs in the respective stage of the individual research projects - from research effectiveness for first year doctoral students to career career advice and networking events.
Cooperation partners in PEP are the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School, the Quantum Universe Research School, the graduate school of the Center for Ultrafast-Imaging/Advanced Imaging of Matter CUI/AIM, the Data Science in Hamburg Helmholtz Graduate School for the Structure of Matter DASHH and the Helmholtz-Lund International School HELIOS. Early career researchers from other affiliated research centers such as MPSD, IMPRS-UFAST, CSSB, and EMBL may also participate upon request.
Transferable skills for researchers
In addition to the qualifications specific to a profession, other abilities – transferable skills – also play an important role when it comes to successfully planning one’s career and life.
Check out PEP's Transferable Skills Portfolio
Language courses
The PIER Education Platform offers language classes in both German and English on the science campus Bahrenfeld - just off your lab. We offer German courses for beginners and advanced users, and language training in English for proficient speakers.
Check out the Language Classes
PIER Graduate Week and Doctoral Seminar
One of PIER's main objectives is to introduce doctoral researchers to the neighbouring research fields of particle and astroparticle physics, nano science, photon science, infection and structural biology
Check out the PIER Graduate Week and the PIER Doctoral Seminar
»PEP ensures that each early career researcher is provided with everything they need to acquire the professional skills they require to become successful scientists.«
Jennifer Popp | PHGS member since 2021 | Learn more
»PEP ensures that each early career researcher is provided with everything they need to acquire the professional skills they require to become successful scientists.«
Jennifer Popp | PHGS member since 2021 | Learn more
Transferable skills, also known as “portable skills,” are qualities that can be transferred from one job to another. You likely already possess many transferable skills employers want, like self-organization or strong communication. You can strengthen those skills and develop new ones that employers value across industries and jobs.
All jobs, both within and outside academia, require a combination of a set of skills. Some are hard skills, which are teachable and easy to quantify, like being fluent in another language. Some are soft skills, which are harder-to-quantify skills like time management. Transferable skills can be hard or soft skills. What sets transferable skills apart is that they can be used in multiple career fields. For example, time management and language fluency are both useful in multiple fields.
[ˈɡuːtn̩ ˈmɔʁɡŋ̍] – or how to say good morning to your German colleagues
PEP Events
show all events07 Sep 2026
Advanced Python Programming Techniques
Bernd Klein | 7 + 8 September 2026, 9 am - 5 pm | online
This course introduces advanced Python programming techniques that are useful for writing clearer, shorter, more efficient, and more maintainable code.
22 Sep 2026
Career Orientation for Doctoral Researchers - 8 sessions
8 sessions between 22 September - 27 November 2026 | Room 116, Building 61, DESY-Campus Bahrenfeld
Are you approaching the end of your doctorate and thinking about the next step in your career? Do you wonder what your strengths and talents are and what kind of job will suit ...
29 Sep 2026
Funding Opportunities in Germany and the EU
Dr. Susanne Hollmann | 29 September 2026, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm | tba
This practical training provides a solid foundation for developing strong third-party funding applications, with a particular focus on programmes offered by the DFG and the Eu ...
05 Oct 2026
PIER Graduate Week 2026
5 - 8 October 2026 | CFEL
The next PIER Graduate Week is scheduled for 5 - 8 October 2026 and takes place on-site on Science Campus Hamburg-Bahrenfeld.
