Nearly 100 participants had the opportunity to register for 18 discussion rounds, where professionals, many of whom are alumni of the involved institutions, shared insights into their career paths. Additionally, there were keynote talks on "Career Paths and Perspectives for Scientists."

Network, network, network!

Dr. Linda Jauch, Head of Academic and Research Career Paths at the University of Hamburg, focused her keynote on the academic system, its structure, the politics behind it, and how they impact every individual (post-)doc position. She also explained the different career paths for (post-)docs in German academia, particularly in Hamburg: "Maybe the best is yet to come…!" Dr. Jauch concluded, offering her final advice to the audience: "For whatever career you are aspiring to, the most important thing is to network, network, network!"

In the second keynote lecture, Prof. Dr. Julia Gebert from TU Braunschweig discussed her atypical career path, which led her from academia to business and back to academia. Prof. Gebert is a biologist and soil scientist by training, educated at the University of Hamburg, where she also earned her PhD in 2004 and won the Shell She-Study Award in the same year. Since then, she has been the principal investigator on several projects related to biological gas treatment and anaerobic carbon cycling in sediments. After several years as Head of the Environmental Services Unit at Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), she held a position as an associate professor at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. Recently, Julia was appointed full professor of Waste and Resource Management at the Technical University of Braunschweig.

Round table discussions with alumni

In the afternoon's small group discussions, invited alumni shared their various paths into business, industry, NGOs, and the public sector, such as the World Bank, Deloitte, Airbus, Vattenfall, German Aerospace Center and Philips. Participants gained unique insights into the daily work life in different professions and received concrete tips on what to consider when transitioning from academia to the non-academic job market. Exciting, open, warm, and very motivating conversations developed.

Navigating career planning challenges

The second day of the Joint Career Days began with a keynote by Dr. Insa Flachsbarth, a business administration graduate and former finance industry professional, who has since transitioned into academia. Dr. Flachsbarth discussed the countless opportunities now available to academics, including positions, projects, and collaborations both domestically and abroad. She explained how academics often face difficult, far-reaching decisions regarding their career paths, which can be overwhelming. Dr. Flachsbarth provided strategies and useful tools to help navigate the challenging decision-making process moving forward.

In the final part of the program, early career researchers had the opportunity to sign up for individual online career coaching and CV review sessions.

The event was organized through a collaboration of the Center for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), the International Max Planck Research School on Earth System Modelling (IMPRS-ESM), the International Max Planck Research School for Ultrafast Imaging & Structural Dynamics (IMPRS-UFAST), the MIN Graduate Center, the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School, the School of Integrated Climate System Sciences (SICSS) and Quantum Universe.

Programme and more information: https://indico.desy.de/event/46599/

Photos: MPI-M/Diallo

Poster Joint Career Days 2025