Soft Skills and Career Development

PIER is the strategic partnership between DESY and Universität Hamburg ("Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research"). Under the umbrella of PIER, DESY and Universität Hamburg jointly provide funding for cross-institutional research projects, promote high-quality education of junior scientists, and foster an innovation-friendly culture on the Hamburg Bahrenfeld science campus.

The PIER Education Platform for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers is a cooperation between the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School, the Quantum Universe Research School, the AIM graduate school, and the DASHH graduate school.

The dynaMENT mentoring program is designed to accompany female doctoral researchers as well as junior professors, (junior) research group leaders and postdoctoral researchers through an important phase of their career development. The program is designed for a period of 12 months (dynaMENT doctorate) or 24 month (dynaMENT advanced) and offers highly confidential one-to-one mentoring sessions, networking events, and trainings concerning professional and personal development.

The Hamburg Research Academy (HRA) is the central port of call for prospective doctoral researchers, enrolled doctoral researchers, postdocs, junior professors, and their supervisors at 9 higher education institutions in Hamburg. The HRA advises, qualifies, and supports Hamburg's doctoral and early career researchers with an interdisciplinary range of services. The HRA seeks to increase the visibility of doctoral and early career researchers in Hamburg, encourage cross-university networking, facilitate participation, and offer an array of qualification opportunities, events, and activities.

The MIN Graduate Center provides information and services to support all doctoral researchers at the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences of Universität Hamburg. It offers courses and events for young scientists working towards a doctorate.

The HR development department of Universität Hamburg accompanies early career researchers throughout their professional development and helps them to make the right decisions for their career. The career development cycle comprises five areas: Reflect, Explore, Define, Qualify and Implement.

The Career Center at Universität Hamburg offers students and graduates (up to two years following graudation) a wide-ranging career program consisting of workshops, lecture series "Fishing for Careers" and "Talking about Careers" (open to everyone!), counseling and mentoring.

About 80 % of all postdocs have to find employment outside of academia. More support is needed for postdocs in finding suitable employment opportunities. The career center COAST at DESY will offer resources, training and counseling in order to prepare for the next career steps, including personal career counseling, workshops on specific topics (networking, CV writing, presentation skills, transferable skills, etc.) and networking events.