Offers of the Postdoc Academy
Postdoc Academy Portfolio
The Postdoc Academy Portfolio is structured around eight key measures:
The Postdoc School offers a wide range of workshops and coaching sessions designed to support postdocs in key areas such as research management, science communication, self-management, and career development. The core objective of the Postdoc School is to identify and systematically build the skills and competencies needed for a successful academic or non-academic career. Furthermore, it aims to enable participants to explore new career fields and gain a broader understanding of the diverse career paths available based on their skills and qualifications.
Twice a year, BUA postdocs have the opportunity to apply for a short-term work placement with selected hosts. The hosts are high-profile leaders and key figures from various sectors closely connected to academia, such as science administration, startups, science communication, NGOs, or established companies in the technology sector. These work placements provide postdocs with valuable insights into different professional fields and help them explore alternative career paths.
SpotON consists of innovative media formats aimed at supporting and inspiring postdocs on their career paths in academia and beyond.
- The podcast "Pathways to Professorship" features interviews with professors who share their unique career journeys, discussing both their professional development and pivotal moments in their careers.
- The video series “Postdoc Portraits” provides a glimpse into the everyday research activities of postdocs at the Berlin University Alliance, providing insights into their diverse career trajectories and the personal and professional hurdles they face.
The annual Postdoc Career Fair is specifically designed for postdocs interested in exploring career paths beyond academia. It highlights various professional opportunities in research-related fields such as industry, business, science management, the public sector, science communication, and NGOs. Participants gain insights into employer expectations and requirements outside academia. Additionally, a networking marketplace provides a platform for direct interaction with company and organization representatives.
The Online Competence Tool, provides a self-assessment of transferable skills and competencies. Specifically designed for postdoctoral and doctoral researchers, it helps identify core competencies that are often undervalued in research-focused careers. The tool serves as a foundation for structuring further educational and professional development measures. Repeated assessments allow tracking progress over time.
Networking is a crucial factor in career development, both within and beyond academia. This measure organizes networking events to facilitate connections among postdocs in Berlin and establish professional links at national and international levels.
A key feature is the annual open call “Hit the Jackpot”, which support outstanding projects and innovative ideas from the postdoc community. It aims to strengthen the Berlin postdoc network, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance career opportunities by encouraging knowledge exchange and engagement across different fields and sectors.
The “Postdocs at Risk” program supports researchers facing difficult circumstances. The range of resources and workshops include guidance on the German academic system, grant proposal writing, and personalized CV reviews.
This innovative game challenges postdocs to explore the process of turning research into real-world impact through decision-making and teamwork. By tackling fictional scenarios, players gain insights into technology transfer, learning how their research can create value beyond academia.
