PostDoc-College

PostDoc-College – Network for PostDocs

Since 2017, the postdocs of the DRFZ and the Leibniz ScienceCampus Chronic Inflammation have established a network with the following goals:

• Increasing the visibility of postdocs and their contribution to the scientific output of the institute.
  Opening up career development strategies as an integral part of the postdoc phase (e.g. through workshops and mentoring offers) to prepare for careers within and outside academic research
• Establishing a strong network of DRFZ postdocs to foster an exchange of ideas and experiences.

To achieve our goals, we have initiated a number of activities, such as lunches for informal scientific and non-scientific exchange and workshops in the area of additional qualifications or career development.

We want to promote the exchange of expert knowledge and ideas among postdocs from all disciplines. We have provided a platform for this with our “How to” postdoc meetings. The meetings offer the opportunity to informally discuss all aspects of everyday scientific life that do not relate to the research content, such as project management, administrative tasks, time management, organisation of meetings, etc. The topics and dates are announced via our mailing list. The topics and dates are announced via our mailing list.

To promote networking with other postdocs in the immediate vicinity, the “Meet the Neighbours” symposium was held for the first time in August 2022. Together with the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology and the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, there was a day of impulse lectures on our scientific work and discussion rounds on topics such as acquiring third-party funding, mental health and career planning. Here, the basis was created for informal exchange, but also for future cooperation.

We also closely collaborate with the doctoral researchers and gather for social events to promote exchange among all researchers of the ScienceCampus.

Furthermore, we are part of the Leibniz Postdoc Network, which represents all postdocs of the Leibniz Association. From 2021 to 2023, Marta Ferreira Gomes has been one of the spokespersons of the Leibniz Postdoc Network.

We are always looking for new ideas and people who want to join our network and plan activities.

Current postdoc representatives are Johanna Callhoff (AG Versorgungsforschung) and Axel Schulz (AG Mei).

The Postdoc Board is formed by Yvette Meißner (AG Strangfeld) and Marta Ferreira Gomes (AG Radbruch),  who plan future events and strategies.

You can reach us at the following e-mail address: postdoc-reps@drfz.de