Event program ARIADNEtechnat doc/postdoc+ 2025/26
Event program ARIADNEtechnat doc/postdoc+ 2025/26
*for events without a fixed date, the planning is preliminary – there may still be changes regarding time and topic.
Please block the dates in your calendar!
Participation is only available for current ARIADNE mentees. You always receive separate invitations/online links via mail.
Speaker: Dr. Monika Stärk (Program Coordinator)
Form of event: Personal Meeting
Date: 05 March 2025, 3.00 – 5.00 pm (group 1) or 20 March 2025, 5.30 – 7.30 pm (group 2)
Room:
This is the first meeting of the new Doc/Postdoc Mentee Group! Take this opportunity to meet your peers and start building connections.
We will discuss the expectations, topics, and experiences the participants bring to the program. And also how the group will connect online for peer networking.
This is a mandatory event for mentees! Please consult with the program coordinator if you are unable to attend the event for valid reasons.
Speaker: Dr. Isabel Werle
Form of event: Personal meeting
Date: 24 March 2025, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm (group 1) or 1.00 – 4.00 pm (group 2)
CONTENT:
- What is mentoring? What are the benefits of mentoring?
- Phases of the mentoring process
- Issues and objectives in mentoring
- Defining and understanding the role and responsibilities of the mentee
- Proactivity as a success factor in the mentoring process
- Preparing for mentoring sessions/conversations
Speaker: Dr. Simone Freitag
Form of event: Online
Date: 15 May 2025, 12.00 – 2.00 pm
This impulse presentation is about the topic of networking, as a key to career success. We will
begin by defining what a network is and exploring how it can significantly boost your career.
We will cover the various roles within networks, helping you idenfy your own role and learn
how to maximize the value of your connections. We will also address common misconceptions
about networking that can hinder your effectiveness. By understanding these challenges, you’ll
be able to set more realistic goals and manage your expectations, when networking for your
career advancement. Additionally, we will highlight the power of mentorship in networking by
discussing the benefits of a mentee group and how having a mentor can create new networking opportunities. Finally, we will identify areas for improvement in your networking skills and discuss training options available to enhance your abilities.
Learning objectives:
- Leverage Mentorship for Networking Opportunities
- Understand Networking Fundamentals
- Identify Roles within Networks
- Overcome Networking Misunderstandings
The ARIADNE Etiquette Code for Online Meetings:
Networking and exchange are central components of ARIADNE. This doesn’t work with black tiles.
Therefore: Please turn on your camera!
Kickoff & Closing Event 2025
for the groups ARIADNEtechnat master 2024/25 & ARIADNEtechnat doc/postdoc+ 2025/26
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Anna Nelles, Prof. Dr. Friedlinde-Götz-Neunhoeffer, Dr. Marion Kämmlein
Form of event: Personal Meeting
Date: 25 June 2025, 5.30 pm
Room: Chemikum, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Str. 10, 91058 Erlangen, Lecture Hall C3 (2nd floor)
Alongside welcoming the new doc/postdoc cohort and bidding farewell to the outgoing master’s group, we look forward to an inspiring guest talk by Prof. Dr. Anna Nelles, who will share her experiences and challenges throughout her scientific career. The evening will also include a Q&A session offering a unique opportunity for direct exchange with Anna Nelles about the demands and challenges in academia.
About Prof. Dr. Anna Nelles:
Anna Nelles is a German physicist and, since 2019, Professor of Experimental Astroparticle Physics at the Erlangen Center for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP) at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). She studied Physics and Economics at RWTH Aachen University and completed her PhD at Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands. Between 2015 and 2018, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Irvine, and later an Emmy Noether Group Leader at Humboldt University Berlin. Currently, she is supported by a grant from the Helmholtz Program for Outstanding Female Scientists (Links > FAU, Wiki).
Speaker: Familienservice der FAU
Form of event: Online
Date: 14 Juli 2025, 14:00 – 15:30 Uhr
Im Rahmen der Veranstaltung teilt der Familienservice Infos rund um die rechtliche und organisatorische Rahmenbedingungen zur Vereinbarkeit von Karriere und Elternschaft in der Wissenschaft.
Folgende Themen werden besprochen: Familienplanung, Mutterschutz, Elternzeit und Vereinbarkeit mit der wissenschaftlichen Karriere.
Nach einem kurzen Infoteil (ca. 30 Min.) können alle Mentees ihre persönlichen Fragen rund um das Thema stellen.
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Andreas Kist
Form of event: Personal Meeting
Date: Tues, 30 September 2025, 9.00 – 10.30 am
After 10.30 am: Following the Q&A part, the mentee group could plan to have coffee together or an early lunch; please set aside some extra time if you’re interested!
Room: 2.049, Halbmondstr. 6-8, 91054 Erlangen, 2nd floor
This event offers you an initial opportunity to ask general questions related to research funding. There will be a collection of questions in advance so that we can divide the event into meaningful topic blocks.
In addition to this event, there will be a special workshop on research funding in February 2026, which will focus more key aspects of research funding, including identifying of research areas, effective communication for funding applications, proposal structure, hypothesis formulation, budget planning, funding opportunities in Germany and Europe, and leveraging AI in proposal writing.
During the Q&A session with Andreas Kist, we can also identify topics to be addressed in the in-depth workshop.
POSTDOC Workshop!
Speaker: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt
Form of event: Webcast & Group session (personal meeting)
Date: Group session on 09 October 2025
Webcast
Duration: 3,25 h
The aim of the webcast is to provide participants with detailed information about all phases of the appointment procedure for professorships (focus Germany), and to give them concrete advice and tips for their applications. The webcast will first deal with the procedure and the formal aspects of the appointment process. Afterwards, all necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, research and teaching concept) will be discussed in detail and partly illustrated with sample materials. The third part addresses all aspects of the hearing. Participants will learn about the requirements for the application talk and the demonstration lecture. In addition, the most frequently asked questions in the interview with the selection committee will be discussed.
Participants will receive a Vimeo link (plus password) that allows them to stream the video on demand. The video is available for six weeks.
Material
Handout, analysis sheet job advertisement, example CVs, list of collected interview questions, sample research and teaching concept.
Participants will receive a Dropbox link to download the materials.
Group Session
In the group session, participants will first have the opportunity to clarify any unanswered questions they may have about applying for professorships. Afterwards, it is planned that all participants give their prepared 3-minute presentation on the introduction of their own profile (introductory part of the scientific presentation) and receive feedback from the participants and the trainer. The short presentations will be video recorded. The participants will receive their video afterwards for better comprehensibility of the feedback. Finally, the interview with the search committee is discussed. Here, the participants will answer some typical interview questions and will also receive feedback on these. In addition, an interview simulation is planned.
POSTDOC Workshop!
Speaker: Dr. Dieta Kuchenbrandt
Form of event: Webcast & Gruppensitzung (persönlichen Treffen)
Date: 10. Oktober 2025
Ziel dieses Bewerbungstrainings ist es, die Teilnehmerinnen auf alle Phasen des Bewerbungsprozesses auf eine Professur optimal vorzubereiten.
Der Workshop besteht aus drei Elementen: 1) Einem Webcast, der für 3 Wochen zur Verfügung gestellt wird, 2) vorbereitenden Aufgaben sowie 3) einer Gruppensitzung
Webcast (Dauer 3,25 h) & Vorbereitungsaufgaben
Ziel des Webcast ist es, Sie über alle Phasen des Berufungsverfahrens detailliert zu informieren und Ihnen konkrete Hilfestellungen und Tipps für Ihre Bewerbungen zu vermitteln. Der Webcast befasst sich zunächst mit dem Ablauf und den formalen Aspekten des Berufungsverfahrens. Anschließend werden alle nötigen Bewerbungsunterlagen (v.a. CV, Anschreiben, Konzepte) detailliert besprochen und zum Teil mit Beispielmaterialien illustriert. Im dritten Teil werden die Erwartungen und Anforderungen in der Anhörung vor der Berufungskommission sowie wichtige Vorbereitungsschritte thematisiert. Sie erhalten Hinweise und Kurzdemonstrationen zur Gestaltung von wissenschaftlichem Vortrag und Lehrprobe. Zudem werden die häufigsten Fragen & Themen im Kommissionsgespräch vorgestellt.
Die Teilnehmerinnen bereiten nach einer im Webcast enthaltenen Anleitung einen 3-minütigen Vortrag vor, um Ihr eigenes Profil vorzustellen (einleitender Teil des Bewerbungsvortrags).
Gruppensitzung
In der Gruppensitzung gibt es zunächst die Möglichkeit, alle noch offen gebliebenen Fragen der Teilnehmerinnen rund um das Thema Bewerben auf Professuren zu klären. Im Anschluss ist geplant, dass alle Teilnehmerinnen ihren vorbereiteten 3-min-Vortrag zur Vorstellung des eigenen Profils (einleitender Teil des wissenschaftlichen Vortrags) halten und Feedback von den Teilnehmerinnen und der Trainerin erhalten.
Abschließend wird das Interview mit der Kommission gesondert thematisiert. Hier werden die Teilnehmerinnen beispielhaft einige typische Fragen aus Kommissionsgesprächen beantworten und erhalten ebenfalls Feedback hierzu. Zudem werden einige schwierige / herausfordernde Fragen der Kommission strategisch besprochen.
Speaker: Dr. Maik Goth
Form of event: Online
Date: 4 Sessions
01 October, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
15 October, 5 November & 19 November, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm
This event series is designed as a process-oriented accompaniment on the topic. Participation in all four sessions is required. Between the sessions, you will have time to apply what you’ve learned, reflect on it, and share your experiences with the group at the next meeting.
As female researchers at the beginning of your careers, you shoulder great responsibility: navigating a new professional environment, meeting academic expectations, developing your thesis and dealing with mental (or cognitive) workload in the face of assumed gender roles. And in all this, you are supposed to take care of yourself and your mental health to prevent crisis or burnout. Don’t let this weigh you down!
This interactive and pragmatic workshop illustrates how we can deal with our mental workload to master the demands and challenges of the academy – and develop our resilience at a time!
During the four sessions of the workshop, we will continuously explore the factors creating metal workload, such as hierarchies and gender roles, and analyse their impact on our health and productivity. We will also develop resilience as a powerful tool for self-management that allows us to deal with our mental workload inside and outside the academy, and makes us bounce back in our daily life and during times of setbacks and crises. Your input is always welcome, and we can always discuss current experiences, issues, situations!
Basic Schedule
Meeting #1: Mental Load & Gender Roles and Resilience
Meeting #2: Resilience: Strategies for Academia and Beyond
Meeting #3: Mental Load & Stress
Meeting #4: Procrastination, Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome
At the end of the workshop, you will have acquired a thorough understanding of mental/cognitive workload, practised how to assess problems, academic and otherwise, with confidence, responsibility and clarity. You will also know how to solve them using pragmatic strategies that boost your resilience. My goal is to familiarise you with ready-to-use methods which strengthen your long-term productivity and mental health, ultimately empowering you to stand your ground in the academic arena beyond gender stereotypes.
The ARIADNE Etiquette Code for Online Meetings:
Networking and exchange are central components of ARIADNE. This doesn’t work with black tiles.
Therefore: Please turn on your camera!
Speaker: Francesca Carlin
Form of event: Personal meeting
Date: 20 October 2025, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Room: Main Entrance Palmeria Mitarbeiterkantine, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen
Seminar Room „Nürnberg“, 1st floor
Registration: via ARIADNE StudOn group, Deadline 15 Sept 2025
Context:
Today’s academics are under increasing pressure to excel in multiple areas—research, publishing, teaching, and making an impact—which often leads to stress and burnout. First-generation academics may feel additional self-doubt, not having family backgrounds in higher education. This can lead to uncertainty about their place in academic spaces. Regardless of gender, many academics experience feelings of inadequacy. The question is: how can they stay confident and focused under such pressure?
This workshop explores how different people handle pressure, offers practical skills for coping, and helps participants gain clarity and direction by redefining their roles in academia.
The workshop aims to empower participants to manage stress, reframe negative thoughts, and project greater confidence and presence, both in academic and professional settings.
Learning Outcomes:
- Utilize strategies to reframe criticism and manage the inner critic.
- Learn techniques to stay present and increase their presence in any situation.
- Project confidence and competence in presentations.
- Gain clarity on the roles you are currently playing and how to shape the role you want.
- Learn to transform stress and pressure into energy and motivation.
Covered Topics:
The Role we Play (values and self-image, overcoming imposter syndrome)
Transforming the Inner Critic (Reframing negative energy, techniques to combat stage fright and performance pressure)
Presence Work (Body language, power posing, voice work)
…including the kickoff of the new Master group
Speaker: TBD
Form of event: Personal Meeting
Date: TBD
Room: TBD
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Friedlinde Götz-Neunhoeffer & Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philipp Beckerle
Form of event: Online
Date: Mon, 24 November 2025, 4.00 – 6.00 pm.
Participants: ARIADNEtechnat groups > doc/postdoc & master
In this Q&A session with the women’s representatives of the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering, you can ask general questions related to career planning in academia. Friedlinde Götz-Neunhoeffer and Philipp Beckerle are excited to share their experiences with you. Before the event, there will be a collection of questions to identify topic blocks for the session. Please ask your questions directly during the meeting!
The ARIADNE Etiquette Code for Online Meetings:
Networking and exchange are central components of ARIADNE. This doesn’t work with black tiles.
Therefore: Please turn on your camera!
Speaker: Dr. Marion Kämmlein
Form of event: Personal Meeting
Date: TBD
Room: TBD
Speaker: Dr. Juliane Handschuh
Form of event: Personal meeting
Date: 12 + 13 February 2026, Day 1: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm, Day 2: 9.00 am – 12.30 pm
Room: TBD
- Strategies for finding your own research niche
- Basics of written and visual scientific communication for funding applications
- General structure of a research proposal
- Formulation and testing of hypotheses
- Budget planning for the proposed project
- „Insider“ tips for funding opportunities in Germany and Europe
- Using AI in proposal writing
Speaker: Dr. Isabel Werle
Form of event: Personal meeting
Date: Mon, 02 March 2026, 1.00 – 2.30 pm (group 1) or 3.00 – 4.30 pm
Speaker: Betty Boden
Form of event: Online
Date: TBD
Speaker:
Form of event: Personal meeting
Date: 2
Room:
Speaker: TBD
Form of event: TBD
Date: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Form of event: Personal Meeting
Date: TBD
Room: TBD