News for Early Stage Researchers

Current newsletter of the Graduate Services

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Competence-oriented personnel development for academics includes workshops on university didactics and interdisciplinary key competences. Further information can be found here.

As part of the doctoral procedure, Lena Lehrer will present her dissertation "Facing the Future: Socio-Cognitive and Communicative Foundations of Readiness to Act against Climate Change" for discussion in C19.00.02_03 and via Webex on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, at 8:15 a.m.. All interested parties are cordially invited. 

Further information can be found on the poster.

As part of the doctoral procedure, Ike Markus Bernard will present his dissertation "Warum immer das Gleiche? – Verständnis und Vorstellungen von Videospieler*innen und Videospielentwickler*innen in Bezug auf Avatare und Entwicklungsprozesse" for discussion on Tuesday, 18 December 2025, at 2.15 p.m. in C18, room C18.03.08. All interested parties are cordially invited. 

Further information can be found on the poster.

Research career: Information events organised by the DFG

The German Research Foundation (DFG) offers a wide range of funding opportunities for postdoctoral researchers in the early career phase. The DFG regularly provides information about these opportunities in the online dialogue series "Prospects". Throughout the year, specific funding instruments and programmes for the period after the doctorate are presented in various online seminars. Also interesting for doctoral researchers!

The next events in the Prospects series are

• 11.12.2025, 16:00 - 17:30 - DFG Funding Opportunities for Postdocs (in English)

Further information on the event and the slides of past lectures in the Prospects series can be found at: https://www.dfg.de/foerderung/foerdermoeglichkeiten/wissenschaftliche_karriere/veranstaltungen/index.html

Award programme | Diversity meets science. Prize for theses with a gender and diversity perspective

In contemporary research, the core dimensions of diversity play an important role in almost all disciplines: for example, when it comes to socio-cultural ideas of gender and sexuality in the humanities and social sciences, the inclusion of users' physical requirements in the development of technology or the individual needs of different age groups in early medical diagnosis and care.

In order to make this diversity of topics visible at Thuringian universities and to support scientists in the early stages of their careers, the Thuringian Competence Network for Gender Equality (TKG) is organising the Diversity Meets Science Award, which is endowed with 2,000 euros, for the eighth time this year.

Applications are invited from graduates of all disciplines at Thuringian universities whose final thesis (master's, diploma, state examination or doctoral dissertation) takes a gender/diversity perspective and has been submitted within the last two years (since August 2023).

Deadline for submission: 07.12.2025

Further information

MOPGA 2026: Visiting Fellowship Program for Early Career Researchers

The MOPGA (make our planet great again) fellowship will host at least 60 young researchers who wish to conduct their research in France.

Research Themes:

Five major research areas are eligible:

• Earth system sciences
• Climate change ciences and sustainability science
• Energy transition
• Societal challenges related to environmental issues
• Human, animal, and environmental health as defined within the One Health approach*

The fellowships are awarded for a period of 12 months.

Each fellowship includes (exclusively):

• a monthly allowance of €2,500;
• a one-time installation grant of €500;
• health coverage: health insurance, civil liability, and repatriation assistance (followed by complementary health coverage once affiliation to the French social security system is completed).

Timeline:

• September 12th 2025: Application period opens
• December 12th 2025: Application period ends  
• May/June 2026 : Notification of the results
• Between September 2026 and December 2026 (at the latest): Arrival in France and start of the fellowship 

More information can be found under https://www.campusfrance.org/en/mopga-2026

Call for applications for the German Study Award 2026

The competition is aimed at early-stage researchers from all disciplines who have submitted an excellent dissertation of particular social importance in 2025. With three top prizes of 25,000 euros each, it is one of the most highly endowed prizes for young academics in Germany. Former students also have access to a wide range of funding opportunities - from mentoring for scientific careers and a conference fund to participation in the Max Planck Programme for Start-ups.

The closing date for the current call for applications is 1 March 2026.

All information on participation can be found here.

DAAD scholarship programmes "Congress trips" and "Lecture trips"

Since 1 March 2023, the DAAD has once again been offering funding for participation in congresses and lectures.

In the congress travel programme, funding is provided for active congress participation, in the lecture travel programme for lecture activities outside congresses and conferences. You can find the calls for applications at www.daad.de/kongressreisen and www.daad.de/vortragsreisen.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the DAAD Info Centre. You can reach our counsellors on 0228-882 180 at the following times: Monday to Thursday 9am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm (CEST), Friday 9am - 2pm (CEST), or via the DAAD contact form.

"Writing Friday" for doctoral students

schreibzentrum.berlin offers doctoral candidates free online writing days. On the first Friday of every month, from 9.30 am to 12.00 pm, doctoral candidates meet with like-minded people and are supported in their writing by experienced writing coaches with the help of moderation techniques and writing exercises.

The programme is aimed at doctoral candidates from all disciplines and at all stages of writing. It is possible to join the programme at any time.

Registration and further information on the programme can be found here.

DocColloq for doctoral candidates

DocColloq, which was founded at Trier University in 2018 by research assistants Camilla Haake and Natalie Tröller, is an interdisciplinary network for doctoral candidates from all disciplines and all institutional affiliations.

In regular, digital meetings via Zoom, doctoral candidates from all disciplines from all over Germany are brought together to promote and strengthen the exchange between doctoral candidates and their networking with each other. This exchange format has proven to be very helpful, especially in times of strong isolation due to the coronavirus measures and the digitalisation of teaching and research. Experience has shown that doctoral students face the same problems again and again, regardless of the subject they are doing their doctorate in, according to the two founders. During the meetings, up to three doctoral students present their current research in short 15-minute presentations. This is followed by a joint discussion.

All doctoral students are invited, regardless of which university or college you are doing your doctorate at, regardless of your specialisation or stage of doctorate, and regardless of whether you would like to present your research yourself or just listen!

Interested parties are asked to register by sending an e-mail to doccolloq@uni-trier.de. A link for the Zoom event will be sent to you.

FAZIT Foundation

The FAZIT Foundation is a non-profit publishing company that specifically promotes science and research by awarding doctoral scholarships and grants for printing and travel costs.

Applications for a two-year doctoral scholarship as well as grants for printing costs and travel expenses are possible at any time.

The foundation provides information on further requirements and submissions of application on its website: https: //www.fazit-stiftung.de/bewerbung.html