‘Successful doctoral studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences’
Thursday, 4 December 2025, starting at 10 a.m., Historic Observatory
Are you starting your doctoral studies or have you begun your doctoral studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences in recent semesters, and would you like to discuss important issues and network with other doctoral candidates? Then we cordially invite you to the Historic Observatory (Historische Sternwarte) on 4 December 2025. You can look forward to exciting lectures, various discussion rounds and the opportunity to exchange ideas about your dissertation project over punch and pizza.
Registration
Please register here by 1 December 2025.
Provisional programme
| Time | Historic Observatory |
|---|---|
| From 9:45 a.m. |
Arrival
|
| 10:00 a.m. |
Prof. Dr. Simon Fink (Dean of Studies)
Welcome
|
| 10:10 a.m. |
'Speed dating – doctoral thesis topic'
|
| 11:10 a.m. |
Break (10 minutes)
|
| 11:20 a.m. |
Dr. Bettina Ross
'What does it mean to successfully complete a doctoral programme,
and what are the challenges?' Input lecture
|
| 11:30 a.m. |
SOWI Study Office
'Structure of the doctoral programme
– what do I have to do and when?' Input lecture
|
| 11:40 a.m. |
Break (10 minutes)
|
| 11:50 a.m. |
Presentation of discussion topics & workshops
|
| 11:55 a.m. |
Round Table I
Discussion on the following topics:
• Red Room: 'Planning and conducting your (first) course/supervising your (first) thesis' (Expert: Dr. Angelika Thielsch) • Green Room: 'Conferences, networks, internationalisation – why and how?' (Expert: Campbell MacGillivray) • Green Room: 'What should I have known beforehand?' (Experts: Dr. Johanna Leunig & Dr. Marcel Grieger) |
| 12:55 p.m. |
Break (15 minutes)
|
| 1:10 p.m. |
Campbell MacGillivray & N.N.
'Who? What do we do?
How can someone get elected?' Brief introduction to the doctoral student representatives
|
| 1:20 p.m. |
Round Table II
Discussion on the following topics::
• Red Room: 'A smarter start to your doctorate with AI: Work more efficiently – use responsibly' (Experts: Valerie Bleisteiner & Uta Scheer) • Green Room: 'It's just my dissertation – which soft skills will help me with my “dissertation” project?' (Experts: Dr. Britta Szidzik & Dr. Paul Christensen) |
| 2:20 p.m. |
Break (10 minutes)
|
| 2:30 p.m. |
Prof. Dr. Simon Fink, Dr. Julia Gruhlich, Dr. Roman Goldbach, Dr. Thorsten Hasche
'Career strategies within and outside academia'
Panel discussion
|
3:30 p.m. |
Break (10 minutes)
|
| 3:40 p.m. |
Prof. Dr. Simon Fink, Prof. Dr. Silke Hans, Prof. Dr. Kerstin Rabenstein
'Aligning expectations
– What do doctoral candidates expect, what do supervisors expect?' Panel discussion
|
| 4:40 p.m. |
End of official programme
|
| From 4:45 p.m. |
Punch and pizza: Opportunity for doctoral candidates and supervisors to chat and network
|