Career development

Initiators:  Marieke Essers (Heidelberg), Hartmut Geiger (Ulm), Germán Camargo Ortega (Basel), and Insa S. Schröder (Darmstadt) 

How to shape your career - Science or private enterprise

Stem cell research opens new perspectives not only in science and medicine but also for individual scientists in their future careers. This can only be achieved if more young researchers decide in favor of this fascinating new field. In collaboration with the German Society of Stem Cell Research (GSZ), the GSCN will support young academics in stem cell research and thus enable them to actively manage their careers. In Germany, opting for a scientific profession is a difficult decision that may be risky and full of privations. Public research institutions offer very few permanent positions apart from professorships. Funding relies to a great extent on third-party project grants rather than institutional subsidy. Therefore it is hard for young students and young academics to plan their future. In addition, qualifications and expertise required for positions in the private economy sector are quite different from those at universities or other public research institutions, making a changeover difficult. Thus, it is most important to know which career options are available and where current systems need to be changed to offer young scientists the best opportunities.

Central questions for the working group are:

• How can the network support young scientists to make educated career decisions?
• Which programs can help generate opportunities for positions in the translation of basic research into applied research?
• Which alternative jobs are available in science and what skills are required to pursue these jobs?

The strategic working group “Career Development” is intended to support scientists by providing information about possible career paths, current market trends or funding and how to create an individual career strategy. Additionally, it will also serve as a platform to have an impact on political decisions regarding research and education. As a network, we can have a voice in shaping the scientific landscape in Germany.