Postdoc Initiative

Who or what is a postdoc?

We define postdocs as all scientists after their doctorate who do not hold a final position as group leader: temporary or permanent, junior or senior scientist up to junior group leaders, so the entire scientific mid-level. For the sake of simplicity we often use the term „postdoc“. Those who feel addressed may participate or benefit from our offers.

Our mission

Our aim is to represent the interests of the scientific mid-level at the FZB, to act as a contact person and to offer courses and workshops to foster our postdocs career in a way they need it. Our aim is to improve the situation, competitiveness and the interconnectedness of postdocs in Borstel.

Our structure

Our structure is defined in the bylaws, which have been in place at the Research Center Borstel since 2021.

The board of the Postdoc Initiative consists of two spokespersons, a secretary, and a financial officer. These positions are elected by the postdocs during the annual general assembly. All members actively shape the topics discussed and are encouraged to suggest ideas for how best to meet the needs of the Postdoc Initiative.

What we do

• #Workshops
  We organize workshops to foster the careers of all postdocs. These include hard skill courses, such as statistics, and soft skill courses, such as project management, as well as personalized coaching.
• #Communication
  We collect information relevant to postdocs and make it available internally.
  We are part of the Leibniz Postdoc Network (LPN) and the Network for Decent Labour in Academia (NGAWiss), are associated with the Postdoc Center of the Kiel University (CAU) and seek to connect with further postdoc associations.
  The active members of the PDI meet monthly to exchange ideas and discuss current topics.
  To foster connections among postdocs at FZB, we regularly organize social events such as the postdoc BBQ.
  Moreover, since 2023, we have organized an annual two-day postdoc retreat. Since 2024, we partner with our partner institutes from the Leibniz Center Infections (LCI) to hold it.
• #Interest representation
  As representatives of the scientific mid-level interests, the two PDI spokespersons and other active members are involved in various FZB committees and regularly negotiate with the FZB board of directors.