Guidance for Pursuing an Academic Career
Academic career paths are diverse and vary between research areas. The following guidance therefore offers a number of suggestions, different aspects of which may be relevant depending on your subject, career phase and individual goals. In all research areas, however, it makes sense to take a systematic approach to planning an academic career: given the limited number of permanent academic positions and professorships, excellent academic achievements alone do not guarantee a lasting academic career.
Planning early
A position as a student assistant – for example in a DFG-funded project – provides an insight into research work while you are still a student and helps you establish initial contacts in the research community.
While studying, find out about the options for pursuing a doctorate, for example by attending information events or talking to teaching staff, doctoral researchers, friends and fellow students.
Discuss your ideas and options with potential doctoral supervisors or work with them to develop a suitable research project. Depending on the doctoral research environment, you may also be supported during your doctorate by a Thesis Advisory Committee consisting of two or more researchers.
Clarify the following points:
- Funding – generally through a doctoral position or a fellowship awarded by an organisation dedicated to the promotion of talented students
- Place of work
- General conditions. These include admission requirements for doctoral studies, a written supervision agreement, access to graduate schools and professional development opportunities.
On the path to a professorship
The path to a professorship or another permanent position in research generally begins with a doctorate and the subsequent postdoctoral phases. During this period, you acquire further qualifications that may lead to an academic position in teaching and/or research or establish your eligibility for appointment to a professorship. These include:
- leading your own working group, for example under the Emmy Noether Programme
- a junior professorship with or without tenure track (= the possibility of taking up a permanent professorship following successful evaluation).
- a Habilitation (post-doctoral lecturing qualification), i.e. evidence of advanced research and teaching competence, or equivalent achievements. The latter are alternative academic achievements in research and teaching which, under the applicable regulations for obtaining a postdoctoral lecturing qualification, likewise enable appointment to a professorship.
Acquire eligibility
The assessment of researchers’ qualifications for a position, an appointment to a professorship or a research project takes account of a range of academic achievements and experience. These may include:
- publication of research outputs (articles, books, data, software, patents, etc.)
- success in obtaining funding for and leading research projects
- international research experience
- involvement in teaching and the supervision of early career researchers
- involvement in academic self-governance, public relations or knowledge and technology transfer, etc.
Different achievements and experience will be important depending on the position or funding you are seeking. Plan your next career steps well in advance and explore which academic achievements, qualifications, experience and funding opportunities will be important. Structure your further academic development accordingly.
Network and profile
Identify research institutions and researchers who are relevant to your field, build networks internationally and, if possible, gain a diverse range of research experiences. This can be achieved through research stays abroad, cross-border research collaborations or work in an international environment, for example. The international visibility of your research and participation in relevant academic conferences may also be important to your academic career. International networking and dialogue can also open up new perspectives and contribute to the quality of your research.
Start developing your independent research profile during your doctorate and the early postdoctoral phase. This includes developing your own research questions – initially building on or complementing your doctoral project – pursuing them through different research projects or working groups and publishing the resulting findings. You can seek input from your doctoral supervisors, mentors and more experienced researchers.
Gain experience
Publish and communicate your research findings and ensure your own contribution to joint publications is clearly indicated.
Where possible, gain experience of teaching, working as a tutor and supervising degree theses or student assistants.
Build your own network of colleagues, peers, mentors, experts and people who can support you. They can be valuable contacts for discussing your research questions and planning your next career steps.
Gain experience of securing third-party funding – that is, additional research funding requested from external funding organisations – and, depending on your career phase and the available funding opportunities, obtain your own funding for your research projects. In addition to the DFG, potential third-party funding providers include the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the European Commission and various foundations.
Become involved in academic self-governance; this allows you to contribute to the decisions and activities of your higher education institution or research institution. In particular, serving on boards, committees and similar bodies, and carrying out peer review for research funding organisations, scholarly societies or academic publications can provide valuable experience. Make sure that this involvement does not come at the expense of your academic development and research – this is particularly important during the early career phases.
Research Culture
Supervisors and institutions are responsible for ensuring good working conditions, reliable supervision, protection against abuses of power and a constructive research culture. Familiarise yourself with what constitutes a good research culture and be aware of the boundaries that must be observed, for example in relation to the abuse of power. Be mindful of your health, including your mental health, and your well-being, and seek support when necessary. Make use of the available information and advisory services. At your current or future higher education institution or research institution, these may include human resources, third-party funding and equity offices, the International Office and other services. Within the research system, you can contact international and national funding organisations, SciComm-Support, the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV), the Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW) and other bodies.