International network meeting of German academia

International network meeting of German academia

Joint press release issued by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Research Foundation (DFG)

The German Academic International Network (GAIN) is inviting early career researchers to come to Boston from 25 to 27 August to attend the 23rd GAIN Annual Conference. The GAIN Conference is the largest networking event relating to international academic careers in Germany. Each year it brings together researchers and high-ranking representatives from German academia, politics and business. This year it is being held in the USA again for the first time since 2019 and is aimed at researchers from Germany who are currently working on the American continent.

Whether it involves the career path to a professorship, entry into academic management, transformation in the research industry or launching a start-up: everything for three days at GAIN23 at the end of August will revolve around Research Hub Germany. This event jointly organised in Boston by the DAAD, the Humboldt-Stiftung and the DFG enables researchers in the postdoc phase to obtain extensive advice regarding their career planning at German higher education institutions, research institutes or within the research industry. There will be more than 25 workshops focusing on selected issues, such as fields of work and career development at international organisations, and offering insights into appointment procedures and tenure-track professorships. This year’s GAIN Conference will also include a ‘Talent Fair’ where some 60 research organisations will be presenting career opportunities and current vacancies at their institutions. The three host funding organisations will also provide information about their programmes for early career researchers. In addition to information and interchange, GAIN23 will also showcase entertaining science communication: researchers will present their latest research results in a Science Slam.

Prominent guests

After a welcome speech by State Secretary Dr Jens Brandenburg (BMBF), the conference will be opened on 25 August by Professor Katja Becker (DFG), Professor Joybrato Mukherjee (DAAD) and Professor Robert Schlögl (AvH) as presidents of the host organisations. Throughout the three-day event, prominent representatives from politics, higher education institutions and business and non-university research institutes will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions from participants. The GAIN Conference is now taking place in the USA again after two digital coronavirus conferences and the first GAIN Annual Conference in Germany last year – and the appeal is vast: almost 500 people have already registered. In addition to the attendance event, GAIN is also offering a digital workshop on 19 September that is intended for German postdocs around the world.

The German Academic International Network

The German Academic International Network (GAIN) is the network for German academic and researchers who are globally active. Since 2003 GAIN has used a varied programme to help academics and researchers keep in touch with German academic institutions and assist with their preparations to return to Research Hub Germany. GAIN also offers academics and researchers a way of expressing their views to political decision-makers. GAIN is a joint initiative involving the Humboldt-Stiftung, the DAAD and the DFG. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association, Max Planck Society, German Rectors’ Conference, the German Academic Scholarship Foundation, and Deutsche Krebshilfe are associate members. Other cooperation partners from academia, industry and politics regularly support GAIN activities.

The GAIN programme

GAIN23 is taking place from 25 to 27 August in the Hotel Marriott Copley Place, Boston. Further information about the network is available via www.gain-network.org; the conference programme is available here.

Services for journalists

Should you be interested, we would be happy to arrange opportunities for media representatives to interview participants at the GAIN Conference. Participants can share their highlights on social media by using the hashtag #GoGAIN23.

In the event of questions, please contact

• Anna Oberle-Brill
  GAIN Programme Director
  oberle-brill@daad.de
  +1 (212) 758-3223-217
  (Please note the -6 hour time difference)

Press contacts

• AvH
  Kristina Güroff
  Press officer
  +49 228 833-144
  presse@avh.de
• DAAD
  Michael Flacke
  Press Spokesperson
  +49 228 882-454
  presse@daad.de
• DFG
  Magdalena Schaeffer
  Press and Public Relations Officer
  +49 228 885-2109
  presse@dfg.de