Career Planning in German Academia

Building a successful academic career is rarely straightforward. It is influenced by external structures, funding opportunities, disciplinary trends, and sometimes sheer timing. Career development, however, should not be left to chance—particularly within the German academic system, which is often perceived as complex and opaque.

In this interactive 60-minute session, we will explore seven key steps for planning an academic career, with a particular focus on issues relevant to international researchers in Germany. Participants will gain practical insights and inspiration to strengthen their sense of agency, recognize opportunities, and navigate the uncertainties of the German academic system with greater clarity and confidence.

Speaker:
Mirjam Müller, Head of Postdoc Affairs and Academic Career Coach, University of Konstanz

Mirjam Müller is Head of Postdoc Affairs and Academic Career Coach at the University of Konstanz, Germany. She has extensive experience coaching postdoctoral researchers on their path to professorships and regularly offers training on academic career development and appointment procedures in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She is the author of several career guides, covering academic careers in the postdoc phase (2014/2024), careers outside academia (2017), careers in science management (2020, co-authored with Oliver Grewe), and appointment procedures for professorships (2023). Her forthcoming book, From PhD to Professorship: A Practical Guide to Academic Careers in Germany, will be published in December 2025.

Date and Time

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