Researcher Networks Worldwide
Postdoctoral researchers are a highly mobile group. For many, at least one stage of the academic journey takes place outside of Germany—whether for research stays, fellowships, or permanent positions abroad. To help you find support wherever you go, we have compiled a selection of researcher networks. These networks vary in scope. Some are internationally active and open to all researchers, while others focus on specific regions, disciplines, or communities.
Networking and peer support can be valuable sources of information, motivation, and professional development. Many networks also have a strong advocacy mandate and represent researcher intersts on national or international level. You are note alone! We invite you to explore the list and connect with communities that align with your path.
Postdoc Networks Outside of Germany
National Postdoc Association (USA)
Voice of postdoctoral community in the United States, dedicated to enhancing the quality of the postdoctoral experience for all participants since 2003. Today, the NPA has 240 organizational members, whose research efforts are supported by 70,000 postdocs.
Swedish Network of Postdoc Associations (Sweden)
The SNPA was founded in 2018 as a non-profit, postdoctoral member-driven organization with overarching goals to improve the quality of the working and living environments for the postdoctoral community in Sweden. Today, SNPA comprises postdoc associations from Karolinska Institutet, Umeå University, Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
The Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (Canada)
CAPS is a postdoc-led, volunteer, professional association that represents all Canadian postdoctoral scholars. CAPS strongly believes in the value of advocacy. Our mandate is to improve the lives of postdocs.
POSTDOCNL (The Netherlands)
The POSTDOCNL platform has been initiated, with the goal of uniting and representing post-doctoral researchers from all backgrounds and knowledge institutions in The Netherlands. It will serve as an advocate for post-doctoral researchers, and our mission is to improve the issues that they experience.
PostdoCaRe Europe
PostdoCaRe Europe is a newly established European network of Postdoctoral scientists working in cancer research. As a bottom-up initiative by early-career Postdocs, it was founded in an attempt to provide a platform for both scientific and personal exchange across European cancer research institutes.
International Researcher Networks
Young Academy of Europe (YAE)
The Young Academy of Europe is organised as a bottom-up initiative of a dynamic and innovative group of recognised European young scholars with outspoken views about science and science policy. Since 2019, we are a registered charity organisation. We provide input and advice from a younger generation’s perspective – a vital input to shape EU-wide policy for the benefit of future European scholars.
Marie-Curie-Alumni-Association (MCAA)
MCAA is an international non-profit organization established and supported by the European Commission. It is an alumni community beyond research for researchers that benefit or have benefitted from MSCA funding. The vibrant MCAA community brings together all career stages from all disciplines, encouraging networking and cooperation, making the MCAA a forum of debate between researchers, former researchers, and with the society.
Networks of Researcher Networks
International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA)
Global platform for sharing information and best practices among different universities, regional and national Research Staff Associations (RSA). As an international membership driven organisation, we are uniquely positioned to draw on and define best practices from across the globe and to use these insights to leverage change at a national and international level.
Eurodoc
Eurodoc is the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers. It is an international federation of 26 national organisations of PhD candidates, and more generally of junior researchers from 24 countries of the European Union and the Council of Europe.
The Early Career Researcher Network of Networks (ECR-NoN)
The Early Career Researcher Network of Networks is a platform for ECR networks worldwide to communicate, collaborate, and foster a common vision on sustainability research, towards a sustainable future. We bring together the next generation of sustainability researchers, from various global early career researcher networks spanning the diverse disciplines within sustainability research, to foster exchange and build a common vision on the future of sustainability.
