In early May, I, Judith Münch (GPN Coordinator), together with my colleagues Tina Scheibe and Camila Hernández Frederick (both GPN Initiators), had the pleasure of attending the annual meeting of the UniWiND Postdoc Support Network. This year’s event was hosted by BYRD, the early-career researcher support center at the University of Bremen.

 

Who is the UniWinD Postdoc Support Network?

The UniWiND Postdoc Support Network brings together dedicated research developers and science managers from universities and research institutions across Germany. These professionals work in graduate and career centers, as well as postdoc offices, with a shared mission: to support postdoctoral researchers through workshops, coaching, counseling, and the development of sustainable institutional structures.

The network serves as a platform to exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaboratively explore ways to enhance support systems for postdocs. At the same time, it tackles broader systemic issues—such as how to improve working conditions and develop more transparent and reliable career paths for early-career researchers.

 

A Packed Program with Room for Reflection

This year’s meeting brought together more than 70 members of the network for two intensive days filled with engaging discussions and a varied program. The topics covered included:

• New approaches to evaluating research and researchers
• Addressing power abuse in academia and courses of action
• Improving working conditions for early-career researchers
• Structuring effective career feedback meetings
• Talking openly about failure in science

For me, the network meeting was a rich experience of professional exchange, reflection, and learning. It was especially insightful to better understand the working environments and challenges faced by researcher developers as they support their communities. Recurring questions that we discussed included: What defines a postdoc? What career paths follow the postdoctoral phase? How can transparency be increased around permanent academic positions that are not professorships? Which institutions have already implemented promising models for such roles?

 

The Power of Networking and Shared Commitment

The value of this network lies in the collective commitment of its members. Through shared dialogue, the development of new program ideas, and the exchange of successful formats, the network builds a strong foundation for strategic talent development at German universities and research institutions.

I am convinced—and have experienced first-hand—that many institutions are home to deeply committed persons who work hard to improve the academic environment. There is a wealth of excellent offers that they make available: workshops, training sessions, counseling services, and more. These resources are designed to help postdocs navigate their career paths, understand the academic system, and strengthen their professional profiles.

 

Find your Supporters, Postdocs!

I wholeheartedly encourage every postdoc to find out who is responsible for researcher development at their institution. Explore what is offered and take advantage of these opportunities. They can provide valuable guidance, fresh perspectives, and practical tools for your next career step—whether inside or outside academia.

 

A big thank you to Dr. Imka Girßmann and Maren Droste from BYRD for hosting such an inspiring and well-organized event. It was a pleasure to be part of it.