Ombudspersons for doctoral researchers and supervisors at KIT

The Ombudspersons act as contact persons in cases of conflicts or disputes between doctoral researchers and supervisors during the doctoral research phase.

Doctoral researchers and supervisors are free to initiate contact with any Ombudsperson at any point. They can decide for themselves whom they wish to address irrespective of their research background. As independent persons of trust, the Ombudspersons offer advice and recommendations and will seek to mediate between disputing parties. The Ombudspersons are bound to confidentiality.

The KIT Ombudspersons are (profiles below):

• Prof. Rafaela Hillerbrand
• Prof. Stefan Hinz
• PD Stefan Kühnlein
• Dr. Birgid Langer

Please consult the German-language Statute on appointing Ombudspersons for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors at KIT from March 4, 2015 (German only) for more information on the Ombudspersons and the process of their appointment.

An overview of further advisory offices and contact points for doctoral researchers and postdocs can be found here.

	Prof. Rafaela Hillerbrand Division II – Informatics, Economics, and Society Phone: +49 721 608-26450 E-mail: rafaela hillerbrandVbw8∂kit edu further information
Function:	Professor
Area of Expertise:	Technical philosophy and philosophy of science
At KIT since:	2015
Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to  doctoral researchers:	Currently 5 doctoral researchers, completed (and co-supported) dissertations: 5
My motivation to be an Ombudsperson for doctoral researchers and supervisors:	"I supported a group of the Studienstiftung for several years and gave courses on "Scientific Integrity" for doctoral researchers at my former employer, the TU Delft. In my research, I deal with the subject "misconduct in sciences" amongst other things. Since I did my doctorate in physics and philosophy, I had the opportunity to learn about different subject cultures. I would like to utilize my work experience when acting as an Ombudsperson. I think this office is very important because in my opinion it can help to resolve conflicts, which in extreme cases can lead to the termination of the doctorate. Most conflicts arise from lack of or misleading communication - something that can (more) easily be detected by third parties."

	Prof. Stefan Hinz Division IV - Natural and Built Environment Phone: +49 721 608-42314 E-Mail: stefan hinzUtn7∂kit edu further information
Function:	Head of the Institute for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (IPF) and Head of the graduate school GRACE (Graduate School for Climate and Environment)
Area of Expertise:	Sensor technology and automatic image analysis/AI methods in engineering and environmental sciences
At KIT since:	2008
Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to doctoral researchers:	“In my scientific career I have supervised more than 30 doctoral researchers from the engineering and environmental sciences. I consider supervision to be one of our main tasks and also one of our main pleasures in science, as we make a special contribution to the development of our young scientists and our society. In addition, I have a special connection to structured doctoral programs, as since 2010 I have headed the GRACE graduate school with over 100 doctoral researchers and have been able to help shape its offerings for doctoral researchers together with a committed team at the forefront.”
My motivation to be an Ombudsperson for doctoral researchers and supervisors:	“The doctoral researchers of today are the scientific future of tomorrow. Successful doctoral supervision - also in the sense of challenging and supporting - must therefore be a matter of course for us. This is not always easy with such pronounced characters as are to be found in science in particular. As an ombudsperson, I would therefore like to contribute as a balancing influence.”

	PD Stefan Kühnlein Division V – Physics and Mathematics Phone: +49 721 608 43039 E-mail: stefan kuehnleinRco6∂kit edu further information
Function:	Academic Senior Councillor at IAG, KIT Department of Mathematics
Area of Expertise:	Algebra / number theory
At KIT since:	1997
Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to doctoral researchers:	A doctorate supervised by myself, several times involved as a co-referee, often in doctoral colloquia, constant contact with our doctoral researchers in joint courses
My motivation to be an Ombudsperson for doctoral researchers and supervisors:	"Interested in solving individual problems that can be caused by doing a doctorate."

	Dr. Birgid Langer Division I – Biology, Chemistry, and Process Engineering Phone: +49 721 608 47218 E-mail: birgid langerHzv3∂kit edu further information
Function:	Academic Senior Councillor Head of Department
Area of Expertise:	Chemical biology/biochemistry in the Institutes IOC (UB) and IBG-2 (GFB)
At KIT since:	1991
Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to doctoral researchers:	Yes. In my role as Head of Department I am mainly responsible for the creation of special conditions (financing, further education besides research...)
My motivation to be an Ombudsperson for doctoral researchers and supervisors:	"For me, it is important that both parties (doctoral researcher and supervisor) clarify what they are in for (subject and conditions!!!) during the doctoral research phase. My job is to support compliance with this agreement or lead to an agreement in the case of modification requests."

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