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.
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.
The KIT Ombudspersons are:
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Prof. Dr. Jasmin Aghassi-Hagmann
Phone: +49 721 608-28318 |
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| Function: | Research Unit Chair, Institute of Nanotechnology (INT) |
| Area of Expertise: | Electronic Devices and Systems |
| At KIT since: | 2013 |
| Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to doctoral researchers: |
"In addition to supervising my own numerous doctoral candidates, I have gained extensive experience in advising young researchers on their path to a PhD through my role as scientific coordinator of the MERAGEM graduate school (Offenburg University of Applied Sciences/KIT). Furthermore, I am involved in various committees dedicated to ensuring quality during the doctoral phase—both through the Excellence Cluster 3DMM2O and bilaterally via cooperative doctoral programs with other universities in Germany and abroad, such as Heidelberg University, ETH Zurich, the University of Bolzano, and others." |
| My motivation to be an Ombudsperson for doctoral researchers and supervisors: | "Every period of education and personal development should be a fulfilling one. This is especially true for the doctoral phase, which inevitably comes with significant intellectual and personal challenges. These challenges must be overcome, and in some cases, experienced guidance at the right moment can provide valuable support." |
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Prof. Dr. Marcus Popplow
Phone: +49 721 608-43496 |
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| Function: | Chair for the history of technology, head Department of History |
| Area of Expertise: | History |
| At KIT since: | 2016 |
| Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to doctoral researchers: | "Supervision of approximately a dozen doctoral theses as primary or secondary advisor." |
| My motivation to be an Ombudsperson for doctoral researchers and supervisors: | "Doctoral studies present challenges on academic, organizational, and personal levels. It is hardly surprising that conflicts may arise during the process. In such situations, mediation by external parties can be highly beneficial. I am happy to take on this role." |
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Dr. Birgid Langer
Phone: +49 721 608 47218 |
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| Function: | Academic Director Deptuty Head of Institute IGB-2 |
| Area of Expertise: | Chemical biology/biochemistry in the institutes IOC (UA) and IBG-2 (GFA) |
| At KIT since: | 1991 |
| Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to doctoral researchers: | "As Academic Director I am above all responsible for the creation of framework 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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PD Markus Neher
Phone: +49 721 608-42682 |
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| Function: | Akademischer Oberrat |
| Area of Expertise: | Applied and Numerical Mathematics |
| At KIT since: | 1988 |
| Experience in supporting doctoral researchers or connection to doctoral researchers: | Repeated support of doctoral research projects |
| My motivation to be an Ombudsperson for doctoral researchers and supervisors: |
"I would like to mediate between doctoral researchers and supervisors in case of conflicts or tough situations and support both sides in realising the doctoral research project successfully." |