Virtual Career Day

On March 27, 2025, the fourth Virtual Career Day will return with a focus on "Career Perspectives for Postdocs: Big Names & Hidden Champions"! Just like in the years before, the ▶ KHYS Postdoc Office and fellow Helmholtz Career Centers from all over Germany have prepared a wide range of workshops and invited exciting guests to provide you with key insights into several career perspectives.

Get inspired by dynamic panel discussions, and network with former postdocs and industry professionals and meet HR representatives from big names and hidden champions from industry and other sectors like semiconductor, biotech, AI development, energy, R&D, science management, pharma. Take your career prep to the next level by joining a group session with a Helmholtz career counselor on relevant career topics and by diving into a skills workshop tailored to help you make a smooth transition into industry or other professional fields.

In order to register for the main event, please visit this ▶ website. Registration opens February 6, 2025, 9:00am!

Please note: Afternoon workshops require seperate registration. Limited spots available!

Program

08:45 - 09:00 am  I  Opening

09:00 - 09:30 am  I  Welcome & Keynote: "Transition with Precision: Embracing our academic strengths in industry"
by ▶ Dr. Katerina Falk (Project Leader, Infineon Technologies)

09:15 - 10:00 am  I  Main Panel Discussion
with company representatives

Panelists:

  • ▶ Dr. Katerina Falk (Infineon Technologies)
    Infineon Technologies is a global semiconductor leader, providing solutions for automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics, with a focus on energy efficiency, mobility, and security.
  • ▶ Pascal Struth (PowerCo)
    A battery company based in Europe and North America with the mission to power the transformation towards electric mobility and renewable energy by building a local battery industry.
  • ▶ Alessandra Lai (ASML)
    ASML, based in the Netherlands, develops advanced lithography systems for semiconductor manufacturing. Its technology powers the production of smaller, faster, and more efficient microchips.
  • ▶ Johannes Niederhut (Accenture)
    Accenture is a global professional services company that helps clients embrace change and create value through innovation and AI.
  • ▶ Sven-Peter Heyn (Eckert & Ziegler AG)
    A company focussing on molecular imaging and nuclear medicine supplying different radiopharmaceuticals, radiochemicals and equipment for synthesis & radiochromatography of PET/SPECT tracers.

10:15 am  I  Coffee Break

10:30 - 11:00 am  I  Subpanel Session 1
on the individual fields of application with representatives from recruiting and a postdoc from various companies on experiences for a successful start.

Room 1: ASML
with ▶ Alessandra Lai (R&D Test Engineer)

▶ ASML, based in the Netherlands, develops advanced lithography systems for semiconductor manufacturing. Its technology powers the production of smaller, faster, and more efficient microchips.
Room 2: Accenture
with ▶ Johannes Niederhut (Strategist in Enterprise Architecture).

▶ Accenture is a global professional services company that helps clients embrace change and create value through innovation and AI.
Room 3: Eckert & Ziegler
with ▶ Sven-Peter Heyn (Managing Director).

▶ Eckert & Ziegler is a company for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine supplying different radiopharmaceuticals, radiochemicals and equipment for synthesis & radiochromatography of PET/SPECT tracers.
 Room 4: d-fine
with ▶ Elizabeta Sytova (former postdoc) and ▶ Dr. Jan-Niclas Gruse (Senior Consultant).

Imagine the power of more than 1,500 physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists working as part of a European company with over 20 years of service excellence focused on data science, technology and mathematical modelling. That´s ▶ d-fine.
Room 5: LITRONIK Battery Technology
with ▶ Daniel Spittel (Specialist for Electrochemistry).

▶ LITRONIK is one of the few suppliers of compact, ultra reliable primary batteries for active implants anywhere in the world. Since 1990 the company has developed and manufactured these high-performance energy sources in a variety of performance ranges, and they feature, among other things, very high volumetric energy and power densities, rate optimisation, low self-discharge rates and high operating safety.
Room 6: ROTOP Pharmaka
with ▶ Thu Hang Lai.

▶ ROTOP Pharmaka is a leading pharmaceutical company with over 20 years of experience that produces cGMP compliant radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostics and therapy in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and distributes them in more than 30 countries. Furthermore, ROTOP offers a broad range of CDMO services for cold kits and radioactive pharmaceuticals, such as drug product develompent and GMP manufacturing, API manufacturing as well as packacking and global transport and logistics.
Room 7: Gabler Naval Technology, Develogic, north.io (Ocean Technology)
with ▶ Ole Johannsen (managing director of Develogic GmbH).

The northern German group of companies ▶ Gabler Naval Technology, ▶ Develogic and ▶ north.io epitomise the innovative power of northern Germany as a maritime technology hub. Gabler Naval Technology stands for excellence in the development and production of submarine components, in particular low-signature mast systems. Develogic opens up international waters with highly developed underwater communication systems for naval and industrial applications. North.io in turn enriches this group with its cloud-based platform for maritime big data (TrueOcean), among other things. Together, these companies represent the successful symbiosis of deep-rooted maritime expertise and forward-looking technology development.
Room 8: Evotec SE
with ▶ Dr. Sadman Sakib (Research Associate - Molecular Biology | Next Generation Sequencing).

▶ Evotec SE is a global drug discovery and development company headquartered in Hamburg. By partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, it has more than 130 partnered programs in discovery, pre-clinical development and clinical development that also rely on AI powered data-driven approaches and technologies. The company works across a number of therapeutic areas including CNS/neurology (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease), metabolic diseases (e.g. Diabetes), Cancer, and inflammatory and infectious diseases.

11:20 - 12:00 pm  I  Subpanel Session 2
with all of the panelists listed above

12:00 pm  I  Wrap Up

12:15 - 1:00 pm  I  Ask a Career Counselor
use the last 45 minutes of the event to clarify final remaining questions in open group consultation sessions on the following topics:

Every question is welcome.

2:00 - 6:00 pm  I  Workshops

 

Workshops

Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Max. participants: 25
Registration: ▶ online


By now, Instagram, X or LinkedIn are no longer new. Also, for scientists, social media platforms have become an integral networking tool to connect globally, exchange research ideas and advance careers. But, what’s a proper way for scientists to use these platforms? Shall scientists talk to the public directly through social media? And, if so, how? In this online workshop, you will better understand the current state of digital science communication. You will learn how scientists can integrate social media into their activities — in a helpful and productive way. The workshop advocates a reflected media usage that keeps a close eye on how and when it is recommended for you to ‘go online’. In this course you´ll learn about:

  • Find professional assistance in clarifying your objectives for engaging with social media.
  • Why should I consider social media? What are my goals?
  • Find help in figuring out which of the many media platforms is the right one for you.
  • How to create content for social media (e.g., publicize your publications and reach journalists)
  • Find assistance on how social media may help you explore your career options (e.g., after a PhD or postdoc).
  • Take first steps towards brushing up your personal professional online profiles.

This workshop will be held by ▶ Karin Bodewits and has been organized by ▶ DESY.

Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Max. participants: 25
Registration: ▶ online

This workshop helps you to enhance your voice and self-presentation for job interviews. Through exercise on breathing, voice control, and emphasis, you will learn to find your natural tone and improve your impact. Key topics include the five elements of a self-presentation, crafting strong interview openings, managing nervousness, and receiving personalized feedback on your pitch. Boost your confidence and make a lasting impression.

This workshop will be held by ▶ Julia-Toni Reiche and has been organized by ▶ HZDR.

Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Max. participants: 30
Registration: ▶ online

In this interactive 2-hour workshop, you will learn how to stand out in job applications and interviews. You will explore strategies for analyzing job postings, tailoring applications documents, and showcasing your unique strenghts. Professional input, practical exercises and group discussions will provide actionable insights to boost confidence and success in the competitive job market.

This workshop will be held by ▶ Svenja Klinkenberg and has been organized by ▶ FZ Jülich.

Time: 2:00-6:00pm
Max. participants: 35
Registration: ▶ online

This workshop is designed to guide academics as they navigate the recruitment process and explore career opportunities beyond academia. Participants will gain insights into the hidden job market, where many roles for skilled professionals remain untapped. Through targeted networking strategies, you will learn how to build connections that open doors to these opportunities. The session will also focus on identifying and articulating your unique competencies, helping you stand out to potential employers. Join us to discover how to translate your academic expertise into a successfull and fullfilling career.

This workshop will be held by ▶ Caroline Ketting and has been organized by ▶ KIT.

Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Max. participants: 12
Registration: ▶ online

In the light of growing complexity in the knowledge society, the ‘know-who’ is gaining in importance next to the ‘know-how’. Fortunately, in recent years the possibilities to make quick and target focused contact, be it face-to-face or via social media, have increased in number and significance. With just a few clicks you can reach out to colleagues, experts, potential employers, funders and business partners of all kind. Networking requires initiative and continued investment. It is helpful, in this context, to be able to rely on proven traditional and digital strategies to make the right contacts, to maintain them on a long-term basis and to find the balance between giving and taking. The following points are dealt with:

  • Basics of networking: Objectives – right from the start!
  • Before the harvest, sow: Building contacts face-to-face and online
  • Network care: Traditional and digital opportunities
  • Network academia: Which contacts and bodies are important?
  • Networking: My next steps

This workshop will be held by ▶ Dr. Cornelia Altenburg and has been organized by ▶ IPP/MPG.

Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Max. participants: 16
Registration: ▶ online

This course is designed to help women in academia explore fulfilling alternatives that align with their values, needs, and strengths, building confidence to embrace change and take control of their career paths. It is tailored for female postdocs who are ready to consider new professional landscapes. Through a combination of reflective activities, skill-building exercises, and networking, we address the unique challenges women face when transitioning from academia to industry.

This workshop will be held by  ▶ Dr. Anna Canning,  ▶ Dr. Meike Klischies and ▶ Dr. Lisa Samrock and has been organized by ▶ GEOMAR.

Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Max. participants: 25
Registration: ▶ online

We spend most of our lives working, so it's important that we enjoy our jobs. As researchers, you are accumulating a wide range of experiences and skills, which could take you in all sorts of career directions in the future. But how do you know what types of careers will suit you best in the short and longer term and, more importantly, where can you find jobs that are associated with these careers? In this workshop, we'll look at how you can make informed decisions about your career both now and in the future: - be aware of the kinds of jobs and positions that will suit you and why (important when going for interview!) - which organisations employ in these roles - job seeking strategies to help you to locate and secure the job you love in a vast array of job vacancies and (mostly hidden) opportunities, including how to use modern-day tools and platforms (AI and social media). By the end of the session, you will feel more confident to make you next career move, whether its within or outside of academia.

This workshop will be held by ▶ Sarah Blackford and has been organized by ▶ DZNE.

You can find the programs of previous Virtual Career Days in our ▶ archive.

 

The Virtual Career Day 2025 is sponsored by