CareerDay 2024: Doctorate and then?

Erlangen, June 18, 2024 - Whether an academic or industrial career, science management or founding a company - over 50 doctoral students at the HI ERN were able to gain important impulses for their own career planning at the institute's second Career Day.

The event started with a job fair with potential employers from the region: Bosch, Schaeffler, Wacker, Semikron and Siemens Energy presented entry options and career opportunities. In personal discussions, the doctoral students were able to make important contacts for their own professional future.

They are supported by the Career Center of Forschungszentrum Jülich, of which the HI ERN is a branch office. In her presentation, Svenja Klinkenberg gave a comprehensive overview of how the Center can support them in choosing the right career path for them. Young scientists have access to personal consultations, tailored events, funding and mentoring programs.

Personal insights into their own professional careers were then provided by people who have successfully made their way in the academic world, founded start-ups or made a career in industry.

Dr. Wie Wu showed how to found a company successfully. She co-founded the start-up HEATRIX in 2021 and gave the participants personal insights into the start-up process, the challenges and opportunities.

In his presentation, Marck Lumeij from the Innovation department explained how future founders can benefit from being part of Forschungszentrum Jülich, what funding opportunities are available and why it is important not to give up.

Prof. Roswitha Zeis pursued an academic career after completing her own doctorate. Today, she holds the Chair of Electrical Drives and Machines at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), where her research focuses on the field of electrochemical energy conversion. She gave young scientists valuable insights into how to make a career in science. A passion for science is essential in order to successfully pursue this career path.

Careers at HI ERN

In addition to a state-of-the-art research infrastructure, the HI ERN, as a branch of Forschungszentrum Jülich, offers scientists excellent career opportunities in a very international environment. Researchers benefit from the close network that exists between Forschungszentrum Jülich, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen Nürnberg (FAU) and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.