Main content

Top content

Information for new Postdocs

Overview of services to support and promote research, career development and integration into the scientific community at Osnabrueck University

Dear new Postdocs, a warm welcome to Osnabrueck University!

Various facilities at Osnabrueck University offer services to support Postdocs who have recently taken up a position at Osnabrueck University regarding their research, career development and integration into the University’s scientific community. The information assembled on this website is targeted directly at Early Career Researchers after the doctorate who do Postdoc research and teaching at the University, either as a member of scientific staff or as a scholarship holder.
Please note that some services may only be available to Postdocs holding an employment contract with the University.

 

This page focuses on services to support and promote your research, career development and integration into the scientific community at Osnabrueck University. For information on practical issues and formalities before or upon your arrival in Germany (such as residence permits and finding accommodation), please consult the following information pages:

International Office (planning your research stay, first steps after arrival, living in Osnabrueck)
International Staff (information for new international members of staff with an employment contract on services, formalities, accommodation, family and life in Osnabrueck)
Onboarding (information and contact persons for all new members of staff [in German])

The following links lead to English websites if available.

Offers of the PhD/Postdoc Career Center (Zentrum für Promovierende und Postdocs - ZePrOs)

As an interdisciplinary institution of the University of Osnabrück, the PhD/Postdoc Career Center at Osnabrück University (German abbreviation: ZePrOs) supports doctoral and postdoctoral researchers as well as junior professors of all disciplines in their scientific and interdisciplinary further qualification.

Condition for taking up these offers is a registration at the PhD/ Postdoc Career Center. Postdocs simply register by sending an informal application by e-mail to: zepros@uni-osnabrueck.de. Those registered are kept up to date on all ZePrOs events via regular emails. The workshops offered by the ZePrOs are free of charge for the University’s Postdocs.

Offers of the research service

The research service supports scientists in the selection of suitable project funding and assists in the application process.

  • The research consultants at Osnabrueck University support scientists during the entire process of applying for third-party funding from researching suitable funding instruments to handing in the finalized application. They also provide advice on applying for doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships, conference funding opportunities, research-related travel grants, and fellowships abroad and offer feedback on work in progress. Contact person for Postdocs is Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke.
  • An overview of typical third party funding programs (in German) provides basic information for Postdocs of all disciplines.
  • The research consultants offer regular workshops on the principles of proposal writing and the most important third party funding institutions and programmes. Dates are published in the ZePrOs course program.
  • The Research Newsletter “FIT for Science” contains the latest announcements for funding. Subscription is recommended.
  • The Research Support Pool (PDF, 325 kB) offers financial support for Postdocs working on a proposal for substantial third-party funding. Please contact Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke to find out about eligibility and details.

Further funding opportunities

  • The Female Promotion Pool  of the Equal Opportunities Office awards funding to female scholars and supports research in gender studies or promoting gender awareness.
  • The Universitätsgesellschaft (University Society) awards subsidies for travel and accommodation expenses for active participation in conferences (German website)
  • The Open Access publication fund is administrated by the University Library. It offers subsidies for publication fees of peer-reviewed journal articles published by members of Osnabrueck University as Corresponding / Submitting Authors.

Basics of good research & important information for researchers

Osnabrueck University offers various resources to enable and promote research according to the highest standards.

Networking

  • The Postdoc representatives are part of the Scientific Advisory Council of the PhD/ Postdoc Career Center, where they represent the particular interests and needs of their peers. New Postdocs are welcome to join the StudIP group “Postdocs at Osnabrück University”.
  • Annually in spring, the ZePrOs organises a networking event for the University's Postdocs with the Vice President responsible for Academic Staff Development in order to facilitate an exchange about experiences at Osnabrück University, support offers provided and current university policy topics. Invitations are distributed via the ZePrOs mailing list.

Further qualification and consultation offers

FAQ

Condition for taking part in ZePrOs courses and workshops is a registration at the PhD/ Postdoc Career Center. Postdocs simply register by sending an informal application by e-mail to: zepros@uni-osnabrueck.de.

Postdocs of Osnabrück University who are registered at the ZePrOs can participate in workshops and attend individual consultations free of charge.
Participants in the mentoring program are charged a fee to contribute towards the costs. Please consult the program website for details.

Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke

Tel.: +49 541 9694897
mariekathrin.drauschke@uni-osnabrueck.de

Raum: 52/412
Dezernat 7: Hochschulentwicklungsplanung
Neuer Graben 7-9
49074 Osnabrück

For Postdocs, the ZePrOs offers interdisciplinary advice and orientation from the entry to the advanced Postdoc phase. We are happy to provide information about qualification paths in science and requirements on the way to a professorship. If required, this also includes the topic of third party funding as a possibility for career development and the acquisition of scientific independence. We are happy to provide new Postdocs with an overview of networking opportunities, qualification offers and instruments for individual career development ("career talks"). In a phase of professional (re)orientation, we offer support in decision-making and reflection on professional options within and outside of science. This includes the identification of further education needs, especially with regard to the offers of the ZePrOs.

Osnabrück University provides “career talk” discussion guidelines for its Postdocs and their supervisors as a basis for regular conversations on individual career development. The career consultations are voluntary. However, it is highly recommended that they take place once a year.

 

Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke

Tel.: +49 541 9694897
mariekathrin.drauschke@uni-osnabrueck.de

Raum: 52/412
Dezernat 7: Hochschulentwicklungsplanung
Neuer Graben 7-9
49074 Osnabrück

 A 12-months Mentoring Program for Postdocs takes place every other year. Please consult the program website for details.

The ZePrOs is also a contact point for Postdocs in case of conflicts in the context of work and research and may refer to other contact persons as needed. Consultations are confidential. Contact person for Postdocs is Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke.

Osnabrueck University fosters a culture of scientific integrity as laid down in the DFG's Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice and has published its own guidelines on this topic. This includes an Ombudsman board.  In cases of potential scientific misconduct, University members can get first advice about contact persons and procedures at the ZePrOs. Furthermore, the DFG’s Research Ombudsman  may be approached by all researchers for advice and support in matters relating to good scientific practice and its abuse due to lack of integrity.

The Postdoc representatives are part of the Scientific Advisory Council of the PhD/ Postdoc Career Center, where they represent the particular interests and needs of their peers. New Postdocs are welcome to join the StudIP group “Postdocs at Osnabrück University”.

An overview of typical third party funding programs (in German) provides basic information for Postdocs of all disciplines. Individual advice is offered by the research consultants at Osnabrueck University. Contact person for Postdocs is Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke.

Individual advice and feedback on work in progress is offered by the research consultants at Osnabrueck University. Moreover, the Research Support Pool  offers financial support for Postdocs working on a proposal for substantial third-party funding. Please contact Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke to find out about eligibility and details.

The University Library offers information (German website) and individual advice on this topic.

Contact person is Dr. Marco Gronwald.

The University Library offers information  (German website) and individual advice on this topic.

Contact person is Dr. Sabine Boccalini.