Schedule of Events

Course dates
First selected course: September 16, 2024 - September 29, 2024
Second selected course: September 30, 2024 - October 13, 2024
Third selected course: October 14, 2024 - October 27, 2024
 
A career in industry is an attractive option for many young scientists after completing their doctorate or postdoc phase. And quite a few actually choose to leave academia with the aspiration of entering responsible positions in the private sector.
 
However, given that employees in private enterprises often are required to both pursue different goals and work differently compared to employees in research institutions, scientists need to adopt different mindsets and competences for succeeding in a business environment. In addition to specialist professional knowledge, transferrable skills in the areas of management methods, leadership and communication are particularly required.
 
To give you a head start for a successful career entry in the private sector, this e-learning program provides initial insights into key competences specifically for the business context. A selection of short online courses examines a variety of relevant topics, taking examples from everyday business life as their starting point. Apart from conveying theoretical background information they offer practical advice and provide suggestions for exercises and self-reflexion. Competences acquired by working thouroughly on these e-learnings can also be helpful for similar tasks in other than industrial work contexts, of course.
 
Pick three!
Depending on your personal needs, you can choose up to three courses from the table below (they are offered in English, German or other languages) and compile them into your personal self-learning programme. Get fit for a career in industry!
 
Management Methods            
Leadership
Communication
Agile Project Management - Basics (60 min)
New to the Leadership Role (50 min)
Moderating Meetings (50 min)
Developing an Agile Mindset (80 min)
Female Leadership (80 min)
Targeted Networking (100 min)
Design Thinking (70 min)
Making Good Decisions (70 min)
Basics of Negotiations (70 min)
Scrum – The Overview (80 min)
Giving Feedback (70 min)
Storytelling within the Company (80 min)
Time Management (70 min)
Lateral Leadership (50 min)
Arguing and Persuading Using the Five-Sentence Method (100 min)
Big Data - Understanding the World of Data NEU! (60 min) Successfully Structuring Team Development (60 min)
Virtual Teams – Communication (50 min)
 
For detailed descriptions of the course contents please follow the links.
 
Information on registration and course operation
In the course of registration, you will be able to indicate a ranking of a maximum of three courses you would like to take. Please choose carefully on the basis of the course descriptions, taking into account that some courses overlap in their content. It might thus be advisable not to choose three topics that are too similar.
 
This e-learning course is being offered in a self-learning format. You therefore have the option to begin at any time convenient to you and work through it at your own pace. Please note that the indicated course durations refer to the pure processing time of the course contents. Please plan additional time for transfer tasks.
 
The e-learnings you select will be made available to you sequentially: you will have access to one course at a time and will have two weeks for completing them respectively. (Access to further courses is conditional upon a timely completion of your current course.)
 
Course dates
First selected course: September 16, 2024 - September 29, 2024
Second selected course: September 30, 2024 - October 13, 2024
Third selected course: October 14, 2024 - October 27, 2024
 
Please note
You will receive the login details as well as further information on the course in a separate e-mail on the starting day of the program (September 16, 2024). Please register below. The e-learning will be accessed on an external online training platform.
 
Eligibility
Since this event is organised by the KHYS Postdoc Office, postdocs (who are members of KHYS) will have priority for attending. Doctoral researchers, however, can still register and will be offered a spot if not all places are taken.
 

The postdoc phase is the crucial stage to set the course for a successful career as a scientist. An obvious next step to pursue a career in academia seems to be a position as junior research group leader and to qualify for a leading position in science such as a professorship. However, the question remains: What next? Since there are only limited positions available as leading scientists with unlimited contracts or as professors, postdocs might also ask themselves to which alternative career options a junior research group can lead instead. So in this panel discussion we will talk with current and former research group leaders about their career paths. What challenges and opportunities during their phase as junior research group leader do/did they experience? What does a junior research group position really qualify for? This will also include people outside academia.
In the subsequent get-together at 6 p. m. with beverages and snacks participants will have the chance to get to know fellow postdocs and talk to our panelists.
 
Panelists:
▶ Dr. Xufei Fang (Group leader, Institute for Applied Materials - Mechanics of Materials and Interfaces (IAM-MMI)) ▶ Dr. Gary Davidson (Group leader, Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS))  
Please note: The main focus in this panel discussion will be on important aspects during a junior research group position and the prospects afterwards. If you are also interested in the different funding options for junior research groups, please have a look on our online lecture Funding for Postdocs.
 
This event is part of the KHYS Postdoc Days 2024 and is sponsored by the Helmholtz Association. It is also part of this year's Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany.

In this event, KIT Career Service will present their services for postdocs and give you an overview of what is important when you are applying for jobs outside of academia. Our expert, Sabine Reiser, will focus on industry-ready CVs and cover letters to give you a head start in the application process.
 
This event is part of the KHYS Postdoc Days 2024 and is sponsored by the Helmholtz Association. It is also part of this year's Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany.

You can access the e-learning from July 2, 2024 until September 30, 2024.
 
This course will help you to explore how you can communicate your work to a range of audiences using digital tools and innovative communication methods. It will also encourage you to reflect on how you can build networks and connect with your professional community. This course helps you to:   Communicating the importance of your work to a potential funder or industry partner Identify the networks that are meaningful to you Develop strategies that can help you to build your networks and connect with a professional community Explain how digital communication and social media might provide networking opportunities and how to make the most of in-person event Evaluate how innovative approaches can contribute to your research communication strategy  
Throughout the course, in-depth interviews with current doctoral researchers and experienced academics will provide you with tips and advice on various aspects of attending, presenting at and organising seminars, symposia and conferences.
 
Duration of this course: 120 min
 
The indicated course duration refers to the pure review of the learning content. Please plan additional time for working on exercises and transfer tasks.
 
This e-learning course is being offered in a self-learning format. You therefore have the option to begin at any time convenient to you and work through it at your own pace.
 
Please note
You can register below, we will then check your application. If you are a KHYS member, you will receive the login details as well as further information on the course in a separate e-mail approximately two to three weeks after your registration. You will be able to access the e-learning on an online training platform of KIT.
 
This workshop is open to doctoral researchers and postdocs at KIT who are KHYS members.

You can access the e-learning from July 1, 2024 until September 30, 2024.
 
On many occasions, young scientists communicate about their work, project or institution with the public or the media. This basic course of the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik) gives participants an overview of communicating with target groups outside of academia and teaches first practical basics. The focus is on topics such as dimensions of science communication, the interaction of communicators and target groups, or dealing with the media.
 
Learning Goals
Knowledge of the functions of external science communication Reflection of players, their roles and interactions Building and consolidating core competencies  
Content
Dimensions of good science communication Science and the media Players and their roles Basic rules for comprehensibility Trust in science Guidelines and potential pitfalls  
The e-learning course contains videos and animations, texts, audio and screencasts. Participants apply what they have learned in exercises, quizzes, and knowledge tests, and they can also deepen their knowledge through links to internal and external content. The course is provided in English or German, participants can choose the laguage after registration.
 
Please notice: You can register below, we will then check your registration. The use of this e-learning offer requires an additional registration on the provider's website. If you are a KHYS member, you will receive the registration link from us in a separate mail, probably two to three weeks after your registration.
 
This workshop is open to doctoral researchers and postdocs at KIT who are KHYS members.

The KIT Postdoc Meeting is thought as a platform for you to get in touch with other KIT postdocs and their research projects and to inform yourself about relevant topics concerning the postdoc phase.
 
We will start with a short keynote speech on a topic of your choice. Following the keynote lecture, two KIT postdocs each can briefly present themselves and their research project.
 
Be part of a vivid postdoc community at KIT!
 
Program:
5.30 p.m.           Impulse lecture on a topic of your choice + Q&A
6.00 p.m.           Presentation of two postdocs at KIT
                           
From now on, you can hand in your topic suggestions for upcoming KIT Postdoc Meetings here: postdoc@khys.kit.edu
 
Date of the next KIT Postdoc Meeting
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