Uni-Tübingen

Program: Navigating the Postdoc Phase with Stability

Your Situation:

As a postdoc, you are faced with the challenge of managing a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities. This results in the demanding need to set your own priorities and implement — and sometimes even assert — them in your academic day-to-day life.

At the same time, the question arises: How can I create the right conditions for maximum productivity in my planning and actions — without constantly pushing beyond the limits of my capabilities?

Instead of offering standardized solutions, this training series focuses on your specific life and work circumstances in order to create work structures that are both manageable and tailored to your needs — and thus beneficial for your career development. The exclusive group of fellow postdocs in similar professional situations ensures that you benefit from peer-to-peer advice and mutual support.


We pursue two key goals together:

  1. You will identify where the most important starting points for developing your personal work and self-organization lie. With the help of needs-based input and structured peer exchange, you will develop concrete action steps to improve your current work situation.

  2. You will systematically plan the implementation of your goals and integrate them directly into your daily work routine. Over the course of a quarter year, you will test new approaches, reflect on them with peer support, adjust them if necessary, and thereby ensure a tangible and lasting impact.


The Format:

The program combines 2 full workshop days for all participants (at the beginning and the end) and 2 peer coaching sessions in small groups of 4–6 participants (between the two workshops).

Participation is only possible for the entire program.

The application period for 2025 is closed.

Format

The program combines theory and practice and consists of two full-day workshops for all participants (at the beginning and at the end), as well as two peer coaching sessions in small groups of 4–6 participants, facilitated by the trainer (taking place between the two workshops). The total time commitment for each participant is 2.5 days.

This accompanying program offers you the opportunity to explore new analyses, approaches, and ideas for your own work and self-organization, and to apply and experiment with them directly over the course of one semester. During this period, you will be assigned to small peer groups for exchange and mutual support. Within this framework, two group coaching sessions will take place, led by the trainer, where you can share your experiences and challenges, reflect on your self-management practices, and adjust them in order to sustainably integrate them into your daily routine.

For this reason, participation is only possible in the full program.

Trainer

Martin Maier holds a degree in Theology (Dipl.-Theol.) and works as a coach, mediator, and project consultant.
He has many years of experience in leading and advising project teams in academia, public administration, and non-profit organizations. In addition, he coaches executives and regularly serves as a speaker, seminar facilitator, and lecturer at various German universities.
At the Graduate Academy, he has already conducted several courses in the areas of project and change management.

www.martin-maier.info

Conditions for Participation

Conditions for participation:

  • Completed doctorate (the defense must already have taken place).

  • Employment at the University of Tübingen or an institution of the Tübingen Research Campus for the duration of the program (i.e. at least until the end of February 2026).

    Up to 12 participants can be admitted to the program. The program language is German.
    Participation is only possible for the entire duration of the program.
    The application period for 2025 is over.

Registration

To participate in the self-management program, a short application is required.
The application must include the following elements:

  • The completed registration form

  • A letter of motivation (300–500 words) explaining your reasons for applying and your motivation to participate.

Applications must be submitted via the registration form.

Up to 12 participants can be admitted to the program.
Participants will be selected by a selection committee.
The application period for 2025 is from July 14, 2025, to October 13, 2025.
Please use the registration formular on the German Homepage for your application
Registration

Contact Person

Dr. Marisa Köllner

Program Coordinator for Postdocs, Assistant Professors, and Junior Research Group Leaders 

+49 7071 29-72500
marisa.koellner@uni-tuebingen.de