The University Publications Office and Document Server team assists with the formal submission of dissertations and postdoctoral theses. The Document Server editorial team operates the institutional repository Refubium and provides support for first and second publications. In addition, researchers receive advice on funding options for open-access publications from the Open Access Publication Fund of Freie Universität Berlin.

What We Do for You

• Submission & Formal Review: We review dissertations and postdoctoral theses for completeness and compliance with the applicable doctoral regulations.

• Publication Requirement: We guide you through the submission process in close coordination with the doctoral offices of the respective departments.

• Publishing in Refubium: We add monographs, anthologies, articles, student theses, and research data to Refubium. In doing so, we check metadata, file formats, and, if applicable, embargoes. 

• Secondary Publication Service (Green OA): We assist with clarifying publisher rights and uploading permissible versions.

• DOI: In addition to automated DOI assignment for all publication types in Refubium, FU units with their own repositories have the option to participate in our DOI service, which is free of charge for them.

• Advice on Rights & Licenses: We assist with copyright issues, image rights, and contractual matters.

• Funding advice: We provide information on publication funds, publishing agreements, institutional memberships, and other funding opportunities.

• Services for journal series: We advise editors on publishing contracts, presentation formats, and workflows.

• Training: We offer informational sessions for doctoral candidates, bachelor’s, and master’s students.

   

Team

• Director & Coordinator:  Birgit Schlegel
• Staff: Robert Ave, Indira Chue, Hannes Dress, Denise Sievers

Contact

• Questions about Refubium and DOI services: kontakt@refubium.fu-berlin.de
• Questions regarding the submission of academic publications and student theses; funding models: edocs@ub.fu-berlin.de
• Questions regarding the submission of online dissertations: dissonline@ub.fu-berlin.de
• General questions regarding academic publications: hsstelle@ub.fu-berlin.de

The Open Access & Scholarly Publishing Team provides guidance on open access publishing, coordinates the University Library’s support services, and assists with the development and operation of scholarly publishing infrastructures.

Key areas of focus include the advancement of Open Science, professional development, strategic developments in the field of Open Access, and the operation of Open Journal Systems (OJS) with over 40 supported journals. Since 2022, publication support has been provided through the cooperative Open Access publisher Berlin Universities Publishing.

What We Do for You

• Advice on publication models: Gold, Green, Hybrid, Diamond – we explain the benefits, obligations, and funding options.

• Publication services: We coordinate publications through Berlin Universities Publishing and provide guidance on book and journal projects.

• Infrastructure & Hosting: We manage OJS hosting (journals) and OMP hosting (monographs/book series) at FU.

• Predatory Publishing: We provide information and advice on the typical characteristics of predatory publishing/conferences and offer guidance on identifying unscrupulous offers.

• Transformation & Strategy: We support journals in their transition to Open Access and develop strategic measures to promote open science.

• Training & Continuing Education: We offer introductory sessions, in-depth workshops, and individual consultations.

• Coordination & Networks: We collaborate with academic departments, IT, and external partners.

Team

• Dr. Julian Vuorimäki (Head) – Coordination of publication services at the University Library, advising on academic open-access publishers and journals as well as their transformation, strategic support for open science/research, and further development of services for FU members.

• Steffi Grimm – Open Access services at FU Berlin, support for Open Access publication processes, quality assurance and predatory publishing, information budget.

• Dr. Michael Kleineberg – Open-access publishers and journals, consulting on the launch and transformation of journals, services for scholarly publishing, hosting services for OJS and OMP.

• Dr. Silvia Polla – Open-access services at FU Berlin, support for open-access publication processes, quality assurance and predatory publishing, research assessment.

• Dr. Ronald Steffen – IT infrastructure for publication platforms, hosting services and support for OJS and OMP, plugin development and technical support for OJS and OMP.

Contact

• Questions about Open Access: open-access@fu-berlin.de 

Role & Responsibilities

•  Promotes the free dissemination of research findings at the university

• Acts as a liaison between researchers, the University Library, and the Executive Board

• Drives the implementation of the OA policy and strategic objectives

• Represents the FU externally in national and international OA committees

Contact

• Dr. Dennis Mischke (Head of Research and Publication Services)

     Contact: dennis.mischke@fu-berlin.de 

Role & Responsibilities 

• Promotes open science principles: transparency, reproducibility, and open access to data, methods, and results 
• Supports researchers in implementing open practices in their daily research work 
• Collaborates with the Open Science Working Group and university leadership 
• Acts as an interface with society and external partners to support the transfer of open knowledge

 

Contact 

• Prof. Dr. Frank Fischer (Department of Philosophy and Humanities)

     Contact: fr.fischer@fu-berlin.de