Dear early career researchers With workshop bookings opening soon and a full line-up of events, calls, and resources ahead, now is a good moment to get organized and look beyond the next deadline. Here’s what’s coming up in the weeks ahead:

• Workshop booking opens on March 18, 2026, at 12 noon - mark your calendars and be prepared, as many sessions fill up quickly. → Upcoming Workshops and Events
• New podcast episode out now: Learn how social background, financial security, and mentoring shape doctoral pathways in our latest Navigating your Doctorate episode with Dr. Steffen Jaksztat. → DRS Podcast
• Research integrity in focus: From research data management workshops and Love Data Week to the Rosalind Franklin Award call – discover what’s coming up and how to get involved. → Spotlight on Research Integrity
• New exchange forum “Promotion im Dialog”: Join the ongoing conversation on good doctoral practice at FU Berlin and take part in the next session on February 11, featuring the doctoral representatives. → Calls & Announcements
• Doctoral Council survey: Help us understand how budget cuts affect doctoral researchers in Berlin. The anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes. → Calls & Announcements

Best wishes and take care,
Your DRS Team

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DRS Podcast "Navigating your Doctorate"

In our latest episode, Dr. Steffen Jaksztat, Sociologist at the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), investigates how social background shapes the path to a doctorate - from the decision to pursue a dissertation to careers afterward. In the DRS podcast interview, he explains the importance of financial security, family expectations, and role models, the opportunities offered by formalized selection processes, and why mentors play a key role in the success of first-generation doctoral candidates. Listen to the episode here: https://blogs.fu-berlin.de/drs_podcast/2025/09/09/does-your-familial-background-influence-your-decision-for-against-a-doctorate/ or on Spotify.

The Dahlem Research School podcast "Navigation your Doctorate" (https://blogs.fu-berlin.de/drs_podcast/) supports prospective and current doctoral researchers during their early career phase. It features expert interviews covering all stages of a doctorate and chats with winners of the supervisor award. NEW: Listen in on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5iYlKZpuC4j5RjLFstdlbR?si=3a44ff7e558a4ec0! 

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Spotlight on Research Integrity

RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS WINTER 2026
Several online workshop offers, in English and German 
Target group: FUB researchers
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/drs/research-integrity/gwp-news/RDM-offers-winter-2026.html

LOVE DATA WEEK "WHERE'S THE DATA"
Internationale Aktionswoche rund um die Themen Forschungsdaten und Forschungsdatenmanagement.
Dates: 09.-13.02.2026, online or in person (language: German or English)
Registration: https://forschungsdaten.info/fdm-im-deutschsprachigen-raum/love-data-week-2026/

FORSCHUNGSDATENMANAGEMENT IN DER PRAXIS - ONLINE-GESPRÄCHSREIHE "FDM@BUA"
Die Reihe gibt praxisnahe Einblicke in das Forschungsdatenmanagement Berliner Wissenschaftseinrichtungen. Dabei lernen Sie erprobte Ansätze kennen, erhalten konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen und kommen direkt mit Praktiker:innen ins Gespräch – disziplinübergreifend und anwendungsorientiert.
Zielgruppe: FDM-Einsteiger:innen und Fortgeschrittene der Berlin University Alliance (BUA)
Nächste Termine: 11.02.2026, weitere geplant
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/drs/research-integrity/gwp-news/BUA-Reihe-FDM-2026.html 

ROSALIND-FRANKLIN-AWARD FOR RESEARCH INTEGRITY - Call for nominations 2026
Description: The award honors researchers at Freie Universität Berlin who have promoted research integrity through their exceptional dedication.
Target group: All members and organizational units of Freie Universität Berlin can nominate candidates. The nominee must be a member of Freie Universität Berlin at the time of nomination. Acting ombudspersons and members of the investigatory commission may not be nominated.
Deadline: 31.03.2026
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/gwp/rosalind-franklin-preis/index.html

NEWS AROUND GOOD RESEARCH PRACTICE
https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/drs/research-integrity/gwp-news/index.html

UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/commitments/research-quality/training/WiSe2025-26/index.html   

E-LEARNING MODULE ‘GOOD RESEARCH PRACTICE FOR DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS’
https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/grp

OPEN SCIENCE in the Berlin University Alliance
https://berlin-university-alliance.de/openx-initiative

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Upcoming Workshops and Events

Dahlem Research School offers an extensive workshop program, most of which is open to all doctoral researchers from the partner institutions of the Berlin University Alliance. Visit our booking platform and check the announcements:
→ www.drs.fu-berlin.de/course_list.

NEW USERS: Register with an institutional email address and confirm your membership.
REGISTERED USERS: Confirm your continued membership once a year.

We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on our workshops. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us tailor our support to meet your needs and ensure that our events are relevant and beneficial to you. It will only take a few minutes of your time (5 minutes): https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115722. To ensure your anonymity, please log out of the booking platform before participating. Thank you so much for contributing! 

TU BERLIN'S CAREER WEEK FOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR RESEARCHERS
The event aims at giving international PhD students and postdocs insights into the diversity of academic and non-academic career prospects on the German labor market.
Date: February 16 - 20, 2026
Program: https://www.tu.berlin/en/go200551/
Registration: https://events.tu-berlin.de/e/40000020_2026
For questions contact TU Berlin’s Alumni Team at alumni@tu-berlin.de

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
We will explore the basics of public engagement (PE) and its value for research and practice.
Date: February 18, 2026, 10:00-17:00
Venue: Humbolt Graudate School, Luisenstr. 56, 10117 Berlin, room 220 (1st floor)
URL: https://hu.opencampus.com/de/node/12744   

MENTAL HEALTH  - Strengthened and healthy through the doctoral thesis 
Especially in challenging times, it is crucial to know strategies for maintaining your well-being. Work on developing a positive mindset, identify stress factors, and discover helpful resources for your doctoral journey. Learn about and try out relaxation techniques. This way, you can face challenges with greater confidence and achieve your personal goals more efficiently. 
Date: March 11 and 12, 2026 
Venue: https://www.umwelt-bildungszentrum.de/  
Registration: https://programm.zewk.tu-berlin.de/de/events/019932de-d297-7763-87e7-e3f346f66c45

KICK OFF YOUR DOCTORATE 
The retreat is an on-site event. In order to create a space in which you can focus on your doctoral project and engage with other doctoral researchers, we meet at a conference hotel close to Berlin. Participants will be accommodated in single rooms.
Date(s): April 22 - 24, 2026
Venue: https://www.hotel-sommerfeld.de/  
URL: https://pretix.eu/cgss/kick-off-26-en/

ERFOLGREICH IN DIE PROMOTION
Der Retreat findet vor Ort statt. Um einen Raum zu schaffen, in dem Sie sich auf Ihr Promotionsvorhaben konzentrieren und sich mit anderen Doktoranden austauschen können, treffen wir uns in einem Tagungshotel in der Nähe von Berlin. Die Teilnehmer werden in Einzelzimmern untergebracht.
Date(s): April 20 - 22, 2026
Ort: https://www.hotel-sommerfeld.de/
URL: https://pretix.eu/cgss/kick-off-26-de/

ONLINE COMPETENCE TOOL
A self-assessment platform that helps doctoral researchers and postdocs identify and enhance interdisciplinary skills for diverse career paths.
https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/commitments/promoting-talent/postdoc-academy/competence-tool/

Even if workshops are fully booked, please still register for the waiting list. This helps us plan future sessions or make adjustments.
Also check for free places in the Berlin University Alliance's GRADUATE STUDIES SUPPORT PROGRAM 
→ www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/commitments/promoting-talent/projekte/graduate-studies-support-program/list/
and explore Freie Universität Berlin’s further RESOURCES FOR DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS
→ https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/drs/offers/index.html.

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Calls & Announcements

DOCTORAL COUNCIL SURVEY
The doctoral council of Freie Universität Berlin is conducting a short survey to understand how the current budget reductions mandated by the Berlin Senate will affect working conditions for doctoral researchers. The survey is open to all Berlin-based doctoral candidates. Your feedback will help create a clearer picture of the situation and allow the council to better address any upcoming challenges. The survey is anonymous and takes about 10 minutes to complete. You are welcome you to share the link with your colleagues.
Survey link: https://www.soscisurvey.de/budgetcutssurvey/

„PROMOTION IM DIALOG": DER AUSTAUSCH GEHT AM 11. FEBRUAR WEITER
Die Dahlem Research School lädt alle ein, die die Promotionsphase an der FU Berlin gestalten oder begleiten. Ziel ist es, gute Promotionspraxis sichtbar zu machen und die Förderung von Wissenschaftler*innen in der frühen Karrierephase gemeinsam weiterzuentwickeln. 
Am 11. Februar um 13:00 - 14:00 Uhr stellt die Promovierendenvertretung sich und ihre Themen vor. 
Die Teilnahme ist ohne Anmeldung möglich: https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/drs/forum/index.html.
Bleiben Sie informiert und melden Sie sich in der Mailingliste an: https://lists.fu-berlin.de/listinfo/Promotion-im-Dialog/.    

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE LIBRARY: YOUR PERSPECTIVES, EXPERIENCES, AND WISHES
A focus group exploring the wants and needs of international students and doctoral researchers in the university library in order to improve services for internationals.
Target group: International students and doctoral researchers at FU Berlin, regardless of their international program, their degree or their semester.
Date(s): Late February 2026
Application deadline: 13th of February 2026
Contact: miriam.wildermuth@fu-berlin.de  

SCIENTIFIC WORKFLOWS: TOOLS AND TIPS 
Lecture series by Dr. Selina Baldauf for early-career researchers of all disciplines.
When? 3rd Thursday of a month (lecture period), 4pm - 5pm
URL: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/graduiertenzentrum/promovierende/veranstaltungen/lecture-SB
In the meantime, check out the vast collection of materials including videos and slides from past events: https://selinazitrone.github.io/tools_and_tips/  

KLARTEXT PREIS FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSKOMMUNIKATION 
Description: A prize for young researchers who can explain their doctoral work in a popular science article or infographic. 
Target group: Scientists and researchers in biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics who have completed their PhD in the last two years. 
Application deadline: February 28, 2026 
URL: https://klartext-preis.de/  

DEUTSCHER STUDIENPREIS 2026 
Zielgruppe: Die Ausschreibung richtet sich an Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innen aller Fachrichtungen, die im Jahr 2025 eine exzellente Dissertation von besonderer gesellschaftlicher Bedeutung vorgelegt haben 
Preis: Drei Spitzenpreise zu je 25.000 Euro und weitere Förderangebote. 
Einsendeschluss: 1. März 2025 
Weitere Informationen: https://koerber-stiftung.de/en/projects/german-thesis-award/teilnehmen/  

EUROPAEUM LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE AT FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN 2026
The seminar explores leadership in its multiple dimensions – examining contemporary leadership theories, practices, and challenges across different sectors and contexts, including discussions with academics and opportunities to develop practical skills through experiential sessions with a world-class trainer.
Target group: Master’s and Doctorate students, who are enrolled at a Europaeum member university; expenses will be covered for selected candidates
Date(s): 18–19 May 2026
Application and abstract submission deadline: 2 March 2026
URL: https://europaeum.org/call-for-applications-europaeum-leadership-seminar-2026  

3R CURRICULUM – ETHICS AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Description: interactive course introducing current developments of new approaches in biomedical research along the 3R principles
Target group: doctoral/PhD students in life sciences or veterinary sciences 
Date(s): 16.03.-20.03.2026
Application deadline: 09.03.2026
URL: https://charite3r.charite.de/en/education/3r_curriculum 

ELSA-NEUMANN-SCHOLARSHIP application round opens February 11 at noon
Description: The Elsa-Neumann-Scholarship supports outstanding doctoral researchers at Freie Universität Berlin with a monthly stipend of €1,350 plus an additional €100 per month for research materials, for up to three years. 
Target group: Prospective doctoral researchers at Freie Universität Berlin with excellent academic performance whose doctoral project makes a significant contribution to their field.
Application deadline: April 15, 2026, at 12:00 noon
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/drs/funding/nafoeg 

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS AT FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN
(Annual) Calls for doctoral places, doctoral positions and/or fellowships
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/drs/doctorate/structured-or-individual/drs_programs

DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIPS
A selection of the most important institutions that award doctoral scholarships
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/drs/funding/grants/index.html

FORSCHUNGSPREISE (in German)
www.fu-berlin.de/forschung/service/foerderung/informationen/preise

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Please send your questions and comments to: skills@drs.fu-berlin.de

Dahlem Research School (DRS)
Hittorfstr. 16
14195 Berlin
+49 30 838 620 61
www.fu-berlin.de/drs

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