Next Career Steps in Academia – How the System Works and How to Navigate It

How do academic careers really work—and what does it take to move to the next stage? This seminar provides a clear, realistic overview of academic career paths for PhD students and postdocs. It explains how positions are funded, what is evaluated at different career stages, and why planning ahead is essential in a competitive and non-linear system. Beyond funding programs and formal career models, the seminar focuses on strategic decision-making: developing a scientific profile, understanding evaluation criteria, and identifying key transition points. The session supports early career researchers in making informed decisions about whether—and how—to pursue the next step in academia.