Dear early career researchers, This December, the Ernst Reuter Day on December 4 once again provides a special occasion to honor the university’s early-career researchers. In a festive ceremony, the Ernst Reuter Prizes for outstanding doctoral dissertations - endowed by the Ernst Reuter Association of Friends, Supporters, and Alumni of Freie Universität Berlin - will be awarded to this year’s prize-winners: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/alumni/teilnehmen/ert/index.html. In addition, Promotion im Dialog launches its first online session on December 3 with a focus on good supervision! All stakeholders involved in the doctoral process at Freie Universität are invited to join this university-wide dialogue on doctoral education: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/drs/forum/index.html.   Looking ahead, Freie Universität is taking a major step into the future of academic work: starting in the winter semester 2025/26, university members will gain access to a secure, data-protection-compliant AI chatbot for study and teaching - KI.Assist@FU (https://www.ki.fu-berlin.de). To help our community make the most of this new tool, the Dahlem Research School is offering a series of Open Door Talks on AI - covering everything from the basics to responsible use and hands-on prompting strategies.   Last chance to win DRS merchandise this year! Complete our brief survey on workshop knowledge transfer by December 10, 2025 at noon CET and enter to win one of 20 exclusive merchandise sets. Simply take the survey at https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115722 (note: log out first for confidentiality), screenshot the completion page, and email it to skills@drs.fu-berlin.de. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email. Also in this issue
→ DRS Podcast
→ Spotlight on Research Integrity
→ Upcoming Workshops and Events
→ Calls & Announcements Best wishes and take care,
Your DRS Team

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DRS Podcast "Navigating your Doctorate"

The latest podcast episodes cover power dynamics in science (https://blogs.fu-berlin.de/drs_podcast/2025/11/06/power-dynamics-in-science-accessibility-selection-of-research-topics-and-privilege/) and power imbalances in a supervisory relationship (https://blogs.fu-berlin.de/drs_podcast/2025/11/10/power-dynamics-in-academia-supervisory-relationships/) 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

FREIE UNIVERSITÄT LAUNCHES SECURE AI CHATBOT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING
Starting in the 2025/26 winter semester, Freie Universität will offer a data-protection-compliant AI chatbot for teaching and studying. FUB members will then have secure and easy access to generative AI via their FUB account. Guidelines for using AI tools, along with training opportunities, can be found on the central FU website KI@FU: https://www.ki.fu-berlin.de/ (in German).

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! 
Win DRS merchandise! Complete our survey by December 10, 2025 at noon CET and enter to win one of 20 exclusive merchandise sets. Simply screenshot the completion page, and email it to skills@drs.fu-berlin.de. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email.

OPEN DOOR TALK: AI-BASICS (ONLINE)
Date: 4. December 2025, 10:00-12:00 am Berlin time
Format: online @ Dahlem Research School, Language: English
AI-Basics offers a concise introduction to large language models and their scientific implications. Explore how LLMs work, what they truly “know,” and how to use them responsibly maintaining high standards of scientific integrity.
Further information and registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/122333 

WRITING WEEK 
Write a paper, your exposé or anything else & book an individual consultation slot. 
Dates: December 8-12, 2025 - Online
Registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115847   

RESEARCH INTEGRITY: Doing Research with Probands 
Take a closer look at your research with probands. What ethical issues can arise when you work with humans in your research? 
Date: January 1, 2026 (12noon – 2pm) - Online 
Registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115490

OPEN DOOR TALK: AI & RESEARCH INTEGRITY: WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO AVOID (ONLINE)
Date: 13. January 2026, 1:00-3:00 pm Berlin time
Format: online @ Dahlem Research School, Language: English
Researchers find a huge array of AI-based tools at their disposal with new opportunities emerging almost daily. Accordingly, many questions arise: Can I use AI tools for my dissertation? Should I make it transparent, which AI tools I use and, if so, how? How shall I document the use of AI? When publishing, can AI assist me or even be an author?
Further information and registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115907

NAVIGATING CHALLENGES: Communicating Across Cultures with My Supervisor 
Date: January 22, 2026 (1pm - 3:30 pm) - Online
Registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115493  

OPEN DOOR TALK: PROMPTING AND LITERATURE SEARCH (ONLINE)
Date: 11. February 2026, 10:00-12:00 hrs / 10:00-12:00 am Berlin time
Format: online @ Dahlem Research School, Language: English
Practical strategies for using large language models and AI-based search tools. Get hands-on experience through guided examples that help you craft prompts and integrate AI-enhanced search into your research workflow.
Further information and registration: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/122354 

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

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
From 1–12 December 2025, the support.points, in cooperation with Psychological Counseling, will again offer a series of workshops and exchange sessions. All events are free, open without registration.
Target group: students, doctoral researchers, and staff of Freie Universität.
More information and dates can be found in the support.points event calendar: https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/mentalwellbeing/Veranstaltungen/index.html.

TO BE HONEST CONFERENCE FOR RESEARCHERS
Being a researcher has never felt more uncertain: We’ll talk honestly with our speakers about what it means to build a career and do research in a rapidly changing world. 
Target group: Researchers.
Date(s): 4-5 December 2025. 
URL: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AqL7Vnz0QjO55r4ZSMO2SQsXIwbpNr17QL_39zwvL2dD-aAdz4Oh~Aso1F0U2_TD86MseZQbCd_9dAYDYyCNXEKWL8oIWdatGPtfH9Ary2zXYOw   

FLEXIBLE FUNDS FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS BETWEEN BERLIN AND OXFORD
The Oxford Berlin Research Partnership offers mobility funds: costs for travel, accommodation, the organization of workshops and comparable activities between Oxford and Berlin.
Target group: Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
URL: https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/commitments/international/oxford/programme/flexible-funds/index.html 

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/  

UNA EUROPA EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER FELLOWSHIPS
This call is aimed at funding research stays of doctoral researchers and postdocs of FU Berlin from all disciplines with a maximum funding amount of 2.500 €.
Target group: doctoral researchers and postdocs
Application deadline: January 12, 2026
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/international/doctoral-researchers/Una-Early-Career/index.html 

PROCOPE MOBILITE 2026 – CALL FOR PROPOSAL
The Office for Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Germany supports the mobility of young researchers. 
Target group: Doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers, early-career researchers, within 5 years of defending their thesis
Date(s): one, two or three months, between May 18, 2026, and December 31, 2026. 
Application deadline: January 12, 2026.
URL: https://www.science-allemagne.fr/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PROCOPE-MOBI-2026_Appel-a-candidature-EN-2025-11-17-1.pdf  

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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