Dear early career researchers, Welcome to the new semester! If you are new to doctoral research, find out more about doing a doctorate and where to find support at the following events: 
@FUB: 
WELCOME DAY on October 9, 2025: www.fu-berlin.de/sites/drs/offers/welcome-day-ECRs  
@BUA: 
ERFOLGREICH IN DIE PROMOTION am 19.-21. November 2025: https://programm.zewk.tu-berlin.de/de/events/019763a4-28b5-76f2-b352-3f2a98c26223  and 
KICK OFF YOUR DOCTORATE on December, 1-3, 2025: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115447. Interested in doctoral research in Berlin but unsure about funding? Apply for an Elsa- Neumann-Scholarship: www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/drs/funding/nafoeg. The call opens on October 6, 2025, deadline November 10, 2025 at 12:00 noon. 
Also good to know: Many DRS Doctoral Programs currently have open calls for applications! Check out the DRS application and course booking platform https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de and https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/drs/doctorate/structured-or-individual/drs_programs/.  Finally, just a quick reminder that, firstly to enroll for the new semester and secondly, if you are a member of a DRS doctoral program, to please make sure to include confirmation of your program membership. With any questions contact info-service@fu-berlin.de or consult www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/bewerbung/immatrikulation/promotion. Thank you! 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"

Two new podcast episodes! 

1. What to Do in Cases of Harassment or Discrimination
In this episode, counselor Wendy Stolberg shares her insights into challenges in cases of sexualized harassment, discrimination and violence faced by doctoral researchers. https://blogs.fu-berlin.de/drs_podcast/2025/09/17/what-to-do-in-cases-of-harassment-or-discrimination-an-interview-with-counsellor-wendy-stollberg/. 

2. Imposter Syndrome in Academia as a First-Generation Doctoral Researcher
Do you sometimes feel like you don’t truly belong in academia, despite your achievements? Psychologist Jonathan Bär from FU Berlin’s support.points talks about imposter syndrome, especially from the perspective of first-generation doctoral researchers. https://blogs.fu-berlin.de/drs_podcast/2025/09/09/coming-soon-imposter-syndrome-in-academia-as-a-first-gen-doctoral-researcher/

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=wpWRbsa7TBOgTuyVglzmcw!

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Spotlight on Research Integrity

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

(In)Credible Research Conference 2025: CODE TO DISCOVERY: AI Meets Science
How is AI impacting and reshaping scientific inquiry? How can we ethically use AI for academic purposes? What are the limitations of AI in academic research?
Target group: early career researchers - especially doctoral candidates and postdocs
Dates: October, 9th & 10th, 2025
URL: https://graduateschool.charite.de/incredible_research_conference_2025

UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/commitments/research-quality/training/WiSe2025-26/index.html, next: 
Open Data SeminarDate: October 15, 2025
URL: https://www.bihealth.org/de/translation/innovationstreiber/quest-center/events/kurs/open-data-seminar   

SAVE THE DATE: DAY OF GOOD RESEARCH PRACTICE on November 19
The highlight of the event will be the presentation of the Rosalind Franklin Award for Academic Integrity by the President. The GWP Day is open to the public and is aimed in particular at doctoral researchers from all disciplines, who can have their participation in the event recognised with 0.5 CP.
Date: November 19, 9am-5pm in the SupraFab building (room 201).
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/gwp/index.html
To have your participation recognized, please register in advance at https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/gwp/wdgwp2025/index.html.

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

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

CODE OF CONDUCT AT FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN
The Code outlines shared values and binding standards for respectful and inclusive interaction across all areas of university life—studies, teaching, research, and administration. It emphasizes a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying, and violence, and promotes an environment of fairness, integrity, responsible leadership, and sustainability. 
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/universitaet/code-of-conduct/index.html

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT on acceptable text reuse practices in academic writing (KowIn 2025)
URL: https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/gwp/informationen/dokumente/textrecycling_KowIn_2025.pdf  

UNIWIND'S OPEN SCIENCE GUIDE — A MUST-VISIT! (in German)
A glossary, FAQs and links to resources tailored for early career researchers and science managers. Perfect for understanding the benefits of Open Science! https://www.openscience.uniwind.org/.

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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!

WELCOME DAY for new doctoral researchers and international staff members.
Meet the Doctoral Council, university staff, current doctoral researchers and other newbies from different departments and find out more about the administrative process of doing a doctorate and where to find support!
Date: October 9, 2025
Further information: https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/drs/offers/welcome-day-ECRs/index.html

THESIS DEFENSE TRAINING
Participants will be prepared for the presentation and get practical tips for their thesis defense addressing problems that might occur during the discussion.
Date: 27.10., 09:00-14:00 & 28.10., 09:00-17:00
URL: https://hu.opencampus.com/de/node/12399

CONNECT. REFLECT. EMPOWER. - for LGBTQ+ academics
Through expert input, practical exercises, and peer exchange, participants will explore how to strengthen resilience, foster self-empowerment, and build sustainable networks within the academic world.
Date: 30.10., 09:00-16:15 + individual coaching sessions 3-12.11.25
URL: https://hu.opencampus.com/de/node/12403

PROMOVIEREN MIT BETREUUNGSVERANTWORTUNG - ABSCHLUSSARBEITEN GUT BEGLEITEN!
Der Workshop bietet eine kompakte, praxisorientierte Ein­führung in gute Betreuung: wertschätzend, effektiv und fair und mit klarem Blick auf die Dop­pelrolle als betreuende und gleichzeitig betreute Person.
Datum: 27.11. 2025, 9:30-17:30 Uhr
Ort: Dahlem Research School, Hottorfstr. 16, 14195, Raum 004
URL: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115941

ERFOLGREICH IN DIE PROMOTION
Die Veranstaltung bietet einen ersten Einblick in den Promotionsprozess und wird von der Berlin University Alliance (BUA) gefördert. Das dreitägige Event für Promovierende aller BUA-Einrichtungen findet in einem Hotel in Brandenburg statt.
Datum: 19.-21. November 2025
Ort: Hotel Sommerfeld, Beetzer Str. 1A, 16766 Kremmen
URL: https://programm.zewk.tu-berlin.de/de/events/019763a4-28b5-76f2-b352-3f2a98c26223

KICK OFF YOUR DOCTORATE Event
The event offers insights into the doctoral process and is funded by Berlin University Alliance. The three-day-event will take place in a hotel in Brandenburg.
Date: December, 1-3, 2025
Venue: Ginn Hotel, Warthestraße 20, 14513 Teltow
Booking: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115447

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 so that we can gauge the level of interest or need you have for the workshops. 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

This September, many DRS Doctoral Programs are publishing calls for applications! Check out the DRS application and course booking platform (https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/user/register: you need to register for a new application account for each call you want to apply to) and also the individual program websites (not all programs use the DRS platform). You can find an overview of all DRS Doctoral Programs here: https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/drs/doctorate/structured-or-individual/drs_programs/index.html.

3R CURRICULUM ON ETHICS AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Current developments of new approaches in biomedical research along the 3Rs principle of “Replacement, Reduction and Refinement”, using interactive seminars as well as hands-on sessions.
Dates: basic seminars only, October 6th 10 am – 5 pm (course part I, workload: 0.4 ECTS-CP) OR
whole course week, October 6th-10th (course part I+II, workload: 2.5 ECTS-CP).
URL: https://charite3r.charite.de/en/education/3r_curriculum/

VON DER ERFINDUNG ZUM PATENT (in German)
Description: Der Workshop wird vom Deutschen Patent- und Markenamt gehalten und gibt einen Überblick darüber, wie die eigenen Forschungsergebnisse geschützt werden können. 
Target group: Doctoral researchers, postdocs, researchers
Date(s): 08.10.2025, on site at Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung
Application deadline: 05.10.2025
mail to: mp_forschungskoordination@bam.de  

2025 CONFERENCE ON OUTWARD INVESTMENT FROM EMERGING ECONOMIES (OFDI)
Description: The conference aims to promote better dialogue and understanding of the interplay between green transition, emerging markets, and foreign direct investment (FDI).
Target group: Doctoral researchers
Date(s): October 23 to 24, 2025
Application deadline: October 10, 2025
URL: https://htwb.de/ofdi  

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
Next: October 16, 2025: Reproducible documents with Quarto
URL: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/graduiertenzentrum/promovierende/veranstaltungen/lecture-SB
Next event: in October, in the meantime, check out the vast collection of materials including videos and slides from past events: https://selinazitrone.github.io/tools_and_tips/  
URL: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/graduiertenzentrum/promovierende/veranstaltungen/lecture-SB

FULBRIGHT DOKTORAND:INNENSTIPENDIEN 
Stipendien für vier- bis sechsmonatiges Forschungsprojekte in den USA 
Zielgruppe: Promovierende an deutschen Hochschulen mit deutscher Staatsangehörigkeit
Förderbeginn: ab dem 1. August 2026
Bewerbungsfrist: 5. November 2025, 14:00 Uhr
URL: https://fulbright.de/stipendien/programm/doktorandinnenprogramm  

SCIENCE COMPASS 2025
This event aims to give doctoral researchers an insight of possible career paths after completing their doctoral studies.
Target group: doctoral researchers (and Bachelor/Master students are also very welcome!)
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025 (1-6 pm)
Application deadline: mid october
Contact: rokodoko@rki.de 
Registration: https://terminplaner6.dfn.de/p/a4e5bd559c073084bca8271881ed93ef-1376323

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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