Dear early career researchers,

This summer, UniWinD - the University Association for the Qualification of Early-Career Researchers in Germany - released updated recommendations to improve conditions for doctoral researchers: https://www.uniwind.org/publikationen/positionen1/empfehlungen-zur-promotion-2025. Key proposals include separating supervision from assessment, abolishing the current grading practice, ensuring minimum 3-year funding at 65% positions, mandatory training in research integrity including AI ethics, and stronger representation for doctoral researchers in university committees. These recommendations, aimed at universities, funding organisations and policymakers, complement similar positions from the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat 2023). 

Semester enrolment reminder: Don't forget to enrol for the new semester! If you are a member of a DRS doctoral program, make sure to include confirmation of your program membership. Questions? Contact info-service@fu-berlin.de or visit www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/bewerbung/immatrikulation/promotion. 

Win DRS merchandise! Complete our brief survey 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. 

SKILL UP! training program is live! The University Library's new program offers free hands-on workshops on AI tools and prompting strategies, plagiarism detection with Turnitin, research data management, Open Science, AI-assisted transcription, and Open Access resources. Open to all Freie Universität members. Learn more: https://www.fu-berlin.de/ub-skillup.

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 episode is an interview with Alina Franziska Becker from the initiative Arbeiterkind.de, who talks about financing options for first generation doctoral researchers from non-academics households. Listen here: https://blogs.fu-berlin.de/drs_podcast/2025/09/09/coming-soon-financing-your-doctorate-as-a-first-gen-academic/ 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=wpWRbsa7TBOgTuyVglzmcw!

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Spotlight on Research Integrity

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

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

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

DEEP WORK ESSENTIALS: Finding Focus While Navigating Care Work (on-site) 
This workshop provides practical strategies for approaching academic writing and research with more structure and clarity, while navigating caregiving responsibilities. 
Date: November 6 & 7, 2025, 9.30-14.00
URL: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115805 

PUBLISHING YOUR DISSERTATION IN OPEN ACCESS (online)
Participants will receive an overview of the publication modalities of dissertations and will be informed about the financing options for Open Access publishing of academic publications and the funding opportunities offered by the University Library.
Date: November 19, 2025, 14.00-16.00
URL: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115710

DIE PUBLIKATION DER DISSERTATION IM FACHVERLAG: Q&A mit Verlagsvertreter*innen (online)
Mitarbeiter*innen vom Franz Steiner Verlag und Springer Nature sowie zwei Kolleg*innen aus der Universitätsbibliothek beantworten alle eure Fragen zur Publikation der Dissertation im Fachverlag.
Date: November 26, 2025, 14.00-16.00
URL: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/en/node/115716

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.

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

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/  

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: X-STUDENT RESEARCH GROUPS 
Description: The Berlin University Alliance invites early-career researchers to apply for leading a Student Research Group based on their own academic work.  
Target group: Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. 
Date(s): Information event 29.10.2025 
Application deadline: 30.11.2025 
URL: https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/commitments/teaching-learning/sturop/research-groups/call-for-proposals/index.html 

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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