On March 28th and 29th, 2025, the 7th Leibniz PhD Future Workshop took place at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) in Magdeburg. Around 20 PhD students from various cities across Germany, including Dresden, Leipzig, Bochum, Frankfurt (Oder), Jena, and Hamburg, gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities within doctoral studies and shape the future of the Leibniz PhD Network.
A Diverse Program with Engaging Discussions
The workshop kicked off on Friday afternoon with a welcoming speech by Dr. Torben Heinze, the Administrative Director of LIN, who extended a warm welcome to all participants. Following this, the current Steering Committee presented the network’s current objectives and activities. The six working groups of the network then introduced their key areas of focus: Mental Health, Diversity, Survey, Prevention of Power Abuse and Contract Situation, Sustainability, and Communications. These working groups offer all PhD students working at Leibniz Institutes the opportunity to actively contribute and collaboratively develop solutions to pressing issues.
A highlight of the workshop was the panel talk titled āFuture is NOW: Past, Present, and Future of PhD Experiencesā, which featured experts such as Timm Schƶnfelder (Ombudsperson at GWZO), Ulrike Papajewski (press and public relations, LIN), Eleni Sachs (former spokesperson for Section D and member of the Working Group on Prevention of Power Abuse and Contract Situation) and, Julius Petrausch (Leibniz PhD Network spokesperson and PhD at the IPF). The panel talk was moderated by Johanna Richter (PhD at the Max Born Institute). The discussion covered a range of topics, including the evolution of PhD experiences over time, mental health challenges, and the issue of power abuse. The panel was held in a hybrid format, allowing PhD students who could not attend in person to participate remotely.
After a short coffee break, participants broke into working group sessions to dive deeper into specific topics and collaborate on solutions. The day concluded with an optional city tour and a self-paid dinner, offering a relaxed atmosphere for further networking and conversation.
Key Milestone: Survey on Power Abuse and Contract Situations
One of the major milestones of the workshop was the release of a survey by the Working Group on Prevention of Power Abuse and Contract Situations. After two years of work, the group published the survey on Sunday, which focuses on power abuse and contract conditionsāissues that have become the subject of intense discussion. Despite the growing importance of these topics, there has been limited data available until now. The survey, open to all Leibniz PhDs, aims to gather crucial information and insights on these pressing matters, helping to address the gaps in knowledge and promote positive change across the Leibniz Institutes.
Forward-Thinking Working Groups and Continued Discussions
The second day began with a working group session, where participants further developed their ideas and discussed concrete roadmaps for the future of the Leibniz PhD Network. A group photo and another coffee break followed, marking the halfway point of the day.
The workshop wrapped up with a final discussion, where the results of the working groups were summarized and future steps for the network were outlined. The event ended with a shared lunch, offering participants one last opportunity to connect and reflect on the progress made over the course of the workshop.
Conclusion: A Successful Exchange
The 7th Leibniz PhD Future Workshop in Magdeburg was a resounding success, providing a valuable platform for PhD students to exchange ideas, collaborate, and push forward important topics such as mental health, diversity, and improving working conditions for doctoral candidates. The hybrid format was especially noteworthy, allowing for broader participation and fostering interdisciplinary exchanges, which will be the foundation for future initiatives and projects within the Leibniz PhD Network. The release of the new survey on power abuse and contract situations marks a significant step forward in addressing some of the most debated issues currently facing PhD students, and it is expected to contribute to much-needed change within the community.
