Supervision & Mentoring

Mentoring and supervision of young researchers is an integral part of the scientific life at our institute. In agreement with the recommendations of the Max Planck Society for supervision and mentoring of PhD students, all PhD students at the MPIterMIc have two supervisors and a thesis advisory committee. One of the supervisors is the main scientific supervisor and the second supervisor is selected by the PhD student, and is independent of the main supervisor. Furthermore, we have implemented a Mentoring Agreement that defines the rights and obligations of both the PhD student and supervisors, as well asthe mode of action of the thesis advisory committee and the resolution of possible disputes. Also, all PhD students at MPIterMic are strongly encouraged to become a member of one of the two graduate schools on Campus Lahnberge with a main emphasis on microbiology at large. Finally, the MPIterMic supports PhD students financially to enable them to organize activities such as career-related workshops, courses and activities as they see best fit.

In agreement with the recommendations of the Max Planck Society for supervision and mentoring of post-doctoral fellows, all post-doctoral fellows at the latest at the end of the fourth year as a post-doctoral fellow have a status review. The goal of this review is to realistically assess the post-doctoral fellow’s own development and prospects of success in relation to her/his career objectives and to develop alternative career prospects. The review is carried out together with the main supervisor and an experienced scientist who has been selected by the post-doctoral fellow, and is independent of the main supervisor. To allow post-doctoral fellows to participate in courses in “Personnel management skills” and “Advanced training in professional skills”, all post-doctoral fellows (independently of which research group they work in) can apply directly to the Direktorium for financial support to cover costs for fees, travel and accommodation. To enable the post-doctoral fellows at the MPIterMic to organize activities to further their career-planning, they receive financial support from the Direktorium to organize career-related workshops, courses and activities as they see best fit. This financial support is specifically intended for events and activities that target the entire group of post-doctoral fellows at the institute.

In addition to the activities organized by the institute, the activities listed below are also open to scientists at the institute.

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