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Scientists' Day 2026: Time & Timing in Academic Career Planning

This year's Scientists' Day took place on 16 June 2026 in the Alte Aula. The event focused on the theme "Time & Timing in Academic Career Planning." Around 80 early-career researchers came together to discuss time, opportunities, and career paths.

Time & Timing in Academic Career Planning

How important is the right timing in an academic career? This question was at the heart of the Scientists' Day 2026 at Philipps University Marburg. Around 80 postdoctoral researchers, doctoral candidates, and aspiring doctoral researchers from a wide range of disciplines gathered in the Alte Aula to discuss career paths, personal decisions, and the role of timing in academia.

"Everything takes time."

"Scientific success depends not only on the quality of research results, but also on patience and perseverance, as well as flexibility and openness combined with effective time management," emphasized Vice President Professor Sabine Pankuweit in her welcome address. Science requires time: for learning, experimenting, and even failing. "Academic development is a long-term process that also depends on good timing," Pankuweit said, referring to the ability to recognize and seize opportunities when they arise.

"My Relationship with Time"

In his keynote entitled "My Relationship with Time," University President Professor Thomas Nauss explored the often non-linear paths of academic careers. Drawing on his own educational and professional journey, he reflected on formative encounters, unexpected turns, and decisions that only proved to be defining in retrospect. For example, it was a geography teacher who inspired him to study geography. Detours and "extra laps," he explained, were also an important part of his career path. His conclusion: "Somehow, things always move forward - often in ways you never expected." Academic careers cannot always be planned, making it all the more important to remain open to new opportunities.

The participants in the subsequent panel discussion shared this view. Dr Armin Krawisch of the German Research Foundation emphasized that career paths are often far less predictable than many assume and that success depends on recognizing and seizing opportunities as they arise. Nils Vief stressed the importance of making a conscious decision for or against pursuing a doctorate - and then committing to it. Having discontinued his own doctoral studies, he explained, ultimately opened up new perspectives for him. Dr Rebecca Hinrichs highlighted the particular conditions in the natural sciences, where career progression often depends heavily on the success of individual research projects - something that can only be planned to a limited extent. Moderator Dr Velia Benthin concluded that it is important to make visible the fact that academic careers are not always linear: "Planning and commitment matter, but so do opportunities, encounters, and the right timing."

Opportunities Fair

Even before the official programme began, many participants took the opportunity to network and exchange ideas at the Opportunities Fair. Numerous university units and partner organizations presented their support services for researchers at different stages of their academic careers:

• MArburg University Research Academy (MARA)
• Research Campus of Central Hessen (FCMH)
• Research Funding Department
• Open Access Support of the University library
• Transfer Department
• MAFEX
• StartMiUp
• Doctoral student’s representation committee 
• Office for Anti-discrimination and Diversity
• Gender Equality Office
• Microbes-for-Climate (M4C)

The closing get-together gave participants the opportunity to continue their conversations and build new connections across disciplinary boundaries. Once again, the Scientists' Day provided a platform for networking, orientation, and the exchange of ideas on the opportunities and challenges of academic career paths.