On June 7, 2023, the TU Ilmenau traditionally celebrated the Dies academicus. New this year was that this day formed the framework for the PhD Students' Day. The preparatory work for this already began in the winter of last year. An idea of the Equal Opportunity Committee, the doctoral student representation and the Graduate Center quickly turned into an activity with many participants.
"After our first PhD Students' Day at the TU Ilmenau, we can proudly and happily say: It was great! We were delighted that so many young scientists and scholars responded to our call and joined us for a day dedicated entirely to the topic of doctoral studies," says Alexandra Dalek, staff member of the Graduate Center at the TU Ilmenau. The organizing team - consisting of the doctoral students' representation, the Equal Opportunities Office, MNI e.V. and the Graduate Center - was supported by colleagues from the University Library, PATON, the International Office, the Ilmkubator start-up service, Research Data Management and the Staff Council. They were available to answer questions on a wide range of topics related to the doctorate as a stage of life: from the course and financing of a doctorate to scientific practice, the first publication, the first patent, or the first lecture, to questions about the compatibility of family and career, possibilities for university political involvement, and the question of what can actually come after this stage of life. In a total of 16 half-hour sessions, interested doctoral and (master's) students had the opportunity to ask their questions and exchange ideas with each other.
Sessions und Lunch Talk
The sessions were framed by the opening speech of the Vice President for Research and Young Scientists, Prof. Stefan Sinzinger, and the Lunch Talk with alumni of the TU Ilmenau, who reported on their time in Ilmenau and what path they took after their dissertation.
The aim of the event was on the one hand to strengthen the visibility of PhD students and to give them a voice, and on the other hand to inform about what it actually means to do a PhD and what experiences others have had. The conclusion of the organizing team was: "This may have been our first PhD Day, but it was definitely not the last. There are already some great new ideas on the agenda for next year," says Alexandra Dalek.