Module: Professorship as a career goal

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Would you like to become a professor? Interactive exercises and presentations by our experienced coaches introduce you to the topic at an early stage and help you explore which track is best suited for you. You find out all about the various options for becoming a professor, legal requirements, and do’s and don’ts to bear in mind when drafting written applications. During the module, you are invited to take part in a simulated interview with the appointment committee to help you understand the requirements the appointment committee expects you to meet.

Complete the picture you have of a career as a professor by talking to an expert for university, public service and labor law from the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV). During this session, you will have the opportunity to raise any specific questions you may have. We also offer you the opportunity to hear from excellent professors and benefit from their experience, particularly with regard to appointment negotiations.

The coaches will get in touch with you directly before the module starts to pass on details about what will be covered in the modules and to let you know if there are any documents which you should submit beforehand.

Module contents

Day 1

• Presentation: Career track towards a professorship, followed by Q&A
• Legal framework
• Writing an effective application
• Presentation by appointment committee
• Brief presentation by participants with individual feedback

Day 2

• Review of day one, Q&A
• Interview with appointment committee
• Simulation of interview with appointment committee
• Discussion with experienced professors from FAU

Coach

The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV)helps shape education policy in Germany, particularly with respect to institutes of higher education It represents university lecturers to the state and society in all matters relating to university policy, legal issues and economic interests. It is particularly concerned with supporting young researchers.

The coach for this module Katharina Lemke is a coach for the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers and is therefore aware of the special requirements of scientists and scholars. Katharina Lemke studied Law at the University of Cologne. During her legal traineeship, she worked at the Cologne University of Music and Dance, at a law firm specializing in civil service and higher education law in Bonn, and at the University of Cologne. She also worked as a research associate in the legal and consulting department of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers.

After completing her second state examination at the State Judicial Examinations Office in Düsseldorf, Katharina Lemke worked in third-party funding management at an extramural research institution. Since October 2017, she has been working as in-house counsel at the German Association of Higher University Professors and Lecturers and advises on all aspects of higher education, public service and labor law. She also conducts individual coaching sessions and assists members with strategic planning for their scientific careers. She regularly contributes articles on relevant topics and appears as a speaker at seminars.

In this module, you also benefit from the expertise and experience of successful FAU professors.

FAU Postdoc Day

FAU holds a Postdoc Day every year. On the day, postdocs can take part in a simulated interview with the appointment committee in the auditorium and benefit from the experience and advice of professors and experts at FAU. The content of the ‘Professorship as a career goal’ module and the Postdoc Day have been coordinated, allowing us to prevent duplication of the contents and giving you the opportunity to take part in two comprehensive FAU events that support you on your path to becoming a professor.

Please contact the Postdoc Day coordinator if you have any comments or questions: