What comes after the postdoc phase? At “Postdocs meet Alumni”, postdocs from the Rhine-Main Universities meet former Goethe University postdocs who share insights into their careers within and beyond academia. Through personal exchange, participants explore decisions, detours and new perspectives – and gain inspiration for shaping their own career paths.
Juergen Lecher
On May 16, 2025, the event "Postdocs meet Alumni" happened for the first time in the Renate von Metzler Hall on the Westend Campus. It's a new format of the Goethe Research Academy for Early Career Researchers, which specifically supports postdocs of the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) in their career orientation.
New perspectives on how career pathways develop
The focus was on personal exchange: Some of the former postdocs from Goethe University shared there career pathways and what they're up to these days. It's pretty diverse — they're working in universities, ministries, museums, science communication, industry, and coaching.
Even during the short introductions, it was clear how different postdoc careers can be, both in and outside of academia. The alumni chatted about their experiences, including changes they'd made, detours they'd taken, and their desire to make a social impact.
An eye-level exchange
During the open networking phase, participants had the chance to chat with the alumni. They talked, asked questions, listened, and got inspired at different topic tables. The coaches Dr. Sarah Weber and Dr. Grażyna Jurewicz were the ones running the show and they also gave some input of their own.
The atmosphere quickly became trusting, thanks to the openness of the alumni. They shared not only their professional stations, but also their personal decisions, challenges, and success strategies. We talked about balancing family and career, choosing a location, and personal strengths, and we shared some very practical tips.
Finally, Coach Sarah Weber asked everyone to do a short reflection exercise with the "wheel of possibilities." This activity helped people see their individual wishes, goals, and potential.
All postdocs will then have the chance to take advantage of a free one-on-one coaching session to turn the energy from the event into real next steps.
A Successful Start
With "Postdocs Meet Alumni," GRADE is creating a new space for exchange, orientation, and networking, especially for postdocs in an important yet often challenging phase of their careers. The positive response shows that this is a valuable resource. Thinking outside the box is worthwhile and can give you the courage to forge your own path.
We would like to thank everyone involved, especially the dedicated alumni, for their openness and for sharing their experiences!
Juergen Lecher
Juergen Lecher
We thank all participating GU alumni for sharing their experiences:
