Wayfinding in Uncertainty – what to do when your professional path in academia or beyond seems unpredictable

The ground underneath our feet is shaking, the future seems to become less and less predictable – be it in academia or beyond. How can we deal with it and still feel safe if our usual methods of planning and managing don’t work that well anymore?

In this practical workshop we will explore proven strategies and attitudes that carry us through spaces of not knowing, ambiguity and uncertainty.

We will touch on Daoism, philosophy, indigenous wisdom and bodywork because we need to be able to use all our capacities – our intellectual, emotional and physical – to move confidently through uncertainty.

Trainer:           Rike Pätzold

Target Group: 

• All genders are welcome!
• all postdocs (Priority is given to postdocs with a DESY contract) 
• Maximum: 12 participants

Dates:              June 03., 2025   

Time:               13:00 - 15:00 Uhr 

Please register here!

How to understand the German academic system

The German academic system can be confusing and you might feel lost regarding your next career step. The workshop will provide an overview of academic career tracks within the German system including specifics, such as the “WissZeitVG”. Anne will share the good, the bad, and the ugly helping you to better navigate systemic challenges and manage your expectations. In order for you to make informed decisions, she will also offer a guideline to strategically approach your career. There will be time for your questions as well.

GSO is an independent nonprofit supporting researchers of all backgrounds, especially those at the “bottleneck” in their careers. We offer career guidance services for individuals and institutions, we create opportunities through funding programs, and we connect researchers across sectors. You can find GSO on Bluesky, LinkedIn & Instagram.

Anne Schreiter is the executive director of GSO and a trained coach and facilitator. She studied Social and Business Communication in Berlin and Chinese language and culture in Nanjing. After completing her PhD in Organizational Sociology at the University of St. Gallen, she spent a year working on research at UC Berkeley. It was there that she was asked the decisive career question. Stay in touch with her via LinkedIn or Bluesky.

Target group: all Postdocs

Date: 19.06.2025

Time: 10:30-12:00

Maximum: 15 participants 

Trainer: Dr. Anne Schreiter   

Sign up here!