Why did you opt for job shadowing in the Research and Innovation Services?
Workshops on research management as part of the Doctorate plus program sparked my interest in this area. When I read on the Bonn Graduate Center's homepage about the possibility of job shadowing as an add-on to Doctorate plus, it immediately appealed to me.
What interesting or surprising insights and knowledge did you gain from the various departments?
During my job shadowing, I was able to get to know different areas of responsibility in the Research and Innovation Services. I found it particularly exciting how multifaceted the topics are that fall within the remit of this division. Research management is often much less classic administration than I would have expected and offers the opportunity to work in a solution-oriented, creative way and to apply one's own experience from research beyond the classic technical expertise.
What have you learned about the interaction between research and administration?
I have learned that research management is an important interface: good research management can relieve and support researchers. At the same time, I gained the impression that research and administration can benefit greatly from each other.
What are your next career steps or career aspirations?
My next step is definitely to complete my doctorate. In the long term, I can very well imagine working in research management. The job shadowing clearly encouraged me and gave me a more concrete idea of what a job in this field could look like.
What advice would you give to future job shadowing participants?
I would definitely recommend taking advantage of opportunities like job shadowing - especially during the doctoral studies. It's a great opportunity to gain insights into other areas and to get to know different activities and career paths in research management.
We would like to thank you for the interview and wish you continued success!