Aarhus Universitets segl

Career day for PhD students and postdocs

Career day for PhD students and postdocs

  • 21 March 2024

The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics holds a Career Day for PhD students and postdocs with a seminar on Career Skills and Career Development on

Thursday 21 March 2024 at 9:00-15:30

Meeting place: M2 1427-246 (Konferencecenteret, Fredrik Nielsens Vej 4, 8000 Aarhus C)
Meeting subject: Seminar on Career skills and Career development for PhD Stu-dents and postdocs at Dept. of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Presenters: Vibeke Broe, AU Career PhD & JR 
Responsible at MBG: Anna Hvarregaard Christensen, Ditlev Egeskov Brodersen

Purpose: To increase the PhD Students and Postdocs’ career awareness by providing them with knowledge and understanding of how they develop their career skills at different stages of their research training.


Overall structure of the day:

The morning programme is specifically targeted Part A PhD students and will focus on how to incorporate career thinking in the PhD and how to develop career skills during the PhD to become a “career wise researcher”.

The afternoon programme is primarily targeted Part B PhD students and postdocs, and the focus is on the transition from current job into the next one - all the way from the decision-making process to the actual “how to do it”.

It is of course possible to participate both in the morning and in the afternoon programme, if wanted.

Session #1: Becoming a career-wise researcher (Part A PhD students)

9.00-9.30: Welcome to the participants and introduction to the morning programme

9.30-10.15: Career thinking during your PhD
Why is career thinking important? What does it mean to develop career skills and to be a career wise researcher, and what is important to you? How can you talk about career with your supervisor?

10.15-10.30: Coffee break

10.30-11.30:  Where should your PhD take you?
In this session, you will consider different paths your PhD can take you. You will work on uncovering what values and interests that can guide you, and we will discuss how career planning can help you in reaching your career goals.

11.30- 11.50: Action plan reflection.
What will be your first next step?

11.50-12.00: Summarizing Session 1: questions, comments, feedback.

12.00-12.30: Lunch

Session #2:  From PhD to next job (Part B PhD students and Postdocs)

12.30-12.45: Introduction and welcome to (new) participants

12.45-13.45: Career decision making.

Career decision making is difficult and for many a challenging process. In this session, we will discuss what you should consider before you actively start applying in order to get it right the first time, and regardless of whether you see yourself in- or outside of academia.

13.45-14.00: Coffee break

14.00-15.00: Making the transition

Making the transition from one job to the next rarely happens overnight. So how do you prepare for a smooth transition: where to look for jobs, how to use your network and reach out, how to communicate your skills and when you should do what?

15.00-15.20: Action Plan Reflection

What will be your first next step and how do you work with career planning.

15.20-15.30: Reflection, comments, and feedback

15.30: Thank you and Goodbye