Impulse Series Let's Talk Career
A doctorate does not only qualify you for a career in academia. The specialist knowledge acquired during your doctorate and the skills developed in the research process form a basis for numerous professional fields. With the “Let's Talk Career” series, the Graduate School offers doctoral students and postdocs a platform for exchange with Leuphana alumni who have pursued career paths outside academia after completing their doctorates.
To provide more perspectives and experience reports on diverse career paths, we are broadening our horizons and cooperating with other universities. “Let's talk Career meets…” is a joint offering from the graduate institutions of the universities of Clausthal, Jena, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Münster, and Lüneburg.
Participants from other universities are very welcome!
... "Alumni talk" (Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena)
ONLINE: May 05, 2026, 13:00 – 14:30 Uhr | From Academia to Industry
Are you thinking about leaving academia after completing your PhD or postdoc? You are not alone. The majority of PhD candidates do not stay in academia for their entire career. In this talk, three STEM alumni, who have successfully transitioned from academia to a career in industry, will share their experiences. They will give valuable advice on job hunting and application processes, career development and working outside of academia.
Contact person: Gabi Schopf (gabi.schopf@uni-jena.de)
Registration via the University of Jena [You are leaving the Leuphana website]
... "Coffee conversations special" (Universität Leipzig)
ONLINE: 1 June 2026, 12:00 - 13:30h | How to Write a Non-Academic CV
This interactive talk offers advice on how to write a persuasive CV for non-academic job applications and also allows you to raise your relevant questions and concerns.
Aspects covered include:
- Relevant differences between applications in and outside academia
- How to read a job advertisement, and how to customize your application dossier
- How to organize the writing process
- How to design and structure the CV
- How to present competencies and fit in the CV
The login-link to this online event will be provided to registered participants a few days prior to the event.
Contact person: Dr. Nicole Koburger (nicole.koburger@zv.uni-leipzig.de)
Registration via this form [you will leave the leuphana website]
... "Coffee Conversation" (University of Leipzig)
ONLINE: September 15, 2026, 14:00 – 15:30 Uhr | Science meets Entrepreneurship
How do you make the transition from science to entrepreneurship? In this “coffee conversation”, two founders talk about their personal journeys between research, funding and start-up development – authentically, approachably and with plenty of room for questions.
To kick things off, Dr. Christian Sonnendecker, co-founder of ESTER Biotech, will talk about his current transitional phase: still employed at Leipzig university and funded by EXIST Research Transfer, his team is already working intensively on the spin-off. He will provide insights into how a scientific idea becomes a company – and what opportunities and challenges this transition holds.
A female founder (to be announced) will add to the perspective and show one example for how female scientists are shaping their path to self-employment.
The event offers scientists considering to leave academia, interested in founding or just in general the opportunity to talk directly to these two role models and ask their own questions.
Organizer: Academic staff development, University of Leipzig
Contact person: Dr. Nicole Koburger (nicole.koburger@zv.uni-leipzig.de)