Report Maximilian Wagenknecht

What is your research about?

With my research, I want to gain a deeper understanding of how start-ups deal with opportunities and risks in different contexts. To this end, I look at both the internal perspective of startups and the external perspective, such as communication with investors or customers.

Due to the cumulative structure of my doctorate, I use various research methods and have just conducted qualitative interviews with founders. With this content, I am investigating, among other things, whether and how the topic of risk management is taken into account by start-ups. The question of the applicability of established risk management processes to startups and the resulting follow-up question of whether these processes need to be adapted for startups is particularly exciting.

Why did you decide to do a doctorate at Leuphana?

I already knew Leuphana from my Bachelor's degree. After completing my Master's degree in Bremen, Leuphana was on the shortlist for my doctorate right from the start. Fittingly, a position as a research assistant was advertised at the time. I am very happy about this opportunity because I can also gain teaching experience in this position.

I also perceive Leuphana as a start-up-orientated university that addresses the topic of business start-ups on an interdisciplinary level. This offers the opportunity for interdisciplinary dialogue and direct discussions with founders, which is of great value for my research.

The doctoral programme is a special offer at Leuphana - what are your experiences with it?

The disciplinary education in the respective faculties and the exchange in the doctoral programme provide a valuable basis for academic development. At the same time, the interdisciplinary content of the doctoral programme offers a wide range of perspectives on your own research topic.

From the cross-faculty contacts of the doctoral programme, I have also established a regular Zoom meeting together with other doctoral students. Especially if you are not working at the university at the same time, such an exchange offers a good opportunity to network.

You are the spokesperson for the doctoral student representatives. What tasks are associated with this elective office?

The doctoral student representatives consist of one doctoral student from each faculty. In this role, you have a say in the Faculty Council and a sympathetic ear for the concerns of doctoral students. In addition, the spokesperson for the doctoral representatives is a member of the university senate. This means that the concerns of doctoral candidates can also be raised in Leuphana's highest body.

There is also close cooperation with the doctoral student representative group, which also enriches the social aspects and life on campus. Through the diverse tasks in the doctoral student representation, you also get to know people throughout the university, such as professors and staff at the Graduate School. Such contacts are very valuable for personal and academic development.