Supervision
Individual support is a core element of the training program of MAINZ. The individual support provided by MAINZ can be divided into three phases: The initial orientation phase, the training phase, and the defense and early post-doctoral phase.
- Orientation Phase: MAINZ and the newly established JGU Welcome Center as well as the ISGS at TUKL assist international candidates before their first arrival and throughout their stay in Germany. They offer support in finding accommodation as well as administrative help with all formalities and questions concerning everyday life in Germany. Newcomers present themselves and their projects at one of the MAINZ PhD students’ workshops.
- Training phase: With the exception of guest PhD students, all MAINZ PhD students have an individual Thesis Committee and an optional mentor as adjunct member. PhD students select their Thesis Committee themselves before the end of the orientation phase.
- End of PhD phase and early postdoctoral phase: MAINZ provides funding for individual job application coaching for PhD students with unusual or particularly ambitious career plans or for students who seek advice for starting up a business. If a MAINZ PhD student plans to stay in academia, the supervisors give advice on finding a postdoctoral position at a renowned institution, and assist in writing applications for funding. Due to fixed deadlines for these applications, MAINZ provides short-term postdoctoral positions (up to three months) to MAINZ alumni who qualify for the MAINZ Certificate. This also serves as an additional incentive to complete the thesis within the three year period as required for the MAINZ Certificate. In well-justified cases, funding may also be provided to MAINZ alumni after a postdoctoral research stay in a foreign country, if this truly promotes their further career.
Dates and Events