Administrators of the Survey: All the following administrators are
postdocs in German institutions:
Dr. Nicholas J. Russell (Humbolt
University of Berlin)
Dr. Maria Dorofeikova (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)
What is the German Postdoc Network? The German Postdoc Network is a network representing postdoctoral
researchers throughout Germany. Our mission is to
improve postdoctoral experiences by creating opportunities for connection,
collaboration, and identity-building across all research fields and
institutions. We aim to gather and disseminate crucial information ensuring
postdocs are well-informed and supported. We give a voice to postdocs to
represent their interests and influence policies that impact their professional
and personal development. The webpage of the German Postdoc Network is
https://germanpostdoc.net/.
What is the 2026 German Postdoc Network
Survey? The Survey group aims to gain a deeper understanding of the realities
postdocs face in Germany by collecting and analyzing data on key topics such as
working conditions, mental health, career trajectories, and scientific
integrity. Therefore, it is
vital that the German Postdoc Network periodically collects data from postdocs
to realign our positions. This year, we are conducting our first ever survey of
all postdocs in Germany. By gathering valuable insights, we strive to highlight
challenges, inform decision-makers, and drive positive change for postdocs in
Germany.
What is the survey about? If you agree to take part, you will complete
an anonymized online survey about your career as a postdoc in Germany. This
survey includes questions about your demographics, career development, mental
health, work atmosphere, and – if applicable – parenting. This survey should
take about 30 minutes to complete. You can skip questions that you do not want
to answer.
What will happen with the information
collected for this study? The survey is anonymous, and no one will be able to link
your responses back to you. Your responses to the survey will not be linked to
your computer, email address, or other electronic identifiers. Please do not
include your name or other information that could be used to identify you in
your survey responses. Information provided in this survey can only be kept as
secure as any other online communication. We respect your trust and protect your
privacy and therefore will never share or sell your survey data with any third
parties. An anonymized dataset will be available to the public on OSF or Zenodo
after publication of our findings. Information collected for this study will be
published and possibly presented at conferences and other events.
Can I say “No”? Participating in this survey is up to you.
You can stop up until you submit the survey. After you submit the survey, we
cannot remove your responses because we will not know which responses came from
you. Either way, your decision won’t affect your employment.
Are there any risks for me? Some of the survey questions are
personal in nature and may make you feel uncomfortable. You have the option to
skip any questions or topics in this survey.
Are there any benefits to me? There is a possibility that you may
benefit from being in this survey, but there is no guarantee that will happen.
Possible benefits include the German Postdoc Network advocating for changes
that may affect you directly or indirectly. As well, by completing the survey,
you can optionally leave your email address to be entered into a raffle to win
prizes (see below). Should you provide this email address, it will not be
connected to your answers in any way. Even if you don’t benefit from being in
the survey, your participation may help us to learn more about the needs and
issues affecting postdocs from inside and outside of Germany.
Will I be paid for being in this
survey? You
will not be paid for being in this survey. However, if you so choose, you may
leave your email to be entered into a raffle to win one of several prizes:
- A book by Mirijam Müller entitled: From PhD to Professorship: A Practical Guide to Academic Careers in Germany (5 winners; prize value, 35 euros)
- A 60-minute Career Advisory Session with a GSO systemic coach via Zoom (1 winner; prize value, 120 euros)
Who can answer my questions about this survey? If you have questions or concerns about this study, contact the administrators of the survey:
The German Postdoc Network Survey Leaders:
Nicholas Russell, Humboldt University of Berlin (nicholas.russell@hu-berlin.de)
Maria Dorofeikova, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (mvdorofeykova@gmail.com)
The Survey Working Group: wgsurvey@germanpostdoc.net
