Spill the tea!

Hybrid sessions in German or English
© CERes

Target group: Postdocs, doctoral researchers (in the final phase of their doctorate)

You’d be interested to know what happens in meetings of the Professorial Appointments Committee? Or you wonder whether excellent researchers have ever encountered Reviewer 2? Then drop in and share a cup of tea with us! The series of events entitled Spill the Tea! reveals what is known in the educational sciences as a hidden curriculum: unwritten rules, unspoken expectations, unofficial standards, hidden messages and other pieces of implicit knowledge within and about academia and related areas.

The aim is to make this implicit knowledge accessible for all emerging researchers, as well as to break down reservations regarding taboo topics and help to demystify academia.


Objectives: 

  • Gain insights, in confidence, into experiences, recommendations, and examples of best and worst practice – delivered by advanced or established researchers on the topic in question
  • Contribute one’s own questions and discuss with experts
  • Take away stimuli and ideas for one’s own research or career paths

Requirements for online participation: Please note that keeping the camera on and providing your full name upon joining the Zoom room are prerequisites for attending the sessions. This contributes to an atmosphere of trust between panelists and participants.

Facilitator: Rebecca Meier (CERes) with guests

The language of the event title indicates the language in which the event will be delivered.

  • Tue, 15 Sept 2026, 14:00–15:30 / ‘Spill the tea!’ meets ‘Coffee Conversations’: From postdoc to innovation

    POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS, DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS at a final stage of a doctorate

    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.

    Panel: 

    • Dr. Christian Sonnendecker (co-founder of ESTER Biotech)
    • tba

    Facilitator: Dr. Nicole Koburger (Akademische Personalentwicklung, Universität Leipzig), gnicole.koburger@zv.uni-leipzig.de 
    Venue: Zoom

    Registration tba
    Further information

  • Do, 28. Jan 2027, 12:00–13:30 / Spill the tea! Von der Wissenschaft ins Verlagswesen oder in den Journalismus?

    Postdocs, Promovierende (in der Endphase der Promotion)

    Sie überlegen, ob Sie Ihre wissenschaftlichen Kompetenzen künftig eher in einem Verlag oder im Journalismus einsetzen möchten? Und fragen sich, wie sich der Arbeitsalltag dort von dem in der Wissenschaft unterscheidet? In dieser Gesprächsrunde berichten Expert:innen aus Verlagswesen und Journalismus von ihren Werdegängen, Entscheidungsmomenten und typischen Arbeitsbedingungen in beiden Berufsfeldern. Gemeinsam sprechen wir über Einstiegsmöglichkeiten, notwendige Kompetenzen, Vertrags- und Arbeitsbedingungen sowie über Chancen und Risiken eines Wechsels aus der Wissenschaft.
    Gönnen Sie sich eine Tasse Tee und stellen Sie Ihre Fragen an das Panel!

    Panel:

    Veranstaltungsleitung: Rebecca Meier (CERes) mit Gästinnen und Gästen
    Ort: Zoom

    Registration tba
    Further information

Anmeldung für die Teilnahme in Präsenz

Anmeldung für die Online-Teilnahme