Welcome Day 2018: a retrospective glance

All PhD students of GGG but especially the newer ones were invited to this year’s GGG Welcome Day on April 24, 2018. This time, we at GGG office did not only present our services in the areas of funding, qualification and counseling, but also invited advanced PhD students to give a first-hand account of how they finance their PhD project.

Thus, Besmira Sinanaj and Antonie Fuhse told the audience about their experience as research assistants at the Faculty of Social Sciences, whereas Nina Grassnick and Dela-Dem Doe Fiankor of the Agricultural Faculty reported on what it means to be a member, or an associate member, of a Research Training Group. Both of them are doing their PhD within the RTG 1666 “Transformation of Global Agri-Food Systems”. Ceren Kasim is writing her PhD thesis at the Faculty of Law and is holding a scholarship from Hans Böckler Foundation. Thus, she is quite free in her time management. But at the same time, she is much less involved in what is happening at the chair.

During PhD studies, you do not only need to finance your PhD project, but also conference trips, and frequently the chair cannot provide financial aid. In this case and for any other questions concerning PhD financing, Serena Müller at GGG’s PhD Funding Guidance can help you.

The audience was also provided with a few hints and tips for successful PhD studies: Proper time management was mentioned as key element to make good progress with the PhD project while at the same time being able to keep up with duties and still having some leisure time. Furthermore, cooperation and active communication with fellow PhD students and senior scientists was emphasized by the speakers, on both a local level and on conferences. The importance of posing questions was also stressed: Be it in scientific questions or in matters of academia, one should not be ashamed to ask, but rather take the opportunity to learn and advance on the given subject.

Following these highly interesting personal insights on financing PhD studies, the staff of GGG office presented GGG’s further offers in the area of qualification and counseling. In addition, two of the three candidates running for GGG’s PhD students’ representation took the chance to address the audience. Julia Zilles and Benson Matawana explained their motivation for candidacy and their goals for the new term of office.

Concluding the event, everyone had coffee and cake and there was ample opportunity for the audience to get in contact and chat with both fellow PhD students and GGG office staff. There was even no need for the exclusively developed “GGG Bingo” as everyone already had plenty to talk about!

We at GGG office are very delighted to have seen so many new faces and we are looking forward to seeing you again in our courses.