Qualification program

Our PhD program offers a structured scientific qualification that consists of three components: a basic program, an in-depth qualification, and a complementary qualification. The 3-year program is tailored to each student's individual needs and includes comprehensive professional training and interdisciplinary skill development.

The obligatory basic program includes status seminars, where doctoral candidates present the current state of research. Scientific colloquia, seminars, workshops, and excursions to companies and research institutions are also integral parts of this program.

In the in-depth qualification, students participate in seminars where current research topics are presented and discussed. Additional subject-related events such as workshops or lectures are also offered, and students may have the opportunity to conduct research at foreign institutions. Qualification points can also be earned by publishing manuscripts, contributing to posters, securing patents, or giving lectures. Optionally, it is possible to obtain the S1 Genetic Engineering qualification.   

The complementary qualification focuses on developing interdisciplinary competences, with various workshops available for students to select from the Graduate Academy of the University of Stuttgart (GRADUS), a central institution for promoting young academics, offers a range of qualification, information, consulting, and mentoring services that students can take advantage of. Additionally, entrepreneurship modules taught by Prof. Alexander Brem at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research at the University of Stuttgart are an essential part of the program. This includes lectures and interdisciplinary group work that focuses on various aspects of product development, marketing, and the creation of a business plan. The results of these group projects are presented and discussed, encouraging students to broaden their perspective beyond their research projects. The implementation of these modules as block events allows external doctoral students to participate. The GRADUS modules typically take place over one or two days, and lectures are also available online.

Examples of GRADUS modules

(Most courses are offered in English, usually for 2 days)

Academic skills
AS    Roadmap towards your PhD: Techniques, tools and troubleshooting 
AS    Good Scientific Practice & Research Integrity
AS    Handlungsleitende Maßstäbe guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis
AS    Interdisciplinarity in research and the graduation process: Challenges and opportunities of cooperations across the disciplines
AS    Powerful Presentations
AS    Interdisciplinarity in research and the graduation process: Challenges and opportunities of cooperations across the disciplines
AS    Wissenschaftliches Schreiben: Die Doktorarbeit
AS    Roadmap towards your PhD: Techniques, tools and troubleshootings for scientific writing
AS    Presentation Skills
AS    Powerful Presentations
AS    Critical Thinking for Scientists
AS    Risikotechnik und Risikogesellschaft
AS    Ethics of Technology
AS    Ethics of Science
AS    Risk-Technology and Risk-Society
AS    Wissenschaftstheorie
AS    Technikethik: Versprechen und Herausforderungen technlogischer Entwicklung
AS    Philosophy of Science
AS    Denkfallen und Paradoxien: Logisches Denken in der Wissenschaft
    
Management skills
MS    Projektmanagement in der Wirtschaft
MS    Project management for Ph.D.-Students
MS    The principles of effective leadership
MS    Conflict management 
MS    Working Successfully in an Intercultural Academic Environment
MS    Unconscious Bias Awareness
MS    Zeit- und Selbstmanagement
MS    Stressbelastung selbst gestalten, Leistungsfähigkeit und Kreativität erhalten
MS    Self-management for Ph.D.-Candidates - how to deal with research,
teaching and writing the Ph.D.-Thesis
    
Career skills
CS    Tailor Made Job Applications
CS    Effektives Selbstmarketing außerhalb der Wissenschaft
CS    Die eigene Zukunft gestalten: Karriereplanung
CS    Strategic career planning inside and outside of academia
CS    Effektives Selbstmarketing in der Wissenschaft
CS    Preparation for your Ph.D.-Defense