The focus of our Research Training Group is to support our PhD students in their research projects and to provide them with an interdisciplinary education that prepares them for a successful career in both academia and industry. The core of our qualification program is the consistent integration of experiment and theory through tandem projects in the research areas.
In addition to working in your own doctoral research project, you can choose from a series of activities and lectures, which will help complement your academic and professional skills. Individual participation is recorded through a system of credit points (CP) to help keep track of your progress, with a total number of 24 CP required to finish your PhD, of which 10 CP are compulsory.
Scientific training
To ensure that all PhD students have a broad basic knowledge, key concepts are introduced in a combined experimental/theoretical introductory lecture. Regular training consists of research seminars, additional advanced courses, attendance of conferences and workshops, and peer tutorials that are organized by students.
In the 2nd year of their PhD, the students consolidate and deepen their knowledge through organizing a workshop that invites external lecturers who complement the expertise present in Mainz.
Supervision strategy
To further promote the integration of theory and experiment we implement tandem supervision: Every theoretical/experimental student will be jointly supervised by a principal investigator (PI) together with an experimental/theoretical mentor. Progress is monitored through regular reports and joint meetings of students with their PI and mentor.
As a student of the Research Training Group, you are expected to sign a doctoral agreement, which provides a framework of conditions and activities that you have to fulfill in order to be granted a PhD.
Complementary training and career advancement
In collaboration with the IRTGs of the TRR 146, SFB 1551 and SFB 1552 we offer a range of lectures and workshops on transferable skills. All PhD students can take part in courses offered by JGU’s General Postgraduate Programme. The Ada Lovelace mentoring program offers further opportunities for female PhD students and postdocs.
You can read more information about this program and the Doctoral Agreement here.
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