Dr Alexander Britz is a trainer, coach and facilitator who specializes on working with young scientist. He is by education an interdisciplinary scientist himself and worked for many years between chemistry, physics, and materials science. Next to science and academia, he is passionate about innovation, sustainability, diversity, and community. While working in academic research groups in Germany, Spain, and the United States, he noticed that science could be much more efficient and productive with improvements in communication and organization. Therefore, he made it his mission to explore new ways to facilitate science by helping especially young researchers to find new ways of working in academic research and develop their careers, also beyond academia. Dr Britz offers intense 1–3-day workshops, both online or on-site, in which the participants develop their communication, management, creativity and leadership skills. Furthermore, he continuously works on developing novel teaching and learning formats and finding new ways to elevate science and scientists.
Dr Philippa Cook is a certified trainer with a special focus on careers orientation and advice for international PhD-candidates and PhD-holders. She has an international background herself – born and raised in England – and worked in research and teaching in German academia for several years before she became a trainer. For her careers workshops, she has conducted numerous interviews with international doctorate-holders who have successfully landed a non-academic job and draws on this material to motivate and empower the participants.
Dr Neela Enke, a coach, mediator and biologist, graduated with a PhD in Biology from the Free University of Berlin. She carried out various research projects for 10 years, was involved in teaching, project coordination and promotion of young talent at various universities and research institutions in Germany, France, Croatia, Scotland and the Czech Republic.
She is a trained mediator with a focus on conflicts in research organisations. As a coach for research and administrative staff, professors, team leaders and teams she is offering workshops on career development in research, leadership, as well as diversity and conflict management. Furthermore she is involved as a board member in the coaching network of science and actively involved in the Fachverband Gender Diversity in the Bundesverband Mediation and in the ProFiL network association (Professionalisierung für Frauen in Forschung & Lehre).
Franziska Jantzen is a lawyer, coach and facilitator with over 20 years of experience in academia. She specializes in preparing academics for applications and appointment procedures, combining a deep understanding of university operations with a focus on practical, results-oriented training.
Her workshops cover all aspects of the process, from application materials and self-presentation to interview strategies and negotiation skills. Participants benefit from a blend of theoretical insight, practical exercises, and constructive feedback.
Franziska also offers individual coaching to address specific needs, including stress management and performance preparation. Her expertise provides applicants with the skills, strategies and confidence to be well prepared and smart at every step of the application process
Thomas Koch is a research management consultant and certified business trainer and coach. He provides hands-on workshops and individual guidance for researchers to realise their research ideas and career objectives. He also supports higher education institutions and research consortia in implementing strategic initiatives and preparing grant proposals. Holding a PhD in physical chemistry from the UK, he builds on 10 years of international experience as a researcher and 12 years of professional experience as a research manager and senior administrator at universities in Bochum (RUB) and Munich (LMU).
Iris Köhler is a career coach and experienced scientist. She studied agricultural sciences and received her doctorate at the Technical University of Munich in 2013. After a postdoctoral stay at the University of Illinois, she switched to science management and coordinated the graduate school of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig. She’s passionate about supporting young scientists and therefore in 2018, she decided to found her own coaching and training company "The Scientist Coach”. Because of her scientific background, she knows exactly the challenges that young scientists are facing when it comes to career planning. And as a trained career coach and experienced course instructor, she has the right tools to help young scientists tackle those challenges, develop their own career path and discover their competencies.
Christelle Linsenmann is a coach, trainer and mediator with a broad experience in personal and career development. After graduating in economic studies she first gained over 15 years of experience in the Human Resources department of different companies (e.g. McKinsey & Company, Pro7Sat1 Media AG), where she led a team and specialized in Recruiting, Talent Management and Leadership Coaching. Christelle today works as a personnel developer at Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg for academic staff as well as freelance trainer and coach for individuals, companies and academic institutions. She uses her experience and knowledge from the variety of organizations, departments and industries she has worked with so far. A strong focus of her work is therefore to shape career paths and phases – be it training of self-management skills, advising in a transition to an alternative career outside academia or coaching into the first management position. Her expertise and passion lies in working in a resource-oriented manner in order to develop individual strengths and open up new pattern and perspectives.
Dr Gaby Schilling studied Chemistry and did her doctoral studies in solid state chemistry. For more than 17 years, she held various leading positions in an internationally operating DAX 30 company in Germany and the US and was heading teams of experts and managers in science, product development and product safety. She has thus gained profound first-hand experience in all phases of collaboration with employees – from recruitment over career development and promotion to change of career. Qualifications to business coach and team coach complement her practical experience.
Since 2012, Gaby Schilling has been working as coach and consultant for natural scientists in leadership positions. She also runs workshops and trains groups whereby the main focus is on the transition from science into industry and taking over leadership tasks.
Find out more about her activities here .
Dr. Peter Schröder, Düsseldorf, is a biologist and IPMA-trained project manager. After working in the field of biomedical fundamental research and application-oriented development he became self-employed with “brain4hire” in 2011. He has authored numerous scientific publications, has a long-standing experience in teaching science and is an experienced trainer on soft skills and key qualifications.
Dr. Dagmar Sigurdardottir is an international trainer, coach and consultant, specializing in the support of young scientists and researchers. She holds a PhD degree in Immunology with research experience in Germany, Great Britain and the USA and is a certified Career Counsellor. For more than a decade, she coordinated the International PhD Program at the Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology (now Biology), bringing the insider knowledge gained as start-up manager of a successful ecotourism company to the academic research setting. She has shared her deep understanding of work and life as a scientist, combined with her experience in and curiosity for developments in the world beyond the doors of academic and research institutions, with hundreds of young scientists and researchers.
