Events and Workshops

Securing third-party funding is one of the key qualifications for a successful academic career. Following the completion of a doctorate, researchers can choose from a wide range of funding opportunities—i.e., to pursue a research project, support their career development, or organise academic events. Selecting the most suitable funding instrument requires careful consideration of the specific objectives and focus areas of the various programmes.

This information session provides an overview of the programmes offered by major funding organisations, including the German Research Foundation (DFG) and other selected foundations.

External funding is usually essential for carrying out a research idea. Securing third-party funding and preparing grant proposals are therefore integral parts of academic work. This information session introduces the basic components of a grant proposal using the Research Grant Programme (Sachbeihilfe)—one of the most important funding schemes offered by the German Research Foundation (DFG)—as an example. It provides guidance on developing a competitive proposal, outlines the support services offered by the Research Support Office during the application process, and explains the first steps after a project has been approved.

The event consists of two consecutive sessions that build on one another. The first session will take place on Monday, 30 November 2026, and the second on Wednesday, 2 December 2026.

How can a research idea be developed into a compelling grant proposal? The Grant Proposal Workshop provides an information, advisory, and exchange forum for early-career researchers who are planning a research project and seeking to secure external funding from a funding organisation (e.g. the German Research Foundation, DFG).

The Research Support Team accompanies participants throughout the proposal development process by offering information on research funding applications and individual guidance on proposal preparation. Starting from a specific research question, participants will draft a grant proposal. They will also learn to critically assess their proposal from the perspective of reviewers.

As a prerequisite for participation, applicants must submit a brief outline of their project idea (maximum 3,000 characters) to the Graduate Centre (GUT) at gutuni-trierde when registering for the workshop.

How to summarise an entire research project in 200 words? How to present the main arguments of a scientific paper in 1000 characters? Writing an abstract is an indispensable skill for all researchers.

The workshop gives an introduction to the particular features of this type of text. The participants will write their own abstracts and discuss their drafts with the group.

Interdisciplinarity is widely regarded as essential in today’s research landscape. But how can you explain your own work to an audience outside your field? How can misunderstandings be avoided? A few simple principles can facilitate cross-disciplinary communication and may even change the way you look at your own research project.

For this workshop, participants prepare a three-minute oral presentation of their research projects, which will be discussed within the group. The key principles of communicating across disciplines are then developed collaboratively, with a focus on the clear and accessible translation of complex specialist content. On the second day, participants have the opportunity to present either a revised version or an entirely new short presentation and receive feedback.

Advanced female early-career researchers (from postdoctoral level onwards) can obtain a certificate “Strong in Research! – Your Path to Leadership in Research: Training Programme for Female Early-Career Researchers” after completing selected courses from the Trier University's professional development programme that strengthen research-related competencies.

These qualifications are designed to enhance career prospects for obtaining a professorship or comparable senior research position in academia. Participants are encouraged to attend one event in each of the following areas:

• Collaborative research
• Planning and applying for third-party funded projects
• Leadership skills
• The role of a principal investigator in a research project

If agreed upon beforehand, courses on alternative topics may also credited towards the certificate. For further information, please contact:

Dr. Lina Azazil
Consultant for Gender and Diversity
lina.azaziluni-trierde

When is it mandatory to submit an ethics application for research studies and projects, and when is it recommended? What is the best way to proceed? What should be considered when preparing the application? Clarify those and other questions in a consultation prior to submission.

Dr. Janine Kesselheim
Research Consultant, Manager Committee for Research Ethics and Research Security
kesselheimjuni-trierde