Interdisciplinarity skills are vital for our TRR. Although interdisciplinary cooperation has its difficulties and pitfalls, the nature of interdisciplinarity is well understood and there are well-established training programs. Our qualification program relies on this knowledge and our knowledge from phase 1 (2021-2025). Its aim is two-fold: We want the scientists to achieve a deep understanding of individual disciplines and respect for their ways of practicing research, and we also want them to promote their agency in actively shaping disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.

The qualification program consists of workshops on decoding the disciplines and interdisciplinarity competencies (yearly workshops since 2021) and on good scientific practice and open science. Interdisciplinary competencies of doctoral researchers will be strengthened by reflective teams. Postdoctoral research may apply for small grants for additional interdisciplinary projects to develop their individual profiles.  

The workshop program for early career researchers consists of workshops (e.g.,  training in research methods outside one’s discipline, writing workshops, leadership-skills, career-related workshops) and yearly writing retreats. There is a regular program for all members, but individual elements can – and should – be negotiated with the RTG office. Potential conflicts with the supervisors will be addressed by several stages (counseling with the RTG officer (Ricarda Kurock), counseling with the RTG head (Ingrid Scharlau) and the supervisor, mediation with a UPB/UBI representative for conflict management or an external mediator). Please get in contact with us, if you want to talk confidentially about conflicts (ricarda.kurock@upb.de).

The RTG aims to establish a close-knitted community of practice. The core network will be the RTG members – (post)doctoral students and associated members) –, framed by the PLs as TRR members. Establishment of the core network is prepared by the common training program and the collaboration program. Networking is further supported by a common space for academic writing where researchers can meet, write, work, talk, and experience the presence and practices of others.

Travel funds for conferences and extended stays at international institutions further strengthen the networks. RTG members are encouraged to visit international research groups for a few weeks.