Research News
Nina Löchte, Officer for the Promotion of young and early-stage researchers, International Networking at the Berlin office of the Helmholtz Association.
Three questions to: Nina Löchte, Promotion of young and early-stage researchers and International Networking
Nina Löchte holds the post of Officer for the Promotion of young and early-stage researchers, International Networking at the Helmholtz Association's Berlin office. Susanne Stöckemann from the Communication Team talked to her about her function:
1. What are your specific tasks?
Nina Löchte: I am responsible for the promotion programmes for young and early-stage researchers that are offered on Association level. For PhD students, these are the Helmholtz Research Schools and Graduate Schools and for postdocs the Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups. In addition I am the contact person for our international young researchers programmes such as the Helmholtz Russia Joint Research Groups Programme (HRJRG) or the cooperation with the China Scholarship Council (CSC). The organisation of the annual selection procedures for the individual instruments takes up a large part of my work. My job further includes providing advice to applicants. Quality control of the instruments also plays a major role. For instance, the Research Schools and Graduate Schools are reassessed after intervals of 3-4 years. This means that external reviewers travel to the centres and check up on the implementation of projects up to that point in time. Here it is my job to find reviewers for this task and to prepare the evaluation in coordination with representatives from the centres. Exchange with the coordinators from the Research Schools and Graduate Schools takes place during coordinator meetings. Every two years, a big networking event is organised for the heads of the Young Investigators Groups. In addition, we organise an annual welcoming event for the new heads of Young Investigators Groups. All these events have to be coordinated and prepared. Also, I am the contact person for the Helmholtz Juniors, our PhD students representatives, and attend their annual meetings. Moreover, I present these young researchers programmes at fairs and exhibitions both at home and abroad: For example, at the information events hosted by the European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations, at job fairs and university exhibitions, at the European Career Fair in Boston as well as at the annual GAIN conference in Boston or San Francisco.
2. How is the acceptance of Helmholtz programmes for promoting young researchers?
Nina Löchte: Very good. Each year, the centres receive some 200 applications for 20 vacancies in the Young Investigators Groups programme. The high number of applications from scientists from other countries reveals that the programme is attractive also on an international level. As regards the structured doctoral training at the Helmholtz Research School and/or the Graduate Schools, many PhD students highly value not only the excellent research environment but in particular also the seminar range and the close exchange with other doctoral candidates. However, some centres still require persuasion efforts. For instance, it can happen that the seminars for acquiring key competences are considered unimportant by the tutors. This is something we disapprove of. Of course the scientific work ought to continue to remain at the centre of attention, but we also know that with scientific excellence alone young scientists do not get very far these days. Project and time management, team work, leadership qualities, communication competence etc. are important. Also, we consider those doctoral candidates who will not continue to work in research after their doctorate but aspire to, for example, a career in the industry.
3. What did you do before you joined Helmholtz and what is your academic background?
Nina Löchte: Before I joined Helmholtz, I worked for two years at the Ministry for Science Brandenburg. There too, my work focused on promoting young talent. I have studied social sciences: First sociology in Berlin and Paris (diploma) and then European Political and Administrative Sciences in Bruges (Master).
