Young Researcher Survey 2020
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Young Researcher Survey 2020
Survey information
Period of survey 28th of April – 12th of May 2020
Survey respondents 242
Postdoctoral academic staff (AS) Doctoral candidates (DC)
N = 55 N = 187*
A N W A N W**
61.82% 14.55% 23.63% 47.6% 27.3% 25.1%
* 187 DCs represent 20% of total DCs registered at UHOH
** The share of total DCs at UHOH by faculty is
A 48%, N 25%, and W 27%.
2I
Results for
Doctoral Candidates (DC)Sample DC – Gender „Are you …?”
total
The distribution of participants’ gender
is almost balanced – with a slightly Male 45%
higher proportion of women. 55% Female
Note: The total share of female DCs at UHOH is 51% and
by faculty: A 50%, N 57%, and W 46%.
by faculty
Participants of faculty N show the highest Female 52% 47%
share of women. 69%
Men and women of faculties A and W
have equally participated. Male 48% 53%
31%
A N W
4Sample DC – Nationality „Where have you spent most of your
lifetime?”
total
outside Germany
The majority of DCs originates from
24%
Germany.
24% have spent most of their lifetime
76% in Germany
outside of Germany.
Note: The total share of international DCs at UHOH is 19%
and by faculty: A 39%, N 19%, and W 11%.
by faculty
Participants of faculty A with 36% show
the highest share of internationals. in Germany 64%
84% 89%
Participants of faculty W with 11% the
lowest.
outside Germany 36%
16% 11%
A N W
5Sample DC – Dissertation status „Are you already working on your
dissertation project?”
no
5%
Only a minority, 5 %, have not yet
started working on their dissertation
projects.
95%
yes
„How much time has passed between
your start of work at UHOH and your
acceptance as DC?”
4%
6% 7%
The majority of faculties A’s and N’s 5%
> 24 months 14%
participants have applied for acceptance 14%
13-24 months 9% 26%
within the first 6 months.
7-12 months 43%
The majority of faculty W’s participants
within the first year. 0-6 months 71% 63%
38%
6
A N WSample DC – Dissertation status
„Is your dissertation project officially „Why have you not yet applied for
accepted by the UHOH?” acceptance as doctoral candidate?”
„because I am not 100
present sure“
„It is easier to apply
desired later in the course of
the dissertation if
you have already
done some work
„haven’t gotten everything 22% and passed the
8% no ready for the application
yet“
phd-Courses“
87% 5% n.a. 11%
67% financing
yes requirements not met
„because we try to apply „the funding for
„have not written my for a project-Stelle first to the research
expoé“ finance my dissertation project has not
project as there is not yet been
Ø Reasons for a postponement of position available at my approved.”
institute by itself”
the application process are
either desired, related to the
financing situation, or
(predominantly) the application
process itself.
7Sample DC – Financing situation „My work / studies are financed
through…”
The majority of faculty W’s participants
are employed as academic staff.
Faculties A’s and N’s participants
UHOH employment 29%
indicate a higher share of third-party- 45%
funded PhD projects. 56%
Third-Party fund 33%
„Live on my own financial „Personal
„Myself and we were
37% 18%
means” finances”
awarded a research
grant” Scholarship 26% 3%
8% 23%
statements on “other” financing sources Other1 12% 10%
„Hilfskraftstelle” A N W
„freelance”
Note: Other1 includes external candidates.
“Had a scholarship for three months,
„Museum for Natural „I have no more maybe 6 months a hiwi-contract, the rest
History” contract” of the time i was financially unstable
(without a contract from the university, i
had to work on some jobs and my
parents helped me out” 8Sample DC – Financing situation „What share of a full position do you
have on average?”
3% 0% 2%
25%
11%
50% 27% 9%
Part-time employments constitute the
absolute majority across all faculties. 63%
Only a minority of participants are fully
employed. 65% 29% 51%
75%
50-65% shares are prevailing in 4%
100% 7% 10%
faculties A and N, and 75% shares in
6%
faculty W. 2% 15%
no contract 30%
19%
12%
A N W
FYI:
50% TVL 13 Stage 1 means a net
income of approx. 1.300 € in Stuttgart.
DFG recommends at least 65%.
9Sample DC – Financing situation „What is the average contracted
duration of your position (in months)?”
5% 2% 0%
1 - 6 months
Contracts issued up to 6 months 11% 16%
7 - 12 months
seems to be a phenomenon that has 29%
13 - 24 months 11% 16%
only been experienced by participants
of faculties A and N.
22%
The majority of contracts last between
25 - 36 months 57% 47%
25 to 36 months.
37%
Unlimited contracts for doctoral
candidates represent an exception in > 36 months
16% 21%
faculty N. unlimited 7% 2%
0% 0%
A N W
FYI:
WissZeitG specifies at least 3 years in
the so-called qualification phase (for
doctorate),
10Sample DC – Financing situation „How worried are you when you think
about the duration of your contract
and the financing situation?”
Ø 2,8
A 3,1
In line with the shorter contract
durations and lower employment
shares, participants of faculties A and
N on average are more worried with N 2,9
regards to their financial insecurities.
W 2,5
1 2 3 4 5
not worried at all very worried
11Sample DC – Financing situation
„Do you have any additional „Why do you have an additional
job(s)?” job(s)?”
„It is not that
easy/comfortable to live
12% „I have a partner in from 50% in Stuttgart.”
Yes 24% Berlin. Traveling with the
32% ICE every weekend is
very expensive.” 79%
Financing
88%
No 76%
68%
„because the 50% payment is not „Owner of a
enough to life a normal (NOT LUXUAR) farm”
life nowadays. Living expenses are far 21%
more than the 50% payment would
cover. Additional 15% (~200€ Other
netto/month) would cover the living costs
„To gather
A N W more properly.”
experience
outside the
„Improved carrer university.”
opportunities after
obtaining my
doctoral degree.”
12Sample DC – Financing situation „How many hours per week do you
work in your additional job(s)?”
> 20 hrs
The additional working time in 10%
secondary occupations corresponds
somewhat to the additional required 10-20 hrs 28%
< 10 hrs
share at a 100% position. 63%
„What is your actual working time per
week (in hours) at the UHOH?”
3% 4% 3%
> 60 hrs
Although the majority of participants do
41 hrs - 60 hrs 35% 38% 37%
not have 100%-contracts, they seem to
work much more than specified in their
contracts – consistently across all
faculties. ≤ 40 hrs 63% 58% 61%
A N W
13Sample DC – Work distribution „Please indicate the distribution of
your working time on …”
Other 15% 14% 16%
For the participants from faculties A Administr. 15% 16%
20%
and N, research forms the major part of
their work, while for those from faculty
W the working time is divided equally
31%
between research and teaching. 59% 52%
Research
32%
18%
Teaching 12%
A N W
14„How many years do you expect to
need from the start to the completion
Sample DC – Duration & career of your dissertation project?”
Ø 4,2
On average, all participants expect a A 3,9
duration of about 4 years for their
dissertation projects. N 4,3
W 4,3
1 2 3 4 5
„What is your career goal?”
An industry job constitutes the Full Professor 14% 9%
19%
career goal of the majority of 16%
Academic Middle Management 18%
participants – regardless of the 18%
faculty.
Industry 47% 56%
46%
Only a small fraction of
participants has set the goal of
a professorship. Other 21% 19% 18%
A N W 15„Which factors negatively impact
Sample DC – Hampering factors the time schedule of your
dissertation project?”
„Way too much time is
wasted by doing
administrative stuff”
„too much
teaching”
Administr.
„corona and the digitalization of
Teaching 13% all my teaching material”
14% Corona
„Problems in data
collection Delayed
12% „Other jobs in
feedback from order to earn a
supervisor.” living”
11% Add. Jobs
32% „professor has too many students and set
Research issues 8% priorities between the students -prof
struggeling and not capable in supervising, no
no paper acceptance 4% 6% Supervision time management, no time to correct students
problems in data
work or to supervise”
collection (field work
is e.g. weather „Failure of project, None Other
dependend)” learning new ways of
data analysis” „My tutor (professor) has a really big group of PhDs candidates. He
„Currently I am not takes a really long time to see manuscript drafts before you get the
expacting any delay.” first comment. It can pass for 6 months without any feedback. This
delays the preparation of the final version for sen”
16„How often per year do you meet your
supervisor for discussions on your
Sample DC – Thesis supervision dissertation project?”
Overall, meetings with supervisors tend 5%
> 20 28% 33%
to predominantly take place up to ten 30%
times per year.
10 - 20 30% 28%
Participants of faculties A and N on 65%
average indicate an even higher < 10 42% 40%
interaction frequency with their
supervisors. A N W
„How satisfied are you with the
supervision of your dissertation project?”
Ø 3,8
On average, participants of all faculties A 3,8
indicate a high level of satisfaction
regarding the supervision of their N 3,7
dissertation projects (4 out of 5 points).
W 3,9
1 2 3 4 5
not satisfied at all very satisfied
17„Have you ever participated in a
Sample DC – PhD course offers research workshop at the UHOH?”
yes 25% 32%
39%
Information on the research workshops
offered at the UHOH have not reached
no 54% 37% 49%
about every fifth of the participants.
no, because I have never heard of them 21% 24% 19%
A N W
„Do the course offers help you
achieve your career goals?”
Divided opinions about the benefits of the 41%
yes 49% 60%
courses offered.
no 51% 59%
40%
A N W
18„How satisfied are you as a doctoral
Sample DC – Overall satisfaction candidate at the UHOH?”
Ø 3,6
On average, DC participants seem to A 3,7
be highly satisfied as doctoral
candidates – especially in faculties A
N 3,2
and W with approximately 4 out of 5
points.
W 3,8
1 2 3 4 5
not satisfied at all very satisfied
„Would you recommend others to do a
dissertation at the UHOH?”
The majority of DC participants, especially don’t know 26% 33% 33%
of faculties A and W, would recommend no 6%
4%
others doing a dissertation at the UHOH. 19%
yes 69% 63%
48%
A N W
19Sample DC – Overall satisfaction
„Why would you recommend „Why would you not recommend
others doing a dissertation at the others doing a dissertation at the
UHOH?” UHOH?”
„I would recommend my way of doing
cooperative PhD studies with two „outdated and opinionated leadership
universities and two supervisors” „undecided, pros are
management that is not transparent”
there, cons as well”
„very collegial atmosphere in the „no money and time, only
Mittelbau, very nice place to work and „probably i wouldn't do it work for the project goals”
the job itself is fun. On the other hand, again, so i'm not sure if i
there are better universities to do your can recommend it”
phd-studies, many professors have „not international at all”
completely wrong priorities regarding
the supervision of phds” „I am an external candidiate. I hardly „There is no contact point for
know anybody at the University.” problems”
„can only speak for my institute and
funding was never an issue so I can
recommend but no idea about working „Not in the department or with the prof I'm
„As the conditions in every
conditions in other faculties/institutes” doing my phd with”
institute are different, hard to give
a general recommendation.”
„Not at my Institute.”
„not in my department.”
„It is highly depending on the professor and the „I have not enough experience working at
institute. There are institutes I would never do a the University. But i dont get any feedback
dissertation, even though the topic would be from my promotors from hohenheim and i „Payment is usually limited to 3 years,
interesting, because I know that the support of the think the level is quite low compared to communication (especially with
doctoral students is not that good. other european universities and its to administration, but also between
much german centered” researchers) is bad”
20„What should be the priorities to
Sample DC – Improvements improve the environment for you
„Collect/establish
Good Practice - as young researchers?”
Guidelines for
„- housing for PhD students (especially those coming „better leadership departments,
from outside Germany). Before they sign the contract qualities of supervisors,
or leave their country, they should be assured of supervisor (Prof.)” candidates”
having a room upon their arrival in Germany. -
Guidance in choosing the right health insurance”
Supervision „- more information about the offers (workshops
Other 14%
etc.) of the Graduate Academy - more structured
PhD- Programms”
„ - longer duration of the 22%
projects - better PhD Program
laboratory equipment” 12%
„- Research formation (theoretical exchange,
empirical exchange) of young researchers -
„The financial situation in the institutes didactic formation - regular possibility to connect
or chairs is problematic, leading to high 11%
workload, short-term contracts and does Network between the researchers of different departments”
not allow any planning security.” 27%
Financing 8% „More exchange with other
6% academic staff from other
Administration faculties”
„Gehalt Wenn man sich nicht ständig Nothing
in finanziellen Notlagen befinden
würde, deswegen zusätzlich arbeiten „Contracts of at least „Decrease
und ständig einen ängstlichen Blick auf 75% in general for PhD „I'm okay” „Reduce administration effort.”
den Kontostand werfen müsste, dann students (in my case I'm bureaucracy”
könnte man sich besser auf seine very lucky)”
Forschungsarbeit konzentrieren.”
„I am happy the
way it is”
21Concluding remarks for doctoral candidates
• Overall, we find support for a high level of satisfaction – as DC in
general as well as with the supervision.
Ø Many aspects at UHOH for DCs are working out very well.
Ø The centralized support of the graduate academy is appreciated,
especially with regard to the provided framework for supervisions.
• It seems that the formal requirements, e.g. for acceptance as doctoral
candidate, cause a high administrative effort.
Ø Need for facilitation and standardization of the process across
faculties.
22Concluding remarks for doctoral candidates
• Depending on the faculty, we observe differences in terms of
employment share and work distribution (research vs. teaching).
Ø Need for financial security & sufficient time for research.
• DCs call for more informal, but also research related exchange and
networking possibilities.
Ø Need for more networking events and formats.
• Training and course offers as well as their benefits are not yet
sufficiently known and taken advantage of.
Ø Need for a better communication of workshop offers and in some
instances more developed PhD programs.
23II
Results for
Postdoctoral Academic Staff (AS)Sample AS – Gender „Are you …?”
total
The distribution of participants’ gender
is balanced. 49% Female
Male 51%
by faculty
Also across the faculties, women and men Female 47% 50% 54%
have participated equally.
Male 53% 50% 46%
A N W
25Sample AS – Nationality „Where have you spent most of your
lifetime?”
total
outside Germany
The majority of AS’ originates from
27%
Germany.
27% have spent most of their lifetime 73% in Germany
outside of Germany.
by faculty
As with the DCs, participants of faculty A in Germany 35%
with 65% show the highest share of 75%
internationals. 85%
Participants of faculty W with 15% the outside Germany 65%
lowest. 25% 15%
A N W
26Sample AS – Financing situation „My work / studies are financed
through…”
The majority of faculties A’s and W’s 43%
participants are employed as academic UHOH employment 66%
staff. 73%
Faculties N’s participants indicate a
comparatively higher share of third- 43%
party-funded AS positions. Third-Party fund
29% 20%
Scholarship
7%
Other 7% 7%
5%
A N W
27Sample AS – Financing situation „What share of a full position do you
have on average?”
25% 3% 8%
13%
50% 18%
15%
The majority of postdoctoral
75% 9%
participants are fully employed.
88%
100% 68% 77%
no contract
3%
A N W
28Sample AS – Financing situation „What is the average contracted
duration of your position (in months)?”
13% 8%
1 - 12 months 15%
The majority of contracts last between
13 to 36 months.
13 - 36 months 41% 50% 62%
Unlimited contracts for postdoctoral
academic staff only make up for a
small fraction. > 36 months 12%
13%
8%
unlimited 32%
25% 23%
A N W
29Sample AS – Financing situation „How worried are you when you think
about the duration of your contract
and the financing situation?”
Ø 3,2
Overall, there exists a financing A 3,0
insecurity among the participants.
Postdoctoral participants of faculty W
indicate a slightly higher financing N 3,1
insecurity.
W 3,4
1 2 3 4 5
not worried at all very worried
30Sample AS – Financing situation
„Do you have any additional
„Interested in work and
job(s)?” topics outside the
university, esp. to get
and keep in contact with
0% „Participation in a start-up actual problems in the
Yes 9% industry sector as well
17% together with former phd-
student.”
„lecturer”
as in technical fields”
„Why do you have any additional
100% job(s)?”
No 91% 83%
„Strengthening network „There are other responsibilities
to find a permanent that are interesting for me, these
position..” complement my work with
Hohenheim”
A N W
31Sample AS – Financing situation „How many hours per week do you
work in your additional job(s)?”
10-20 hrs
Of the few who are engaged in an
20%
additional activity, most work less than
10 hours a week in this activity.
80% < 10 hrs
„What is your actual working time per
week (in hours) at the UHOH?”
> 60 hrs 6% 13% 0%
The indicated working time corresponds
45%
approximately to the specified
41 hrs - 60 hrs 58% 50%
employment share.
55%
≤ 40 hrs 36% 38%
A N W
32Sample AS – Work distribution „Please indicate the distribution of
your working time on …”
Other 9% 6%
13%
Administr. 21% 25%
As for the doctoral candidates, 25%
participants of faculty W show a higher
share of teaching activity.
35%
Research makes up for the majority of Research 47%
39%
working time for postdoctoral
participants of faculties A and N.
34%
Teaching 23% 23%
A N W
33Sample AS – Career goals „What is your career goal?”
An industry job constitutes the Full Professor 21%
career goal of the minority of
50%
participants. 57%
Academic Middle Management 39%
The majority aims at an
academic career – either as
professor or in the academic 16% 21%
Industry 38%
middle management.
7%
Other 24%
13% 14%
A N W
„permanent contract
somewhere; university, statements on “other” career goals
ministry,...”
„Not sure yet”
„Permanent position in „Apl. Prof, „No idea ;)”
university, ministry, or similar” consultant”
34„Have you ever participated in a
Sample AS – PhD course offers research workshop at the UHOH?”
13%
yes 48%
The offered research workshops are
80%
especially used by the postdoctoral 75%
participants from faculties W and A.
no 48%
no, because I have never heard of them 13% 20%
3%
A N W
„Do the course offers help you
achieve your career goals?”
However, as for the doctoral candidates, yes 39% 41%
benefits of the courses offered are not 56%
recognized equally by all.
no 61% 59%
44%
A N W
35„How satisfied are you as a
Sample AS – Overall satisfaction researcher / lecturer at the UHOH?”
Ø 2,2
On average, participants seem to be A 2,2
rather unsatisfied as postdoctoral
academic staff. N 1,9
W 2,4
1 2 3 4 5
not satisfied at all very satisfied
„Would you recommend others working /
researching at the UHOH?”
no 9% 0% 0%
Interestingly, almost every participant
would recommend others working or
yes 91% 100% 100%
researching at the UHOH.
A N W
36Sample AS – Overall satisfaction
„Why would you recommend „Why would you not recommend
others working / researching at others working / researching at
the UHOH?” the UHOH?”
„ Small size is an advantage for
teaching. Several unique features,
Humboldt reloaded, helpful „Vibrant research „Discrepancy between payment and
administrative staff, nice colleagues” environment” workload.”
„ Because of it's small size personal
networks can be initiated very fast.
Since working might by very similar at „The only negative thing
different universities, living in this part „Highly productive university, Nice is the living situation in
of Germany is quite nice: Good campus, lots of additional courses the area. It can be difficult
infrastructure, nice ambient.” offered (language center, sports), to find a flat, so perhaps if
the university could
initiate some scheme to
help new arrivals to find
„the working climate at our instute is „ Very good colleagues, many units in the something.”
good; also good co-operation with administration very supportive (despite my
neigbouring institutes; some institutes remark), good research facilities, very
are well connected with each other” international research profile and student
body, good opportunities to work inter- and
transdisciplinary”
„It In general, the work situation at universities in
Germany is ok. Eg contracts with all social benefits
are good. Hohenheim has apparently also a good
reputation, which may also be a plus in your CV..
37„What should be the priorities to
Sample AS – Improvements improve the environment for
you?”
„Intermediate-stage Researchers are
„I feel fine”
often seen as students by the professors.
That should not be the case
„Closer connections to researchers of „a secure position, without the pressure of
similar fields/topics/interests also regularly raising third-party funds, would be
across the faculties (A and N), eg by
Other great; there are practically no permanent
having regular (weekly or at least positions, and so one is forced to guarantee his
monthly) seminars with (invited) 16% salary through third-party funds; in the long run
speakers or Journal Clubs on specific very exhausting less administration would also
topics or research areas or methods. Nothing be an advantage...”
These should then be better 7%
communicated across faculties inviting 44%
everyone interested.” Employement
Network 7%
„You spend more time with writing „unlimited contracts for full
proposals than research. The focus is 9% teaching positions”
based on how to get third-party Research
funding. Unfortunately, UHOH has a
lack of money for research.
16% „More tenured jobs below full professor. In the
long-run implementation of a department system.
Improvements: - Make sure money is Better spatial concentration of the economics
provided for research”
Administration department, now everybody is scattered around
at the whole campus making collaboration and
exchange unnecessarily difficult!”
„more space and better growing
conditions should be available for
conducting experiments (e.g. climate
chambers, greenhouse space with
adequate technical infrastructure, „REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPROVE
temperature control, light, etc.)” THE FUNCTIONING OF SOME OF THE CENTRAL
UNITS! Make the administration really fit to understand
what we researchers are doing - not only the other way
round. I'm fed up that I I have constanly to deal with
issues that are not my business like”
38Concluding remarks for postdoctoral academic staff
• The overall level of satisfaction of AS’ participants is rather low.
Interestingly, however, almost every AS participant would recommend
others researching or working at the UHOH.
• We find financial insecurity, especially with regards to the contract
durations, to constitute a great burden.
Ø Need for financial security.
• As for the doctoral candidates, we find differences with regard to work
distribution across faculties.
39Many thanks to
all participants for contributing!
Responsibe for the survey are
the doctoral candidates’ representative in the senate of the UHOH:
Alicia Prochotta a.prochotta@uni-Hohenheim.de
Helen Mengis helen.mengis@uni-Hohenheim.de
Thea Mi Weiß theami.weiss@uni-hohenheim.de
Special thanks for the support before, during, and after our survey go to:
Dr. Heike Behle
Michael Branschaedel
Yasemin Erginer
Dr. Anja Pohl
Prof. Dr. Markus VoethYou can also read
