Career Day 2026: “Transition Possible – Explore Careers Beyond R&D”

Date: April 16, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Target Group: Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers

Speaker: various

Location: Zoom, details after registration

Registration: https://plan.events.mpg.de/event/642/

Look forward to panel discussions, networking opportunities and get in touch with renowned international companies from sectors like AI development, energy supply, industrial R&D, consulting, chemical industry, science management, pharma industry and many more. On top of it all you can choose one out of different workshops to best be prepared for your switch into industry!

Join us online for the Helmholtz Career Day 2026 "Transition Possible – Explore Careers Beyond R&D”.
Discover career paths outside academia, connect with industry experts and former academic researchers, and gain valuable insights to support your next career step.

Look forward to:

• a keynote by Lars Dittrich, editor at Maithink Media, one of Germany’s best-known science TV formats. In his talk, he will share how moving beyond academia can be a natural development rather than a break

• an engaging panel discussion with industry experts and former postdocs

• two rounds of focused subpanels with professionals from diverse sectors who will introduce their company and answer your questions

• “Ask a Career Counselor” group sessions for guidance and insights

 

Interested? Then register here: https://plan.events.mpg.de/event/642/

 

Our Programme:

09:00 Intro & Keynote with our moderator Lia Lang (DESY) and speaker Lars Dittrich (Maithink Media)

09:30 Main Panel Discussion with Lieke van der Haar (BionTech), Anna Canning (Atrium Environmental), Christine Mieck (Helmholtz Association) and Luke Harrison (European Patent Office)

10:30 Subpanel First Round

Room 1: Atrium Environmental with Anna Canning (Founder & CEO): Atrium Environmental is an environmental consulting company specializing in sustainability solutions for the maritime industry. The company leverages a network of scientific experts to translate marine research into practical strategies and projects. Its services include sustainability strategy development, environmental impact analysis, and science communication, supporting collaboration between industry and research partners to advance sustainable marine practices.

Room 2: Maithink Media with Lars Dittrich (Scientific Editor): MaiThink is the media company of science journalist and chemist Dr. Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim. It brings together her activities in media production and science communication (MaiThink X Show on TV, YouTube channel). Based in Cologne, the company aims to make science accessible and create a fact-based foundation for social debates.

Room 3: VON ARDENNE with Margarita Wucherer-Plietker (Senior Director Strategic Alliances) and Peggy Streller-Klemm (HR-Manager): Are you searching for a company with a pioneering spirit? VON ARDENNE Group is a midsize, family-managed company headquartered in Dresden, Germany. Located as global player in Dresden’s high-tech ecosystem, we are specialized in thin-film technologies and vacuum coating systems, from lab-to-fab. VON ARDENNE is delivering sustainable solutions for e.g., photovoltaics, semiconductor technology, or aerospace, what means playing with laws of nature is our daily business. Our international team of 1,300 pioneers, with 750 based in Dresden, are mostly winning this game with knowhow, passion, and team spirit.

Room 4: Metso with Nathalie Kupka (Business Manager) and Robert Otto (Senior HR Manager Central Europe): Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. Metso's products focus on improving energy and water efficiency while increasing productivity and reducing environmental risks. With 17,000 employees across 50 countries, the company made 4.9 billion EUR in sales in 2024 and is the market leader in its domain.

Room 5: D-fine with Jan-Niclas Gruse (Senior Consultant), Elizaveta Sytova (former postdoc): Imagine the power of more than 1,500 physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists working as part of a European company with over 20 years of service excellence focused on data science, technology and mathematical modelling. That´s d-fine.

Room 6: Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces) with Sergej Gretschany

Room 7: European Commission with Daniela Melandri (Policy Officer DG Research and Innovation)

Room 8: Helmholtz Association with Christine Mieck (Chief Research Manager Information): The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving grand challenges facing society, science and industry by conducting top-rate research in the fields of Aeronautics, Space and Transport; Earth and Environment; Energy; Health; Matter; and Information. The Head Office in Berlin supports the President in the performance of his duties on behalf of the 18 major research centers.

11:20 Subpanel Second Round (see first round)

12:00 Wrap-up & Introduction to “Ask a Career Counselor”

12:30 Ask a Career Counselor

Use the last 45 minutes of the event to clarify final remaining questions in open group consultation sessions on the following topics:

• Access to the hidden job market: analyse and extend your network! (Jana Schmitt, KIT)

• Upgrade your professional online profile (Svenja Klinkenberg, FZ Jülich)

• Overcoming limiting beliefs in your career development (Janine Göttling, HZDR)

• Industry applications and interviews – stand out from the crowd (Sabrina Lehner, DZNE)

• Identifying skill sets and competencies (Annette Leemans, DESY)

• Start with your whole life, not just your job. Prioritize what matters and strategize your next career move (Meike Rottermann & Alisa Gunzelmann, Helmholtz Munich)

 

13:15 Closing & Evaluation