Career Counseling for Scientists

"A traveller who has lost his way should not ask, where am I? 

What he really wants to know is, where are the other places?" 

Alfred North Whitehead

I offer counseling services for students and early stage researchers who seek support in their career decisions  - academic as well as post-academic - and during the application process. 

Together with the client, I try to support them in finding their own path. The goal is to learn about options, be open for them, understand inner and external biases and pressure, and, finally, to do what is necessary to make the next happen. Most importantly, I offer a place where all these questions can be discussed on neutral grounds.

Academic Career Planning

Clients learn to understand how the recruitment process looks from the other side: How do recruiting committees work? Who are they looking for? What are their criteria? The academic hiring process differs a lot from conventional hiring processes in industry and business. Anyone considering an academic career should be aware of this and know how the system works. 

I also support clients in getting the application material right. As part of my job at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria I have screened more than one thousand applications for faculty positions. I thus know exactly what good applications documents must look like to appeal to reviewers. 

Support in difficult situations

Academia sometimes can be tough. It is a highly competitive environment that puts a lot of pressure on scientists. Precarious working conditions do not make things easier. Perhaps you have difficulties with your supervisor? Or you suffer from procrastination, not being able to finish your studies or your thesis, or you have a writing blockade? 

I support you in figuring out how to deal with difficult situations. The goal is to find a solution for your concrete situation taking into account your personality, your biography, and all other circumstances that turn out to be relevant.  We will work on strengthening your autonomy so that you are in charge of their life.  

What is counseling?

Counseling is a method to combine giving advice on a topic of expertise with one-on-one dialogue techniques that support individuals in making complex decisions and facing difficult situations. A central element of all counseling sessions is a non-judgmental environment and mode of communication that provides trust and supports openness for new solutions. Counseling aims at strengthening the autonomy of the individual. 

During a first meeting we will define the topic you want to work on. Depending on the severity of the issue it can take only one or two sessions to solve a problem, or - if the matter is more complex and has a longer history - a few more sessions. 

General information

Counseling sessions can be held in English or German (native language). One session lasts 50 minutes. All sessions are strictly confidential. 

Costs per session are EUR 70.