Postdoc Academy for Transformational Leadership – 1st cohort

03 Sep, 2018 - 01 Jun, 2020

 
At DRIFT we strongly believe that the pressing societal challenges of our time require a different type of research than is currently the norm: a co-prodution of transformative and actionable knowledge that is able to transform ourselves, our organisations and our society. This in turn requires different types of roles, skills and leadership of researchers. The Robert Bosch Foundation shares this conviction, which has led them to initiate the PostDoc Academy for Transformational Leadership.
 
The Robert Bosch Stiftung and partners see the need for more and better integration of the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities in sustainability research; for a better recognition of inter- and transdisciplinary research in academia; and for excellent, highly competitive researchers who are able to lead inter- and transdisciplinary teams and academic institutions. With the PostDoc Academy the Stiftung and partners aim to train the next generation of leaders in sustainability and transformations research in inter- and transdisciplinary contexts, and contribute to a better recognition of inter- and transdisciplinary research in academia.
 
The PostDoc Academy for Transformational Leadership provides an intensive high-end training with four seminars in two years that broaden the research competencies of postdocs and promote their qualifications towards transdisciplinary leadership. The program also offers seed funding (e.g. for stakeholder meetings or proposal writing activities) to small groups of participants, who plan to initiate research collaborations. Furthermore, an active network of current and former participants of the program will be established.
 
The Postdoc Academy is an initiative of the Robert Bosch Stiftung and a joint project of the Robert Bosch Stiftung and four academic centres: the Humboldt-Universität (Berlin), Leuphana University (Lüneburg), the Stockholm Resilience Centre and DRIFT.
 
For who?
The program aims at postdocs from across Europe who want to make an impact on the transformation towards a sustainable society and advance the complementarity of natural science, social sciences and the humanities through their research. They should consider themselves intrapreneurs, who act responsible and initiate positive changes and innovation within their institutions. They should also strive toward professorship or other academic leadership positions. A research topic relevant to this year’s focus topic Food systems & sovereignty, excellent English language skills, and experience with or a need for inter- or transdisciplinary collaboration are required.
 
What can you expect?
Each year the PostDoc academy recruites a select number of participants to take part in a 2 year ‘course run’ with an overarching theme. A course run consists of four seminars (three full days each) over a period of two years. Each seminar will take place at one of the four academic centres and focus on their respective expertise. The seminars build on each other and are complementary. They are linked by four thematic modules that create an overarching framework:
 

 
Timing & location of the 4 seminars
A course run consists of four seminars (three full days each) over a period of two years. Each seminar will take place at one of the four academic centres and focus on their respective expertise. Details for the first course run are:
 

• 1st seminar from 10th to 12th October 2018 at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin/ Germany
• 2nd seminar from 7th to 9th February 2019 at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg/ Germany
• 3rd seminar from 16th to 18th October 2019 at the Stockholm Resilience Centre/ Sweden
• 4th seminar from 18th to 20th March 2020 at the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions (DRIFT) in Rotterdam/ The Netherlands

 
In addition, there will be peer group interaction between the seminars. Further course runs will be announced in due time.
 
Application
You can apply to the Academy online via an online application form in the period from the 15th of February to the 15th of April 2018.
 
You need to register on the online platform in order to view the application form. Once registered you can work on your application. Please safe regularly. You can return to your application and continue to work on it any time until 15th April 2018. If your application is considered successful in the first stage, you will be invited to an assessment workshop. The assessment workshop will take place in the Robert Bosch Stiftung – Berlin Representative Office on Tuesday, 26th June 2018.
 
For more information please visit the website.