Applying for a Ph.D. Position Choosing a Dissertation Topic and Writing a Proposal Financial Support Ongoing Support Promoting Competencies

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1 Ph.D. Program at the Department of Developmental Psychology / Center for Applied Developmental Science, Institute of Psychology, University of Jena, Germany Our Ph.D. Program Applying for a Ph.D. Position Excellent students who have obtained a diploma/msc degree (or equivalent) are invited to conduct their Ph.D. studies at the Department of Developmental Psychology (DP) / Center for Applied Developmental Science (CADS). Various pathways may lead to us: via direct application, regular job postings, undergraduate work in a research project, or via recommendations. Applications are always welcome. Choosing a Dissertation Topic and Writing a Proposal Dissertations conducted at the DP / CADS aim to make a significant contribution to our understanding of human development across the life span. Ph.D. students work on a dissertation topic related to a particular research project or they may also develop their own dissertation project. As a first step in the process, Ph.D. students work on a dissertation proposal, which is reviewed several times by the dissertation advisor(s). Financial Support Students who write their dissertation proposal may be financially supported by the DP/CADS for about three months. The dissertation itself can be financed through either a scholarship (length of Ph.D. studies: years) or through research assistance in one of the DP/CADS research projects (length of Ph.D. studies: 2-3 years). The DP/CADS encourage Ph.D. students to apply for their own funding but support them regarding material expenses for their dissertation study and participation in advanced training seminars and conferences. Ongoing Support Ph.D. students are advised by experienced senior scientists (most probably head of the department and principal investigator of the research project) who work closely together with the Ph.D. student, provide feedback and support and supervise the whole dissertation process. Furthermore, Ph.D. students receive advice by experts in methods and statistics. Our Ph.D. students present regularly, typically once a semester, on the progress of their dissertation at our weekly research colloquium where they receive constructive feedback from other colloquium participants MSc students, doctoral students, assistant and full professors at the DP/CADS. All Ph.D. students have a fully equipped work space, can use literature on file at the DP/CADS, and receive all technical assistance they need for their dissertation. Promoting Competencies We aim to promote expert as well as general competencies in our Ph.D. students. This includes skills that are relevant for excellent research, such as expert knowledge in the field, an understanding of the international and interdisciplinary research 1

2 context, ethical responsibility, but also personal skills including self-regulation and flexibility, communication skills and social competencies as well as career-related competencies including an adequate preparation of the future career course beyond the dissertation. We lay particular emphasis on encouraging independence and responsibility in our Ph.D. students. Ph.D. students strengthen these competencies besides their training and education in developmental psychology by engaging in project management, teaching, and advising research assistants, tutors and sometimes MSc theses. Ph.D. students who teach receive support when it comes to selecting a course topic and adequate course design. Furthermore, Ph.D. students take part in at least one advanced training seminar per year. International and Interdisciplinary Exchange We encourage and support interdisciplinary and international cooperation of our Ph.D. students. We make this possible through stays of visiting scholars in Jena or through exchange stays of Jena Ph.D. students abroad. A considerable share of our Ph.D. students work in projects that are part of large interdisciplinary and international research consortia: (1) German National Science Foundation SFB 580 Research Consortium Societal developments after system change with sociologists and economists from Jena and Halle, (2) German National Science Foundation Priority Program Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics with psychologists and sociologists at different universities (e.g., Mannheim, Bremen, München, Bern, Bamberg), and (3) BMBF Research Consortium Migration and Societal Integration with psychologists and sociologists at universities in Germany (Bielefeld, Chemnitz, Leipzig, Mannheim) and Israel (Haifa, Tel Aviv). Finally, DP/CADS regularly invite visiting scholars and work together with researchers at various institutions including Pennsylvania State University, Tufts University, City University London, University of California, Irvine, and the University of Turin. Presentations and Publications Ph.D. students present their work to scientific audiences at large international congresses, summer schools, and smaller international conferences hosted by the DP/CADS in Jena. Typically, Ph.D. students publish at least one first-author publication during their studies. Ph.D. students and advisors work closely together planning, writing and submitting the paper. Graduation and Career Prospects Before graduation Ph.D. students receive particularly dense support from their advisors. This includes planning the dissertation committee and exam topics as well as support with exam preparations. After graduation the new Ph.D.s can count on continued support and counselling regarding their future career course, which includes recommendations to future employers, or (if appropriate) offering of a post doc position. 2

3 Our Current Ph.D. Students Nicolas A. Arnaud. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Maastricht. Dissertation topic: Succession in family businesses. Funded by Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Carolin Brand. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Konstanz and the Universidad de La Laguna, Teneriffe. Dissertation topic: Developmental timetables in adolescence and young adulthood: The role of relational ambivalence. Funded by German National Science Foundation. Sabine Büttig. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Jena,. Dissertation topic: Effects of pubertal timing on the psychosocial adjustment of young women. Funded by Federal State of Thuringia. Karoline Fabel. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Jena. Dissertation topic: Individual and social resources for coping with social change: Development and psychosocial effects. Further research interests: Acculturation and development. Funded by German National Science Foundation. Cornelia Fröhlich. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Jena. Dissertation topic: Modification of life plans in cancer patients and middle and older adulthood. Further research interests: Psychosocial adaptation processes of chronically ill persons, Affective influences on decision-making in adolescence and adulthood. Funded by Center for Applied Developmental Science. Ph. Sebastian Grümer. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Trier. Dissertation topic: Individual and social resources for coping with social change: Development and psychosocial effects. Further research interests: Sibling relations, transition from school to work. Funded by Center for Applied Developmental Science. Claudia M. Haase. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Jena and the University of California, Irvine. Dissertation topic: Agency during the transition from university to work. Further research interests: Affective influences on risk decision-making, autonomy, social change. Funded by German National Academic Foundation. Mohini Lokhande. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Trier and at the Centre Universitaire de Luxembourg. Dissertation topic: Delinquent behavior among adolescent immigrants (ethnic Germans). Funded by Cusanuswerk. Martin Obschonka. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Hamburg. Dissertation topic: Success and flop of innovative entrepreneurs, career pathways and personality characteristics of innovative entrepreneurs in Thuringia. Funded by Federal State of Thuringia. Katharina Stößel. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the Technical University of Dresden and the University of Jena. Dissertation topic: Regulation of Developmental Transitions in Second Generation Immigrants in Germany and Israel. 3

4 Further research interests: acculturation, interindividual differences in intraindividual changes, social attitudes. Funded by Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Martin Tomasik. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Berlin. Dissertation topic: Individual and social resources for coping with social change: Development and psychosocial effects. Further research interests: Life-span theory of control, motivational psychology of ontogenesis, quantitative methods of developmental psychology. Funded by German National Science Foundation. Victoria Wenzel. Born Studied psychology (MSc) at the University of Jena; Dissertation topic: Implementation and evaluation of the life skills programs IPSY + TimeWise. Funded by junior research group on prevention. Some of our Former Ph.D. Students Anneke Bühler, Ph.D. Dissertation topic: Development-oriented evaluation of a lifeskills program for substance use prevention. Now head of prevention research group, Institute for Therapy Research Munich. Ines Forkel, Ph.D. Dissertation topic: Moderators of the indirect association between economic hardship and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Now psychologist, AWO Education Counselling Hildburghausen. Dr. Muriel Helbig. Dissertation topic: To be, or not to be German, Russian, or ethnic German: Ethnic self-labeling among adolescent ethnic German immigrants. Now scientific coordinator, International Graduate College Conflict and Cooperation between Social Groups, University of Jena. PD Ph.D. Angela Ittel. Dissertation topic: Fighting with a best friend. Adolescents perceptions of conflicts with best friends. Now Visiting Professor of Educational Psychology, Technical University of Berlin. Dr. Ina Rudolph. Dissertation topic: Depressive disorders in postmenopause and the role of hormone replacement therapy. Now research associate, Jenapharm GmbH Jena. Dr. Elke Schröder. Dissertation topic: Entrepreneurial activities as career goal: Development and evaluation of a life-skills based training program for adolescents. Now research associate and coordinator of an international BMBF project at the DP/CADS. PD Dr. Beate Schwarz. Dissertation topic: Adolescent development in divorced families. Now assistant professor, Department of Developmental and Personality Psychology, University of Basel. Dr. Peter Titzmann. Dissertation topic: Differences in processes of acculturation among adolescent immigrants in Israel and Germany. Development and use of a new 4

5 instrument to assess acculturative hassles. Now research associate and coordinator of an international DIP project at the DP/CADS. Dr. Karina Weichold. Dissertation topic: Developmental pathways to adolescent substance use in times of social change in Eastern Germany. Now assistant professor and head of junior research group on prevention at the DP/CADS. January