Being a doctoral student – an exciting job

What kind of doctoral positions has been announced?
– They are within the subjects African languages, Latin, Sinology or Slavic languages with a focus on Slavic medieval studies. As a doctoral student, you are a part of the department's research environment and pursue postgraduate studies. You apply with a dissertation project that you want to carry out during your time as a doctoral student – something that is so important and interesting that you want to work on it for four years!

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Four years is a long time, how do you keep up your interest and motivation?
– You will need to have a strong interest in your research, because the dissertation project is your main task. And a doctoral position gives you the opportunity to delve into a subject in a way you might not be able to do later in your career. But I want to dispel the myth of research as a calling or a passion. It can easily lead to stress and a feeling of inadequacy the days when you don’t feel "called", but rather see it as a job.

– Then there are a lot of other things in addition to research. Many of our doctoral students teach in their subjects. And teaching, and also seminars, conferences and courses you attend together with your doctoral student colleagues can help to keep your motivation going.

You have been a doctoral student yourself – why did you become a researcher?
– I enjoyed language and literature early on in my studies – not least writing essays! And it was when I wrote my master's thesis about a Japanese-German writer that one of my teachers encouraged me to apply for a doctoral position. I'm very happy about that today, because I like my job.

When you were a doctoral student, what did you enjoy the most and what was the most difficult part?
– What I enjoyed most was, besides the writing itself, that I got the chance to be a part of different networks, to travel and discuss my project with other doctoral students and researchers. For example, I was a guest doctoral student in Hamburg for six months. For me, the most difficult thing was that I was so self-critical. I had a hard time trusting that what I wrote was good enough. With time I have become a little kinder to myself.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a doctoral student?
– Not to get stuck in one place but dare to move to other countries, universities and environments during the study period. It’s also important to find a balance between being determined and focused on what you want to do and at the same time being able to absorb constructive criticism and the feedback you get along the way.

Text: Janna Roosch