Missing
the Zukunftskolleg?

Jacob Bloomfield
Postdoctoral Fellow, Literature

I have benefited greatly from the Zukunftskolleg’s support. One important benefit I will highlight here is the Senior Fellowship programme. The programme enabled me to be mentored by Professor Eric Lott (CUNY Graduate Center). Professor Lott offered me indispensable advice while he was a Senior Fellow at the Zukunftskolleg and, importantly, the Senior Fellowship initiated an abiding professional relationship between Professor Lott and myself that continues today.

Gabriella Gall
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

I was free to follow my own research programme, even though I had to change my research completely, as all the things I had originally planned failed due to outside circumstances.

Violeta Ivanova-Rohling
Postdoctoral Fellow, Physics

Most importantly, the Zukunftskolleg made my highly interdisciplinary research project possible by funding it. Consequently, I have benefited from a very fruitful collaboration with my host, Professor Burkard. The Zukunftskolleg made it possible for me to start my grant as a mother of two very young children by providing daycare opportunities that were otherwise not available. The Zukunftskolleg provided me with sufficient funding for many conferences and research visits, helping me to grow my network and gain some visibility as a researcher. In addition to research, I had the opportunity to teach courses and seminars. Moreover, I gained important experience and insights into academic life by serving on various committees and participating in the selection of new Zukunftskolleg fellows. At the Zukunftskolleg, I have greatly enjoyed and benefited from the day-to-day communication with diverse, creative and motivated colleagues. I was significantly helped by receiving support during the COVID-19 pandemic, including financial support in the form of extensions. For me, a very important Zukunftskolleg programme is the “+1 year” programme, which provides various support measures for writing grant proposals and affords an extra year of funding when submitting such a proposal. This programme made my current grant from the German Research Foundation possible. 

Noelia Martínez-Doallo
Postdoctoral Fellow, Law

The main benefit has been to conduct financially supported research abroad. I have also taught at the Department of Law, which has been a good opportunity to enhance my university teaching experience and my track record in general.

At the Jour fixe, I had the priceless opportunity to get to know fantastic scholars from a variety of disciplines, which permitted me to broaden my perspective and address my own research question from different angles.

Being a member of the ZuKo EC really improved my experience and insights regarding the administrative aspects of the university. I am now in a better position to tackle future tasks of this sort.

In addition, I joined the expert groups of two of the European alliances in which the University of Konstanz is participating – namely, Re:ERUA and EUniWell. This provided me with further international exposure and contacts.

Daniela Rößler
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

To stick with the garden imagery, I found the perfect spot in the garden to grow. And leaving the imagery: the ZuKo provided me with space as well as financial and emotional support to pursue my research, often making the impossible possible. The ZuKo allowed me to really act and work as an independent researcher leading a small group. But it did so much more than that. Funding our recent exhibition, providing support for my students, the ZuKo has been nothing but wonderful.

Nihan Toprakkiran
Postdoctoral Fellow, Politics and Public Administration

I had a lot of flexibility in shaping my research agenda and access to research funding at an early career stage, which was very helpful. I also enjoyed the opportunity to get involved in administration through the EC and learned a lot about the functioning of the German academic system thanks to that.

Carolin Antos-Kuby
Research Fellow, Philosophy

The ZuKo offers an environment that is much richer than the usual focus on (only) research and perhaps teaching. This is in many aspects positive, but it can also happen that you fall behind with your research and publications because of that. I think it would be helpful to offer measures that support your connection with the research structure of your own subject area, i.e. regular meetings with the local host (also to ensure better integration into other departments), retreats or writing groups where fellows come together to write papers or applications, etc.

Ariane Bertogg
Postdoctoral Fellow, History and Sociology

Sometimes, it has been challenging to live up to the expectations of participating in all events – formal and informal at the different levels and institutions (including the department, the cluster).

Jacob Bloomfield
Postdoctoral Fellow, Literature

I began my fellowship in July 2020 and struggled to carry out my research in 2020-2022 due to COVID-related restrictions. The Zukunftskolleg was supportive throughout this period, helping me to navigate visa application issues and giving me the opportunity to extend my fellowship to make up for lost time, in addition to other means of support. The Zukunftskolleg’s administrative team has always been exceedingly helpful when I have sought their assistance during times of hardship.

Gabriella Gall
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

Applying for additional funding or making use of the Zukunftskolleg’s internal programmes turned out to be quite a frustrating exercise in two out of three cases. For instance, it felt like a lot of the information that the Executive Committee wanted was not asked for initially, or crucial information on decision-making was out of date and not available upon application.

Violeta Ivanova-Rohling
Postdoctoral Fellow, Physics

I have faced multiple obstacles during my fellowship, including COVID lockdowns, and being at the time a mother of very young children, however, all of them were overcome with the help of the Zukunftskolleg.

Noelia Martínez-Doallo
Postdoctoral Fellow, Law

Moving abroad is always hard, yet it was a price I was prepared to pay. While language could be seen as a difficulty, I rather see it as an opportunity not only to learn it but also to improve my communicative and social skills overall. Now, I feel in a much better position to address future professional challenges both in my home country and abroad. Personally speaking, being separated from my family was very hard.

Daniela Rößler
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

As in every university, space is a big issue, and the University of Konstanz is no different. However, constant new constructions, re-allocations of rooms and having to move spiders and students from A-B multiple times has been really disruptive for our experiments. This, however, has nothing to do with the Zukunftskolleg.
I would not call this an obstacle or problem, but I did struggle with the interdisciplinarity and just never really found a way to work in an interdisciplinary way during my time at the ZuKo.

Nihan Toprakkiran
Postdoctoral Fellow, Politics and Public Administration

The main problem was not having a longer time perspective in the fellowship. Publishing doctoral work while carrying out a completely new project and starting with third-party funding applications at an early stage of the fellowship created priorities that were difficult to reconcile.

Carolin Antos-Kuby
Research Fellow, Philosophy

Better opportunities to interact with Zukunftskolleg alumni.

Ariane Bertogg
Postdoctoral Fellow, History and Sociology

The Zukunftskolleg would stand on a firmer footing and could implement its remit even better if it were permanently financed.

Jacob Bloomfield
Postdoctoral Fellow, Literature

The Zukunftskolleg could do more to help fellows settle into life at the university and in the city. For example, perhaps at the beginning of each term, the Zukunftskolleg could provide a formal forum for fellows to meet faculty members and postgraduates from the rest of the university, and vice versa. I found it difficult to register for a German language course. The Zukunftskolleg could provide clearer information and encouragement regarding German language course offerings from the start of the fellowship.

Gabriella Gall
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

I would suggest that all the forms needed to apply for additional research funding, invite Senior Fellows, etc. should be overhauled and updated.

Violeta Ivanova-Rohling
Postdoctoral Fellow, Physics

One aspect I would improve is providing even more coaching and information on the academic career path to tenure in German academia for the two-year fellows.   

Noelia Martínez-Doallo
Postdoctoral Fellow, Law

I would like to see the ZuKo better integrated in the university as a whole. Ideally, the ZuKo should be understood as the heart of the university by the community because it not only fosters internationalization but is also a place to reflect about science in a unique manner. 

Daniela Rößler
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

Move the Y building closer to Z! No, but honestly, I would not change a thing about the ZuKo.

Nihan Toprakkiran
Postdoctoral Fellow, Politics and Public Administration

I would improve the structural integration of fellows within their departments and career planning support.

Carolin Antos-Kuby
Research Fellow, Philosophy

The diverse meta-discussions about and insights into the aims, methods, language or responsibilities in science and academia that took place at the ZuKo have shaped my idea of being a scientist. They will continue to do so in my further career.

Ariane Bertogg
Postdoctoral Fellow, History and Sociology

I will never forget my time at the Zukunftskolleg because of the inclusive and genuinely appreciative and supportive environment, not only concerning the fellows as researchers but also as human beings with unique ideas and personalities. And also the central office without which things wouldn’t go as smoothly.

Jacob Bloomfield
Postdoctoral Fellow, Literature

My Zukunftskolleg Postdoctoral Fellowship has constituted the pinnacle of my fledgling academic career. Highlights of my fellowship have included, but not been limited to: the publication of a book based on my doctoral studies; research and writing for my second academic monograph (under contract), based on my postdoctoral project; securing third-party funding for my research; greatly expanding my international academic network; and consistently engaging both specialists and non-specialists in my research. My colleagues at the Zukunftskolleg have all been uniquely supportive, wise and affable.

Gabriella Gall
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

I will remember the ZuKo as the place that gave me the freedom to follow my own independent research.

Violeta Ivanova-Rohling
Postdoctoral Fellow, Physics

I will never forget the Zukunftskolleg as a place of unique support for all aspects of an early career researcher’s life and the inspiring scientific and personal communication with other Zukunftskolleg fellows and staff. I would like to express my gratitude to the Zukunftskolleg programme!

Noelia Martínez-Doallo
Postdoctoral Fellow, Law

I have many good memories of the ZuKo. From the scientific point of view, I would highlight the scientific retreat in which I could participate. The research time there was particularly fruitful, since I managed to finish a paper that was finally published in the European Journal of Health Law (h-index 24).

Daniela Rößler
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology

I could never forget the Zukunftskolleg and all the people there, including ones no longer working at the Zukunftskolleg such as Anda and Daniela – it was such a warm welcome, such a fantastic time and nothing but support during the most important time in my career development. I will never forget that. Thank you!

Nihan Toprakkiran
Postdoctoral Fellow, Politics and Public Administration

I will remember my time at the Zukunftskolleg with all the interesting people I met there and all the interesting (scientific as well as non-scientific) conversations I had.