STEM part:

From Chemical Reactions to Educational Actions: My Journey in Science.

Dr. Shelley Rap (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel)

Dr. Shelley Rap is a researcher within the Chemistry Group at the Department of Science Teaching at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Dr. Rap's research aims to explore innovative methods to enhance chemistry education and integrate technology into teaching practices, with a primary focus on supporting students to become future responsible citizens involved in tackling global challenges, including climate change. Her research encompasses cutting-edge pedagogical strategies, leveraging emerging technologies, and designing enriched curricula to deepen students' understanding of chemistry concepts and their practical applications in everyday life. Dr. Rap recently received the prestigious "CCE Outstanding Early Career Researcher in Chemistry Education" Award from IUPAC.

Internazionalisation part:

International scientists and researchers at German universities: From Postdoc to professorship (InWiDeHo).

Dr. Claudia Nospickel (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD)

Dr. Claudia Nospickel is social scientist and holds a doctorate in political science on the topic of poverty in Central and Eastern Europe. Since the early 2020 she has been responsible in different sections within the DAAD.  Since 2020 she was head of section of KIWi, the Competence Centre for International Academic Cooperation at the DAAD. KIWi gives advice to German Universities on different issues concerning international higher education cooperations.

In January 2025, she will take over the position as head of section „Studies and Research“ within the strategy department at DAAD. Within this section the project “International Academics at German Universities: From Postdoc to Professorship (InWiDeHo)” was carried out in co-operation with the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) from April 2022 to August 2023. It investigated the conditions that support and make it difficult for scientists from abroad to achieve their career goal of a professorship at German universities.

Welcome Office Bochum

Dominik Kluba (Welcome Office Bochum)

Dominik Kluba is the Head of the Welcome Office in Bochum (Department for Mayoral Affairs). He finished a Master in Social Sciences (University of Warsaw) and a Master of Public Administration (University of Kassel)

Opportunities for individuals and groups (Optica student chapters) with Optica. Travel grants, fellowships, awards, networks and others.

Dr. Claus Roll (Optica Europe)

Dr. Claus Roll is the Director of Europe for Optica, which he joined at the beginning of 2020. His tasks comprise developing, building, and sustaining relationships and connections with Optica members and customers in northern Europe.

Prior to working for Optica, was working during the 20 years for several STEM publishers, managing mainly journals in various domains. This activity brought him deep insights into all aspects of the scientific publishing, including research assessment and evaluation in various countries and scientific domains.

Before joining the positions in scientific publishing, Claus obtained a PhD degree in molecular biophysics, working on structure determination of DNA helixes by NMR and molecular dynamics.

Shaping Leaders of Tomorrow: AIESEC - Impact and Opportunities

Gamze Yilmaz & Raiko Afam-Chris Ede (AIESEC)

Gamze Yilmaz is an Applied Mathematics student at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and currently serves as the Local Committee President of AIESEC in Düsseldorf. She is passionate about leadership, global exchange, and youth development, working to create opportunities for young people to grow personally and professionally.''

Driven by a desire for progress and innovation, Raiko Afam-Chris Ede empowers young leaders as the Vice President of AIESEC in Düsseldorf. His transcultural perspective challenges the common understanding of institutions, corporations & individuals and their roles in the global ecosystem. He believes that we can only address global realities, through bringing people of different educational, economic and cultural backgrounds together.

Doing a doctorate in Germany and supporting early career researchers through the RUB Research School

Dr. Christiane Wüllner (Executive Director Ruhr-University Research School)

Christiane Wüllner was co-responsible for the development of the university-wide Research School at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum until it was stabilized. She is Managing Director of the Research School, which supports academics in their career development, and is responsible for international research marketing and talent acquisition.