Reflections from the N² Retreat 2025

Building a Stronger Doctoral Network in Germany

The Network of Networks N² Retreat 2025 took place on September 4–5 at the Helmholtz Headquarters in Berlin, bringing together the spokespersons from the Max Planck PhDnet (MPG): Rajalekshmi Narayana Sarma & Tarik Karakaya, Helmholtz Juniors: Denise Hoffmann, Maximilian Rohde, and Bastian Schmiedecke, and Leibniz PhD Network: Julius Petrausch and Stefanos Somatakis.
The two-day event fostered productive discussions about the future of N², focusing on collaboration, communication, and long-term organizational goals. The spokespersons worked on strategies to strengthen joint advocacy efforts for doctoral researchers across Germany’s major research institutions.

During the retreat, members of the N² Board and General Assemblies (GAs) reflected on the past and present of N², highlighting its key achievements in political engagement and community building. The sessions focused on developing strategies for the network’s future, including clearer collaboration guidelines between the three doctoral networks, improved communication structures, and a shared vision for advocacy and event planning.

Through interactive brainstorming sessions and group discussions, the spokespersons defined priorities for the next phase of N²’s development. The retreat concluded with a renewed commitment to transparency, structured planning, and mutual support across the networks.