Steering Group

The Steering Group is the main contact between doctoral researchers and the Headquarters of Max Planck Society in Munich. They coordinate the communication within the PhDnet and outside of it. The members of the steering group are elected annually at the General Meeting and assume office each year on January 1st.

Some of the main tasks are managing the representation of PhDnet within the MPS and to the public, problem-solving, overseeing the work of the PhDnet working groups and voluntary involvement in MPS wide working groups (e.g., together with the GA).

In addition to the fixed responsibilities of each office, the SG members adopt responsibilities for other organs: each Working Group is supported by at least one SG member.

Spokesperson

Hang Liu

The Spokesperson represents and manages the PhDnet, and heads the Steering Group (SG). One of the main tasks is to communicate within the network and with external parties, in particular, maintain good relations with the President and other official organs of the MPS. The Spokesperson shall report on the work of the SG in front of MPS doctoral researchers during the General Meeting. Next to the Deputy spokesperson, the Spokesperson represents the PhDnet within N2, the network of networks.

hang.liu[at]mpi-bn.mpg.de

Deputy Spokesperson

Alina Fahrenwaldt

The Deputy Spokesperson works closely together with the Spokesperson and takes on the responsibilities of the Spokesperson when the Spokesperson is temporarily unable to act. Next to the Spokesperson, the Deputy Spokesperson represents the PhDnet within N2, the network of networks.
An additional task of the Deputy Spokesperson is to manage the funds of the PhDnet as Financial Officer (Zeichnungsbefugte/r), and report on their use at the General Meeting.

fahrenwaldt[at]coll.mpg.de

General Secretary

Anna-Dorothea Heller

The General Secretary oversees the core administrative tasks of the PhDnet, including the elections of local PhD Representatives. For assistance with these tasks, the General Secretary coordinates the Secretary Group.

However, unlike other Working Group coordinators, the General Secretary is elected by the delegates of the General Meeting as part of the Steering Group.

anna-d.heller[at]mpikg.mpg.de

BM section representative

Maria-Biance Leonte

The BM Section Representative represents the diverse scientific disciplines of MPS doctoral researchers in the Biology and Medicine (BM) section. The BM Section Representative is the primary point of contact in the Steering Group for PhD Representatives belonging to the respective institutes and should thus maintain contact with those Representatives.

mleonte[at]neuro.mpg.de

CPT Section representative

Jonas Sinjan

The CPT Section Representative represents the diverse scientific disciplines of MPS doctoral researchers in the Chemistry, Physics and Technology (CPT) section. The CPT Section Representative is the primary point of contact in the Steering Group for PhD Representatives belonging to the respective institutes and should thus maintain contact with those Representatives.

sinjan[at]mps.mpg.de

HS section representative

Danielle Pullan

The HS Section Representative represents the diverse scientific disciplines of MPS doctoral researchers in the Human Science (HS) section. The HS Section Representative is the primary point of contact in the Steering Group for PhD Representatives belonging to the respective institutes and should thus maintain contact with those Representatives.

pul[at]mpifg.de

The Steering Group consists of a spokesperson, three representatives for the different sections (BM/CPT/HS), the deputy spokesperson (financial officer) and the general secretary. The members of our current Steering Group are:

Agenda of Steering Group 2022

With the new year, the elected representatives of PhDnet have changed, forming a new Steering Group for 2022. As your Steering Group, we advocate for around 5000 doctoral researchers working within the Max Planck Society, representing DRs’ interests, and deeply collaborating with the General Administration of MPS and other representative bodies.

In 2022, we have three key goals:

Improving Working Conditions

• Advocating for 4-year minimum contract duration, establishing criteria for contract extensions
• Seeking solutions to transition external stipends into contracts, so that all MPS-affiliated DRs have equal levels of compensation and security
• Encouraging DRs to take advantage of the 30 holidays that are included in their contracts

Better Support Structures

• Continuing collaboration with General Administration on smooth onboarding, including information about diversity, (prevention of) power abuse, mental health, and PhDnet
• Improvement and propagation of supervision agreements that describe expectations and obligations of DRs and their supervisors
• Consistent implementation of thesis advisory committees (TACs) including 360° supervision assessments
• Supporting our increasingly diverse academic community through initiatives like the Safer Spaces program

Enhancing Connections

• Promoting communication channels between the PhDnet Steering Group, representatives from each institute, and the larger population of doctoral researchers
• Establishing stronger links of doctoral researchers between institutes and within sections of the MPS
• Improved social media presence for PhDnet

We are always open for input on any topic! For this, questions, and advice don't hesitate to contacts us via steering.group@phdnet.mpg.de

We are looking forward to an interactive year!