navigare - Career Coaching 2025

Promoting Gender Equity in International Research Careers

navigare – Career Coaching is designed for women, trans, inter, and non-binary researchers considering a career in science.

Within the program, our main objective is to support you formulate your own career goals and to help you prepare and position yourself for a career in an international academic context.

Throughout the program, you will develop key career management skills and reflect on the science system itself and the gender and diversity specific demands it places on you as a researcher.

In an international and interdisciplinary group of participants, you will have the opportunity to learn with and from each other as well as:

develop your own skills profile and shape your career more strategically
reflect on (in)formal barriers you might face in the academic system
formulate your needs in terms of your work-life balance – develop your own networking strategies
explore your understanding of leadership and develop leadership skills
learn how to establish constructive communication and conflict resolution
earn how to foster collaboration in international team constellations

navigare flyer

program schedule

Planning a scientific career in an international context

Intensive research and teaching, collaborating with international partners from different disciplines, as well as a vivid, flexible, and cross-cultural working environment are important motivations for a rewarding career in science.

At the same time, you have probably experienced that working in an (foreign) academic system leads to many challenges. These include different (gender) role-expectations, intercultural relations, the understanding of career perspectives, and structural differences in the higher education system. In the context of high mobility requirements, an academic career places special demands on scientists with family responsibilities or with special needs.

Furthermore, outstanding scientific qualifications alone are often not sufficient to pursue a career in academia successfully. Networks and informal support still play a crucial role, yet they are not available for everyone in the same way.

Throughout the navigare program, you will learn strategies for actively developing your academic career together with a group of peers from different faculties and research groups, and you will have the opportunity to build a strong network for mutual exchange and support with your fellow participants.

Entrance requirements

navigare is open for women early career researchers (PhDs/post-docs) aiming for a career in academia and who belong to one of the supporting institutions.

To participate, we ask you to engage in the program with:

commitment to develop your career in academia
high motivation to learn within a group
serious willingness to reflect on gender and diversity biases in science
sufficient time resources for binding participation

navigare was designed in the idea of promoting women in science and research in 2015. We understand woman as a gendered identity position that comprises a variety of experiences and life plans. We would like to make the program accessible to as many interested people as possible. Anyone who identify themselves, are defined or seen as a woman as well as persons who identify themselves as trans*, inter* and non-binary who can locate themselves in this context are welcome to apply for participationmia and who belong to one of the supporting institutions.

Trainer

Dr. Christine Kohistani is a consultant, trainer, senior coach (DGfC) and partner of SAMIN.WORLD in Duesseldorf, Germany. She has extensive international experience working in academia and industry, and is dedicated to supporting change-makers in sustainable skills development.

Application procedure

1. Check with your program coordinator or Dr. Lisa Spanka to make sure your expenses are covered and complete the application form to attend the "Information & Orientation Workshop".

2. Attend the "Information & Orientation Workshop" to learn more about the goals and content of the program and to meet the trainer, Dr. Christine Kohistani.

3. For a binding commitment to participate in the program, please register by contacting Dr. Lisa Spanka within one week after attending the "Information & Orientation Workshop".

Visit our website for more program details and information on the application process:

www.uni-bremen.de/en/navigare-career-coaching