TU9, the Alliance of leading Technical Universities in Germany, will be represented at the Annual Conference of the German Academic International Network (GAIN) in San Francisco from August 21 to 23, 2026. In discussion panels, workshops, lunch sessions and at the Talent Fair, TU9 associates will provide advice on funding opportunities and career paths at TU9 Universities.

Events 

An overview of all TU9 activities is provided below. Events with English titles will be held in English.

Please check the GAIN26 website for the latest program updates.

Friday, August 21, 2026, 3.30–4.45 p.m.

“Fachforum Biowissenschaften und Medizin”

The goal of the forum is to provide guidance on the diverse career prospects in the life sciences by highlighting exemplary career paths and to demonstrate ways to balance clinical and scientific work. Among other guests, the TU9 Alliance will be represented by Dr. Dominik Baumgarten, Officer for Recruiting & Strategic Partnerships at TU Braunschweig.

Saturday, August 22, 2026, 10.00–11.15 a.m.

“Einblicke in Berufungsverfahren – Dos and Don‘ts”

How do appointment procedures actually work? In this workshop, members of university executive boards provide insights into professorial appointment procedures and interviews and discuss the dos and don'ts with participating postdoctoral researchers. Among others, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Oechsner, Vice President for Research at TU Darmstadt, and Dr. Bettina Wagner, Managing Director of Ingenium, the umbrella organisation for promoting early career researchers at TU Darmstadt, will participate. 

“Moving to Germany for Research? Discover EURAXESS Support”

Germany is a leading European destination for research and innovation, offering excellent career opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities. However, navigating the administrative, legal and practical aspects of relocating can be complex. This workshop, offered by EURAXESS Germany, is designed to equip international researchers with the essential knowledge and resources needed to successfully transition to the German academic landscape. Oliver Kaas, Advisor for Internationally Mobile Researchers, and Katja Rothhaas, Head of Appointment Management Department, both from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), will participate. 

"Rückkehrstrategien aus erster Hand"

Re-entering the German academic system after several years as a postdoctoral researcher abroad is often associated with complex circumstances. How do selection processes for junior research group leader positions and professorships work? In this workshop the panelists, including Prof. Dr. Carolin Schneider, professor at RWTH Aachen University, will report on selection and appointment procedures and answer practical questions. 

Saturday, August 22, 2026, 12.30–2.00 p.m.

The lunch session offers the opportunity to get into contact with different representatives from the German Research Community, for example TU Dresden, KIT, University of Stuttgart and the TU9 Berlin Office.

Saturday, August 22, 2026, 2.00–3.15 p.m.

“Unlocking Talent: Gleichstellung auf dem Weg zur Professur – Strukturen, Maßnahmen und Perspektiven”

This workshop deals with the role of equality policies in the scientific environment in Germany. Despite high numbers of female graduates, the amount of women is shrinking along the following career paths. Next to several offerings by HRK and DFG, the German federal and Länder governments initiated the Professorinnenprogramm 2030 to offer young female researchers support in career planning. The session will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector University Culture and Internationalization at TU Dresden.

“New Career Models, New Governance Structures: Current Transformations in German Higher Education”

From a German perspective, terms from the Anglo-American higher education and research system are frequently used, even though the institutional realities they describe often differ substantially. Concepts such as tenure track, lecturer, and the departmental model are just a few examples that can lead to misunderstandings when individuals transition into the German system. The frameworks developed by the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) provide an important starting point for promoting greater consistency within parts of the German system, which Universities across Germany have already begun implementing, albeit within diverse governance structures. Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig, will be in attendance .

“Research Ecosystems for Societal Impact: Science Transfer for Society”

This interactive workshop explores how modern universities translate scientific knowledge into societal benefit. Beyond technology transfer and start-up creation, science transfer now encompasses public engagement, policy influence, culture, and industry collaboration. Universities operate at the intersection of research, entrepreneurship, science communication, participatory research, and interdisciplinary art-science-technology work. Drawing on perspectives from leading German research institutions across two regions, the session examines how universities strengthen connections between scientific discovery, societal needs, and global innovation networks. Prof. Dr. Fatma Deniz, President of TU Berlin, and Alexander Moritz, Liaison Manager & Advisor at TU Berlin, will be among the participants.

Sunday, August 23, 2026, 09.00–10.15 a.m.

“Career Development in a Challenging Geopolitical Environment”

Academic career planning is often international in nature, and stays abroad can play a decisive role, particularly with regard to appointments to professorships. Currently, however, international relations are changing at an unusually rapid pace. Partner countries that were considered reliable are undergoing changes in (higher education) policy, & some countries are (temporarily) difficult or impossible to travel to. Technical research faces challenges such as dual use or technology transfer between different legal systems. Humanities & social sciences, on the other hand, may be affected by political changes that conflict with academic freedom. Early career researchers are faced with the question of how they can plan their careers in the most resilient way possible against this backdrop. The workshop offers perspectives from universities & research institutions from different parts of Germany & their respective approaches to dealing with a politically volatile scientific landscape. Representing the TU9 Universities: Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig, Prof. Dr. Peter Middendorf, Rector of the University of Stuttgart, Prof. Dr. Fatma Deniz, President of TU Berlin, and Prof. Dr. Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector University Culture and Internationalization at TU Dresden.

“From Lab to Leadership – Die Bedeutung guter Führung in der Wissenschaft”

How does leadership in science (professor, junior research group leader positions) differ from managing a scientific organization (university, research institution/business). In addition, the session will target specific challenges and differences in leadership culture of both countries (Germany/USA) and highlight strategies to deal with them. The session is organized by three representatives from TU Dresden: Prof. Dr. Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector University Culture and Internationalization, Peter Rosenbaum, Head of International Office, and Tom Siegel, CEO TrustLab Inc. will moderate.

„Individuelle Karrierewege in der Wissenschaft – aktive Gestaltung von Karrierephasen und Übergängen unter Berücksichtigung von Fördermöglichkeiten“

Working in groups, participants of this interactive workshop will determine essential steps for a career path in science. This session focusses on career phases after obtaining the doctorate and the periods in between and includes different career paths between science and industry as well as national and international funding opportunities. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Kramer, Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation at Technical University of Munich will be one of the attending participants of this workshop. 

“Navigating the Path to Group Leader in Germany: Facts, Myths and Advice”

Leading your own research group is often seen as a key step toward a professorship in Germany. But in reality, the path is rarely straightforward. Requirements vary across programs, expectations differ between universities and non-university research institutions, and tenure-track options can be difficult to navigate. In some cases, careers develop along less conventional, individual paths. This workshop is for researchers preparing for a next step into group leadership or similar positions. Prof. Dr. Carolin Schneider, Professor at RWTH University, will join the discussion with her expert knowledge.

Sunday, August 23, 2026, 11.15 a.m.–12.30 p.m.

“Professorship Appointment Procedures: Dos and Don‘ts”

This TU9 Workshop offers insights into the requirements and the process of appointment procedures at (technical) universities. How do I successfully apply for a professorship? What steps in the process do I need to follow? What additional qualifications relating to global challenges and interdisciplinary research projects are advantageous? What strategic significance do diversity, equality, internationality and non-linear career paths have in appointment procedures? The panel includes Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig and TU9 Co-President, and Prof. Dr. Volker Epping, President of Leibniz University Hannover. Dr. Inken Dose, Science Manger and TU9 Deputy Head, and Dr. Friederike Schröder, Managing Director of German U15, will moderate the session.

“Excellence Strategy: Opportunities and Prospects in the Excellence Clusters Program”

In January 2026, 70 Excellence Clusters started as centers of cutting-edge research in Germany. In the coming years, these clusters will fill numerous positions — from doctoral researcher posts to group leader roles and professorships — in an international competition. At the same time, Excellence Clusters offer a wide range of collaboration opportunities for researchers in Germany and abroad. The workshop will discuss opportunities for participation in Clusters of Excellence—also in the context of transatlantic cooperation—and highlight the opportunities that this program offers, particularly for researchers at early career stages. One of the participating experts will be Prof. Dr. Peter Middendorf, Rector of the University of Stuttgart. 

“Leading with Excellence: Women and Leadership in Academia”

The session will explore university leadership with a focus on strategic decision-making processes, institutional renewal, and the evolving challenges of maintaining and building excellence in higher education. Drawing perspectives from both sides of the Atlantic, this conversation will explore how different leadership experiences contribute to excellence and go beyond conventional inclusion debates to ask a fundamental question: Does representation of women in leadership merely reflect change or does it actively transform the future of academia? Among the panelists will be Prof. Dr. Fatma Deniz, President of TU Berlin.

“There and Back Again – Personal Insights into Navigating Transatlantic Careers”

This interactive workshop offers personal insights of high-level research managers from diverse Helmholtz entities as well as of distinguished researchers from Berkeley Lab into how to best navigate transatlantic career pathways in science. The speakers will share their experiences of building a career in both Germany and the United States, highlighting opportunities in academia and beyond, one of them being Prof. Dr. Oliver Kraft, Vice President Academic Affairs at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). 

“Generative KI im Publizieren und Peer Review: Erlaubt, Sinnvoll, Riskant?!”

Generative AI changes the process of scientific publication and invites questions on transparency, authorship and good scientific practice. The workshop provides practical orientation about guide lines, application and risks of AI usage in manuscripts, project proposals and peer review processes. Aimed at researchers, reviewers and editors, the session illustrates permitted application, mandatory transparency and regulations while using artificial intelligence. The workshop will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Kramer, Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation at Technical University of Munich.

At the Talent Fair, eight TU9 Universities will be represented: TU Berlin (booth no. 37/28), TU Braunschweig (no. 55), TU Darmstadt (no. 31/32), TU Dresden (no. 23), Leibniz University Hannover (no. 46), KIT (Nr. 21), Technical University of Munich (no. 27) und University of Stuttgart (no 22).

TU9-PM GAIN26

GAIN26 website