The FAU Award for Doctoral Supervision, initiated and managed by the Doctoral Researchers Representation (Promovierendenkonvent, ProKo) of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), recognizes and celebrates outstanding supervision of doctoral research at our university. This award shines a spotlight on supervisors who go above and beyond in supporting, mentoring, and guiding their doctoral candidates towards successful completion of their research projects and the development of their academic careers.
Why an Award for Good Doctoral Supervision?
Excellent supervision is the cornerstone of successful doctoral research. Supportive and engaged supervisors foster a positive research environment, encourage intellectual growth, and provide invaluable guidance in navigating the challenges of doctoral studies. The FAU Award for Doctoral Supervision serves several crucial purposes:
– Recognizing Excellence: It publicly acknowledges and rewards supervisors who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their doctoral students.
– Promoting Best Practices: By highlighting exemplary supervision, the award encourages other supervisors to adopt similar strategies and approaches.
– Improving the Doctoral Experience: Ultimately, the award aims to enhance the overall quality of doctoral research at FAU by fostering a culture of supportive and empowering supervision.
– Strengthening the FAU Community: By celebrating the collaborative relationship between supervisors and doctoral researchers, the award strengthens the bonds within the FAU research community.
Having such an award at a large and diverse university like FAU is particularly important. It ensures that excellent supervision is not only valued but also actively promoted across all faculties and disciplines. This contributes to a more equitable and enriching experience for all doctoral researchers, regardless of their field of study.
– All-year round – Accepting nominations from doctoral graduates
– 31 March – Nomination deadline for the award of the same year
– First half of April – Screening of nominees by ProKo
– Second half of April – Voting on awardees by ProKo
– 30 April – Transmission of awardees to the Executive Board of FAU
– May – Resolution on awardees by the Executive Board of FAU
– July – Handing out of the FAU Award for Doctoral Supervision at the university’s annual award ceremony for doctoral graduates and alumni
The FAU Award for Doctoral Supervision recognizes supervisors who demonstrate exceptional dedication to supporting and mentoring doctoral researchers. The criteria for the award are based on key strategic areas that reflect FAU’s commitment to fostering excellence in people, education, research, and outreach. These criteria are designed to guide nominations while allowing flexibility in individual cases.
1. People
– Support During the Doctorate: The supervisor should actively support doctoral researchers in their projects, addressing individual needs and goals. Accessibility for discussions and clear communication of expectations are essential.
– Career Development Beyond the Doctorate: Supervisors should provide guidance on career goals and take measures to foster professional growth and independence.
– Work Environment and Climate: A positive work culture characterized by mutual respect, open communication, and inclusivity is important. Supervisors should integrate all doctoral researchers into the academic environment.
– Discrimination-Free Environment and Work-Life Balance: Supervisors should advocate for a respectful, discrimination-free workplace and actively promote the compatibility of academic work with family life.
2. Education
– Specialized Training: Supervisors should impart domain-specific knowledge and skills while enabling participation in advanced training opportunities.
– Interdisciplinary Development: Promoting key competencies beyond research, such as teamwork, communication, and leadership skills, is highly valued.
3. Research
– Academic Excellence and Good Scientific Practice: Supervisors should encourage high-quality research outputs (e.g., publications or conference contributions) while ensuring adherence to ethical scientific practices.
– Innovative Research Leadership: Supervisors should support the use of innovative methods and foster creativity in research approaches.
4. Outreach
– Networking Within FAU: Facilitating collaboration with other researchers at FAU and encouraging participation in university-wide events strengthens academic connections.
– External Networking: Supervisors should enable participation in conferences and scientific events outside FAU while emphasizing science communication to broader audiences.
5. Additional Factors
Nominees may also be recognized for other noteworthy contributions that enhance the doctoral experience or foster academic excellence.
These criteria serve as a framework for evaluating nominations but do not impose rigid limitations. They aim to celebrate supervisors who embody the values of mentorship, collaboration, and innovation at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Once you have completed your doctorate you will receive an email from the Doctoral Researchers Representation of FAU that invites you to take part in a survey on supervision conditions and to nominate your supervisor if you deem them worthy of receiving an award for their supervision. Simply follow the procedure described in that email. Kindly note that it is not possible to submit a nomination before the completion of your doctorate.
Awardees 2025
Faculty of Medicine: PD Dr. rer. nat. Dr. habil. med. Philipp Arnold
Faculty of Natural Science: Prof. Dr. Jutta Eichler
Faculty of Philosophy with Theology: Prof. Dr. Peter Gelius
Faculty of Engineering: Prof. Dr. Lutz Schröder
Nominees 2025
Faculty of Medicine
PD Dr. Dr. habil. Philipp Arnold
Prof. Dr. Christoph Bert
Dr. Sarah Cunningham
Prof. Dr. Jessica Freiherr
PD Dr. Dr. habil. Fabian Garreis
Prof. Dr. Olaf Gefeller
Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Leven
PD Dr. Ulrich Rother
Prof. Dr. Ursula Schlötzer-Schrehardt
PD. Dr. José Ignacio Zorzin
Faculty of Sciences
Prof. Dr. Achim Bräuning
Prof. Dr. Jutta Eichler
Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Steinrück
Prof. Dr. DhC. Enrique Zuazua
Faculty of Engineering
Prof. Dr. Emanuël Habets
PD Dr.-Ing. habil. Tobias Fey
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Franke
Prof. Dr. Lutz Schröder
Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
Prof. Dr. Gerd Bayer
PD Dr. Peter Gelius
Prof. Dr. Fabian Schäfer
Prof. Dr. David du Toit
