In her previous role as head of strategy at Helmholtz Association Stephanie was one of the crucial drivers for our Leadership Academy for researchers. Building on her vast experience in research management, today she is part of the executive board of renowned ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich. She started her career as personal assistant to the president at the University of Göttingen and holds a PhD in Sociology and Esatern European History.

Kerstin Dübner-Gee is an experienced science manager, who focusses on supporting mobile researchers. As head of department in HR Devlopment & Opportunities at Max Planck Society she is responsible for establishing the Planck academy, among others.

We are grateful that Kerstin supports and develops our mission as member of the board.

Jacob Eder teaches Modern and Contemporary History at the Barenboim-Said Academy. His work focuses on the culture of remembrance, transatlantic relations, the history of anti-Semitism, the history of humanitarianism and the history of migration.

He has received numerous scholarships and fellowships, including from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Ernst Abbe Foundation, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the DAAD, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German-American Fulbright Commission and several others.

Jacob is a member of the GSO Board of Directors since 2023.

“I am very happy to bring my transatlantic experience and academic career as scholar, teacher, and administrator to
the GSO. My goal is to help young scholars enhance their opportunities and expand their vision of what they can
achieve, be it here or abroad. I also hope that as a group we might influence ongoing changes in the German higher
educational system.”

Wolfgang is one of GSO’s founders and vice chairman of the board. During his professional life he worked in different positions at Schering AG, later Bayer AG. In 2002, he worked for Schering in the Bay Area in the US. Back then, it was important to him to make it easier for German researchers abroad to return to Germany – and inform them about options in the business sector, specifically.

Today, GSO also supports non-German researchers and Wolfgang contributes to our work as feelance HR consultant.

For many years, Harald has worked as scientist and later as manager at Bayer Pharma. It is important to him to convey the message that researchers can also do research beyond academia. Since 2018 he advises biopharmaceutical companys as a freelance consultant. He shares his knowledge in our webinar about career paths in industry.

“German science and business need excellent researchers to develop solutions to the national and international challenges of a globalized society. To this end, it is essential to help foundations, universities and non-university institutions with their talent management strategies and building alumni networks in order to recruit excellent young researchers.

As a GSO member, I want to support this process and promote the conversation between ‘scientific minds’ and potential employers.”

Searching and finding high potentials is Florians speciall skill. Find out more about Florian and his company Personal Factory

Peter is one of the founding members of GSO. He has shared his knowledge about academic applications and negotiations as chancellor of Brandenburg University of Technology and director of administration of the University of the Arts Berlin. He also supports the GSO as reviewer.

“I’m really impressed by GSO’s innovative programs, the way they facilitate interdisciplinary networking and that they are so dynamically close to the realities of young researchers’ working and private lives.”

“GSO is the kind of support among equals I would have wished for at the start of my career.”

Eicke is chairman of the board. During his time as professor at UC Berkeley he noticed that young researchers abroad needed more support in learning about career paths in Germany. As one of the founders of GSO, it is important to him to better advise, connect, and empower researchers – because he belives that there are truly great career opportunities in Germany.

Eicke himself returned to Germany after 23 years in the United States as director of Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and as professor in Freiburg. Besides his engagement for the GSO, he today advocates for rebuilding solar manufacturing in Europe.

Prof. Dr. Eicke R. Weber: Prof. emerit., UC Berkeley & ALU Freiburg / Chair, European Solar Manufacturing Council ESMC

„In order to find solutions for current challenges, excellent research requires excellent researchers. Since 2003 the GSO has been supporting young researchers launching their careers – I am very happy to support that cause.”

Mridul is a Medical Doctor and scientist and currently working as postdoctoral fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. He is passionate about clinical medicine and translational research in hematology/oncology.

Also, he is co-founder of iuvando, a digital health and precision oncology start-up, building a patient-centric platform with a dedicated team to improve access to clinical trials for cancer patients.

“I am convinced that GSO’s work and engagement for researchers’ careers closes an important gap that exists despite all the science funding from the public and private sectors.”

“For me, progress in science and innovation means the interaction of people at the right time in the right place and under the right conditions. For such connections to emerge, personal skills and potential on the one hand and opportunities to contribute on the other must be recognized and made visible.

With its focus on the people behind science and its view across borders, the GSO contributes to closing this gap and acts as an enabler to shape a sustainable society.”

“Outstanding intellects are the German science system’s fundamental assets. Identifying, retaining and promoting excellent researchers as well as competent staff in science management, administration and the infrastructure sector is part of strategic and systematic talent management. This is something I fight for in both my professional and my private life. GSO does, too. GSO ensures that scientific talents who would like to do research and work in Germany receive professional advice and access to networks. GSO is majorly engaged and successful in this area, as is its innovative approach.”

“I myself decided to go into business while I was still working on my PhD thesis. It was a step based on a fair degree of ignorance, which I certainly don’t regret looking back on it now.

With its advisory expertise on the various options for researchers, GSO plays a very important role, which is why it has my support.”

Find more impressions on René’s career path in our express-interview.

“Scientists are predestined to carry out structured analysis in creative innovation fields, to test precisely, and to make decisions at the factual level. Social scientists have the expertise needed to help people and societies embrace innovations, make innovations acceptable to society and people, and evaluate which innovations we as a society use differently or which one we will not use.

These are precisely the skills that are needed for entrepreneurship, a career in business, and also urgently for government agencies. I passionately support the GSO because it helps scientists to continue their careers also in other fields in Germany. Brain Power is what we need.”

Dr. Katharina von Knop is the founder of Digital Trust Analytics GmbH. The company is the result of her scientific work on the topic of building and maintaining digital trust. She develops and optimizes digital business models to build and strengthen users’ digital trust. Here, she focuses on the decision-making patterns of people and machines. The implementation and experience ability of clearly defined ethical guidelines are essential here.

“Together with the support of major foundations in Germany, the GSO is tackling individual and structural challenges
for researchers with pioneering grant schemes and services. I believe that the GSO‘s mission to gain a deeper
understanding of international brain circulation and to translate this knowledge into programs and individual
support is timely and important. I’m honoured to be a member of the GSO Advisory Board.”