To Be Honest Conference 2025 | Keynote Session: Navigating Uncertainty in Academia & beyond

The To Be Honest Conference 2025 opened with a session on the uncertainties of a research career. Short-term contracts, constant transitions, global instability, and the challenge of planning a life and career are realities researchers across disciplines face. Our speakers approached these topics from different angles, sharing experiences from STEM, the social sciences, and research management in Germany and the US:

Our speakers were:
1. Prof. Dr. Timo Lorenz - Junior Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology, MSB Medical School Berlin
2. Alexandria Yen, PhD - Program Director, Postdoctoral Career & Professional Development, MIT Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD)
3. Dr. Jean-Yves Tano - Head of Scientific Education & Training, Max Delbrück Center
4. Dr. Jubin Shah - Senior Application Specialist, Molecular Health
5. Prof. Dr. Carolin Krahn - Professor and Chair of Historical Musicology, University of Kassel

Elena and Martin Lichtenthaler guided the conversation throughout the session, weaving together real stories, practical strategies, and diverse viewpoints. Together, the group helped participants make sense of uncertainty, and perhaps even identify new possibilities within it.

The conference is organized by GSO - Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers, supported by AlumNode – your network by Klaus Tschira Stiftung, and made possible by funding from the Klaus Tschira Stiftung.