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PhD/Post-doc Matchmaking

This matchmaking event was designed to foster systematic networking for Ghanaian PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. Pursue a PhD or postdoc in Germany to enhance your career and your international network at one of the world’s leading research destinations. On Day 1, participants were invited to know the German system and opportunities for your research stays at German universities. This offered them the opportunity to learn about different paths to a PhD, funding opportunities, and hear testimonies from PhD and postdoc alumni who have recently returned from Germany. Days 2 & 3 offered virtual one-on-one meetings for potential PhD students and postdocs with representatives of German universities and non-university research organisations. With these meetings, you get to meet your potential future supervisor, find the right structured PhD programme, or find out about specific funding programmes in detail. The video calls were 20 minutes each.

© DAAD / Joshua Cleopas
Thank you very much for the invitation to the DAAD Ghana PhD & Postdoc Matchmaking Event. We were very happy to introduce our university and its research opportunities to close to 200 committed attendees.
Dr. Christiane Wüllner RUB Research School, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
The subsequent one-on-one meetings were extremely pleasant and showed how professionally everyone was prepared. We look forward to more events of this kind and hope to visit Ghana in person soon! Thank you, Lena and Felix, for the outstanding organization!
Dr. Jörn Benzinger, RUB Research School, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
I had a fruitful session with Dr Raphael-Hernandez from the University of Wurzburg. I tried over the years to get supervisors from different universities with no luck as none of them have replied to my emails. However, through the PhD match making event organised by DAAD I have met Dr Raphael-Hernandez who is interested in working with me. Thank you, DAAD!
Shika Amelordzi - Participant at the PhD/Post-doc matchmaking 2021

Registration for German institutions and/or supervisors

How to register as an institution and/or supervisor

As a German institution / graduate school coordinator / research supervisor, you are welcome to complete are registration form in order to be enlisted into our novel matchmaking event. Use this link.

Over the years, the DAAD Information Centre Accra receives several enquiries on PhD opportunities in Germany. A good number of promising PhD/Post doc candidates are left helpless trying to find their way to connect to German professors and supervisors.
This novel match-making conference is designed to first pre-select candidates interested in pursuing PhD or Post doc in Germany and then offer them the platform to showcase their profiles for prospective supervisors and graduate schools.
We expect between 100 and 150 prospective PhD and Post doc candidates to participate. We look forward to your participation.
Thank you!

Register as a PhD/Post-doc Candidate

How to register

Prospective PhD/Post-doc candidates are encouraged to register their interest via this link. Short-listed candidates will be expected to update their profile in order to make it easier to be discovered by prospective research supervisors.

Main Event Schedule

Prior to the event, all participants will use an online tool to get in touch with each other and explore whether their interests match. When filling out online profiles, participants should be as detailed as possible to match research interests closely.

To prepare for the event, please check out funding opportunities, profiles of potential host professors, and programmes available at the participating universities here:

All participating universities/organisations:

Hochschule Fulda
Ruhr-University Bochum
RWTH Aachen University
Technical University Berlin
University of Bonn
University of Freiburg
Technical University München
University of Bayreuth

PhD applicants are required to hand in a first abstract of their PhD proposal. Participation is free for all participants.

Programme ( All times are in GMT! )

Day 1
12th August 2021

Study and Research in Germany – General Information
9:10 Doing your PhD or postdoc in Germany – an Introduction
Dr. Jörn Benzinger & Dr. Christiane Wüllner, Ruhr-University Bochum

9:40 Funding opportunities
Ms. Lena Leumer, DAAD Ghana

10:10 Q & A with all presenters above

German Universities and Graduate Schools (20 minutes each)
10:30 Ruhr-University Bochum
Dr. Jörn Benzinger & Dr. Christiane Wüllner

10:50 RWTH Aachen University
Mr. Thomas Czirnich & Dr. Daniel Holder

11:10 Technical University Berlin
Ms. Sandra Hornoff

11:30 University of Bonn
Dr. Eva Youkhana & Ms. Clara Kaminsky

11:50 University of Freiburg
Ms. Katharina Aly

12:10 Technical University München
Ms. Agnieszka Slota

12:30 University of Bayreuth
Dr. Mabel Braun & Ms. Juliane Fender

12:50 Hochschule Fulda
Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Reinhard

Ghanaian Testimonials (10 minutes each)
13:10 My pathway to a PhD in Germany
Ms. Christine Bonsu, DLR Institute of Transport Research, Berlin

13:20 My pathway to a Postdoc fellowship in Germany
Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong-Manso, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana

Day 2 & 3
19th/20th August 2021
9:00 – 9:20 Welcoming of participants (Ms. Lena Leumer, DAAD)
Introduction to Pitchandmatch tool (Robert Bol, Pitchandmatch, )
9:20 – 12:00 Matchmaking Talks with German Universities
20 minute one-on-one videocalls (appointments for registered participants in advance via Pitchandmatch)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Break

13:00 – 15:00
Matchmaking Talks with German Universities

The Pitch and Match Tool

Using the Pitch and Match Tool

Using the Pitch and Match Tool

To play video, please click on image. Please note video host will have access to data. Watch on YouTube.