New offers of Jena University to support doctoral researchers with family in Corona time

The Corona pandemic is causing delays in many doctoral projects - for example, data cannot be collected, experiments cannot be continued, and changes to digital teaching formats are very time-consuming. For doctoral candidates with child(ren), additional care responsibilities in the family arise due to daycare closures and home-schooling.

The University of Jena is trying to support its doctoral candidates as much as possible during this difficult phase. A new funding scheme gives doctoral candidates with families the opportunity to receive financial support for six months to complete their doctorateExternal link. In general, all doctoral candidates with corona-related delays can apply for a six-month scholarship for the completion of their doctorateExternal link. This requires that the doctoral period previously funded by scholarships or an employment contract does not exceed 36 months. In total, a corona-related extension of one year can thus be applied for. Also the funding period of the university's own Landesgraduierten-Stipendien can be extended by one year. The German Research Foundation also allows for an extension of scholarships and project positions.

For doctoral candidates with children, the Graduate Academy offers a new course: peer coaching for parentsExternal link. In this coaching, doctoral candidates with children meet regularly in a small group and develop ideas on how to best combine doctoral research and family.

The website of the university family office offers a comprehensive overview of current regulations and counselling servicesExternal link, as well as ideas for home office and home-schooling – including tips against cabin fever, information for children about the Corona virus and links to digital sports lessons, children's audio plays and live lectures for children.