habilitation vs dissertation

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Habilitation and equivalent qualification

The German "Habilitation" serves as evidence of an individual's capability of researching independently and of teaching in a certain subject area. Traditionally in Germany, a habilitation serves as a formal qualification needed to become a university professor. Along with the habilitation, one is awarded teaching qualification (Lehrbefähigung) and (upon request) a teaching license (Lehrbefugnis). For a professorship at a university of applied science, there is no need for habilitation.

As an alternative to habilitation, there are other options to qualify for the position of university professor (see here ). If you aspire to become a university professor, you should find out how important the habilitation is within your discipline. In some disciplines, most newly appointed university professors did not do a habilitation, whereas in other disciplines it is almost impossible to get a professorship without habilitation. Only with the discipline-specific knowledge you can decide whether or not you would like to complete a habilitation.

If you would like to work on a habilitation, you should have a professor who supports your plan. This relationship is typically not as close as it was during the doctoral phase.

For the habilitation, you must complete both written (habilitation thesis; cumulative work, if allowed) and oral tasks (an academic talk with colloquium, public talk). Specific regulations about the habilitation can be found in the faculty-specific regulations of the university's Regulations for habilitation External link (in German).

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Dissertations, Habilitation Theses, Other Qualification Theses

What are the particularities to be considered when publishing a dissertation, a habilitation thesis or any other qualification thesis?

Dissertations

Habilitation theses, other qualification theses.

In order to fulfill the publication requirement for your dissertation, you have the choice between several publication types. One possibility is the electronic publication of your dissertation on OPUS. Further possible publication types

To publish your dissertation via OPUS , please proceed as follows:

• Please create a PDF file , preferably a PDF/A file . In doing so, please also observe the other technical requirements .
• Please settle copyright and licensing issues so that no third party rights conflict with the publication.
• To be able to publish your dissertation on OPUS, a registration under "My OPUS" is required.
• If you do not have an account yet, you can register under "New user? ..." with your e-mail address.
• Please enter in the online form all necessary information describing the document and upload the corresponding file(s).
• At the end you have to accept the licensing terms. This will send the document to us.
• In order to be able to publish your dissertation, please also send us the completed and signed licensing terms (DE) afterwards.

A curriculum vitae does not have to be published in the dissertation (see Doctoral Degree Regulations (PromO) Sec. 13, par. 3, cl. 1). Especially in the case of an electronic publication we recommend not doing so for reasons of privacy. Please remove the CV, if necessary, and adapt the table of contents accordingly before uploading the file. Deletion is no longer possible after the publication.

After you have uploaded your work and we have formally reviewed it, you will receive feedback from us if everything is in order from our point of view.

If changes need to be made, we can refer the document back to you and you can make the correction. Please note that changes are no longer possible after publication.

If everything is in order, you can have the 6 printed copies of the dissertation prepared that must be submitted in addition to the electronic version. Please note the guidelines for the outer form .

The online and the printed version must match exactly in order to ensure the correct citability of your work. This means that also the formatting and pagination must be identical. Therefore, please print only the final PDF file and not the manuscript from Word, InDesign or LaTeX to avoid differing formatting, breaks, etc. If the printer makes changes to the file, e.g. inserts or removes blank pages or even changes pagination, please ask for the corresponding file and inform us about it.

To submit the printed copies and the corresponding documents please contact the Team Publication Services (T3) of the University Library.

Further information on the submission and further procedure

After clearance of your dissertation by the dean or the chairperson of the doctoral committee, you will automatically be notified by email that your document has now been published.

Habilitation theses written at the University of Stuttgart are to be published as well (see Habilitation Regulations (HabilO) Sec. 12, par.1, cl. 1). As for dissertations, you also have the choice between several publication types here. One possibility is the electronic publication of your habilitation thesis on OPUS. Other possible publication types are the release through a publishing house, as a self-print, within an institution series or as a cumulative habilitation thesis.

To publish your habilitation thesis electronically via OPUS , please proceed as follows:

• To be able to publish your habilitation thesis on OPUS, a registration under "My OPUS" is required.
• In order to be able to publish your habilitation thesis, please also send us the completed and signed licensing terms (DE) afterwards.

A curriculum vitae does not have to be published in the habilitation thesis. Especially in the case of an electronic publication we recommend not doing so for reasons of privacy. Please remove the CV, if necessary, and adapt the table of contents accordingly before uploading the file. Deletion is no longer possible after the publication.

If everything is in order, you can have the 5 printed copies of the habilitation thesis prepared that must be submitted in addition to the electronic version.

The online and print versions must match exactly in order to ensure the correct citability of your work. This means that also the formatting and pagination must be identical. Therefore, please print only the final PDF file and not the manuscript from Word, InDesign or LaTeX to avoid differing formatting, breaks, etc. If the printer makes changes to the file, e.g. inserts or removes blank pages or even changes pagination, please ask for the corresponding file and inform us about it.

After the clearance of your habilitation thesis by the dean or the chairperson of the habilitation committee, you will automatically be notified by email that your document has now been published.

Students of the University of Stuttgart can also publish their own qualification theses (bachelor’s and master’s theses, etc.) on OPUS. It is required that the publication is approved by the supervisor .

To publish your qualification thesis via OPUS , please proceed as follows:

• To be able to publish your qualification thesis on OPUS, a registration under "My OPUS" is required.
• In order to be able to publish your qualification thesis, please also send us the completed and signed licensing terms (DE) afterwards. Please note that your supervisor must also sign on the form.

As soon as we have received all required data and documents in full, your qualification thesis will be released after a formal review by employees of the University Library.

If changes need to be made , we refer the document back to you so that you can make the necessary corrections. You can then upload the document again.

After publication , you will automatically be notified via email that your document has now been released.

University of Stuttgart Library

Open access team, holzgartenstr. 16, 70174 stuttgart.

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How is European habilitation viewed in the US?

There is something called a habilitation * in Poland, Germany, Austria, and a number of other European countries.

How is a European habilitation viewed by people in the United States?

* "Habilitation is a qualification required in order to conduct self-contained university teaching, and to obtain a professorship in many European countries. Despite changes implemented in European higher-education systems consequent to the Bologna Process, habilitation is the highest qualification issued through the process of a university examination, and remains a core concept of scholarly careers in these countries ."

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• 3 I would guess hiring in the US would look at your publications and letters or recommendation, but not your habilitation (and not even your Ph.D.). –  GEdgar Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 17:20
• 2 @GEdgar, looking at the publications, teaching experience etc. is more or less identical to looking at the habilitation, at least in Germany. –  Snijderfrey Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 18:04
• You are asking two questions, and it is not clear whether, and how, they are related. Or is your first question: How is a European habilitation considered in the US? –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 20:01
• 1 @user151413, Yes. That is the question. –  user366312 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 20:41
• 5 The role of a habilitation is hugely dependent on your field of study. In the sciences, the habilitation is a dying breed. (If you apply to a job that requires it, you will typically staple together you post-Ph.D. publications and submit this in lieu, which will almost invariably work.) In the humanities, the "second book" (after the Ph.D. thesis) kind of lingers on. –  Stephan Kolassa Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 16:58

4 Answers 4

An up-front comment : This answer has managed to attract a fair number of downvotes, as well as several very helpful follow-up comments (which have since been moved to chat ). One hypothesis offered by a commenter for why so many have chosen to cast downvotes is that my answer maybe too focused on just one field (economics, which happens to be my field) while failing to explain what a habilitation is. Well, the question was not about what a habilitation is, was it? Instead, it was about how it's viewed in the US (and, presumably, Canada as well).

I've decided to shorten my answer drastically to make it focus on (a) what I believe are commonly held views among academics based in North America and (b) an explanation of why they are likely justified in holding these views.

I suppose any answer to your question will depend importantly on your field of study. My answer is informed by what I know is the state of affairs in my field, economics. However, I believe the views I state below are not limited to academics employed by North American economics departments.

Simply put, most academic economists based at North American universities have never heard of -- or are, at most, barely familiar with -- the concept of a "habilitation". To the extent that they think they know what it is, it's widely regarded as an awkward and even embarrassing device by which a person, after having earned a doctorate, enters an extended period of indentured servitude to some "big name professor", during which time the "habilitand" is supposed to acquire and demonstrate serious research skills and, ideally, manage to publish a couple of well-regarded papers in top-notch journals -- while also having to engage in such career-irrelevant activities as sprucing up the big-name-professor's lecture notes and fill in for the professor's lectures when the professor decide to be some place else.

To the extent that a European habilitation has any value at all in North American economics departments, the only thing that matters are the publications that (should) go along with the additional academic degree. The degree itself is pretty much irrelevant.

Is this state of ignorance willful and detrimental, or is it maybe entirely rational for these academics not to bother finding out a lot about what this habilitation thingy might be all about? I'd say it's the latter. In economics, there has been -- for many decades -- a huge difference in the perceived quality and status of a U.S. or Canadian Ph.D. degree in economics on the one hand and a (continental) European doctoral degree in economics on the other. (Aside: what matters, of course, is the thoroughness and breadth of learning and the research skills that come with the pursuit of the degree, not the nationality of the degree holder.)

Earning a Ph.D. degree from a high-quality North American graduate program was (and largely still is) seen as the vehicle that opens doors toward obtaining an assistant professorship at a selective university or college.

In contrast, most (all?) US econ department hiring committees know -- usually from painful first-hand experience -- that they needn't bother with considering applications from persons whose main qualification is that they have just received a doctorate in economics from a European university. (Well, there have been some notable exceptions to this rule of thumb in economics. However, they are the exceptions that prove rather than refute the rule.) If the European job applicant possesses both a doctorate and a habilitation, the only things that matter are the quality and quantity of the applicants' publications. Well, if the position entails some teaching responsibilities, the applicant's proficiency in English might also matter a bit... If anything, the European doctorate/habilitation candidates might be at a disadvantage relative to their peers with "just" a Ph.D. from a North American institution, who often have just one or two promising job market papers but no publications (yet) in top-notch journals.

• 1 This conversation about downvoting has been moved to chat . Comments below this one should suggest improvements or request clarification only ; please see this FAQ before posting another comment. Let us also remember to be nice . –  cag51 ♦ Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 18:54
• 6 To be fair, if the question is "How is a European habilitation viewed by people in the United States?", and people in the United States view habilitations wrongly , then an answer containing those wrong views is still both correct and useful to the questioner, provided it does represent the prevailing view... –  Steve Jessop Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 20:37

For the most part habilitation is restricted only to Europe.

No real equivalent exists in the United States or other parts of the world. The closest equivalent in the United States would be a promotion after tenure and before reaching a (Full) Professor rank. At many institutions I know, however, there would not be such a rank because the jump to Associate Professor happens before or with tenure.

Many in the US may not have even heard of habilitation, but anyone with close European collaborators will likely know about it. I first learned about it, for example, when I was asked to support a colleague for their habilitation. For those who do know about it, I would not expect there to be any special awe, just a recognition that this is an academic rank and its approximate equivalence in their own system.

• 5 This answer is correct, but I would add that it's restricted only to parts of Europe. My European country does not bother with habilitation. –  user116675 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:11
• 3 @jakebeal I think it is tricky to compare this to any kind of position in the US, whatever it is, because it does not link to any kind of position. It is more like a PhD: A stamp of approval, a degree of some kind, but it doesn't buy you a postdoc/professorship. Most importantly, if you are a professor, there is no need to do it. I think the vast majority of people doing a habilitation at least in Germany are not on any kind of permanent position. –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:29
• 3 @jakebeal I have a hard time believing that (the 2nd part). Everyone I know who does a habilitation has either no permanent job but a long-term postdoc, or - it they are lucky - a permanent assistent-level position (which is not the same as an assistant professorship - for instance, a university assistant in Germany is not allowed to offer courses without participation of their boss, unless they have a habilitation). I don't think I know anyone who has professorship yet is doing a habil. (There might be a point if you are on tenure track, but in fact the mid-term evaulation of a ... –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:59
• 1 @user151413 The people I have known were not in Germany, but in France and Italy. I don't know what the differences there may be, and I know them primarily from a research context. From the perspective of an American their positions all read as equivalent to "professor". –  jakebeal Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 20:13
• 2 @Eric Indeed, that might very well be the reason! As a university professor, you automatically have the "venia" (which allows you to lecture & examine, including the right to act as a PhD examiner - of course you also need to be linked to a department for that), but quite likely not as an FH professor. So if she wanted to confer PhDs, it might very well be that a Habilitation is required, plus potentially a link to a university. (To be fair, I don't know much about FHs awarding PhD, but it is certainly nothing which they traditionally do; though there have been debates about that recently.) –  user151413 Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 16:56

How is European habilitation considered in the US?

It is considered a foreign custom with no relevance to the US.

• The other answers seem to be responding to an earlier version of the question. "Considered" and "Status" are a bit different. –  Anonymous Physicist Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 0:48
• The question changed again. –  Anonymous Physicist Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 4:46

Habilitation is not a term in common use in the US, but if the Wikipedia article is accurate about the meaning, then it would seem that a holder, with no other qualification, would likely be eligible for a faculty position at one of the lower ranks: Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, perhaps.

Most full professors only get there through promotion, not directly. Sometimes an associate professor will be hired as full professor if they are at the verge of promotion at the first university. And a few (very few) people might be hired directly at full if they come from outside academia with an exceptional research record. But in such cases the person can expect to have a short probationary period. So, with habilitation (and a PhD) in hand, more is needed to be hired at full rank. And without experience in academia other than as a student, even initial hiring at associate level is not assured.

But if the person had other relevant experience and held a position similar to full professor or associate, then they might be considered for full professor.

But the holding of it, alone, wouldn't likely be enough. It would further depend on the work done by the person, perhaps the same work that led to the awarding originally.

So, with respect to the final paragraph, most would consider the holder to be very proficient, especially in the German or Austrian case. But every holder of a doctoral degree would be considered very proficient, also. I have no way to guess whether the situation in Poland is the same.

If you hold a PhD or equivalent then habilitation probably doesn't mean much in the US. If you don't have a terminal degree and want to use habilitation to get employed, then you will need to explain in detail what it means in the country in which you earned it. For those jobs requiring a doctorate it might be hard to convince them depending on how firm the rules are. But don't expect that it will be automatically understood.

• 19 For the European countries I know of, habilitation is for the higher ranks rather than the lower, that is, Associate Professor or Full Professor. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 14:52
• 10 Yes, it's a prerequisite, in the sense that once you get the habilitation a university can hire you in one of those positions (e.g. in Italy we need a habilitation for Associate Professor and another one for Full Professor, but not for Assistant Professor). I've never checked, but I suspect it's not defined in the Bologna Process because the details of the habilitation vary wildly from country to country (some require a dissertation, some do not). Indeed it's not equivalent to the title of Associate or Full Professor: it just means that you are eligible if someone wants to hire you. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 15:07
• 2 I don't think it's even transportable from one country to another among those which require habilitation. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 15:08
• 3 I suspect this answer is quite accurate, although comparisons between the different systems always are a bit off. In Germany, people having "only" a habilitation often are "Privatdozent" or "apl. Prof." . Those positions usually enable to officially supervise PhD students and to apply for faculty positions (usually at another university), but are not necessarily faculty positions themselves. I am not sure how equivalent this is compared to assistant professors. –  Snijderfrey Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 17:57
• 10 At least in Germany (but I assume similarly in other european places) "habilitation" certifies your ability/right to teach ("venia legendia"). This might sound trivial, but this means that you have the right to teach a subject in the way you like, and basically define what is correct and not (no point in math etc., but relevant in humanities). Indeed, it used to be one prerequisite for becoming a professor, but at least in Germany, it is no longer required. In fact, being a professor gives you the very same right to teach. –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:26

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Habilitation

What is a habilitation.

The habilitation is the highest academic degree that can be obtained at an academic university. It symbolizes the ability to work independently in research and teaching and is traditionally a prerequisite for appointment to a professorship in many countries, particularly in German-speaking countries.

Historical background

The habilitation has its roots in the medieval European university system and was originally the formal permission to teach at a university - the so-called "venia legendi". This privilege was granted by the faculties and marked the transition from student to teacher.

In the 19th century, the habilitation became established in Germany as an independent academic degree and became a prerequisite for obtaining a professorship. It served as proof of the ability to represent a subject area in its entirety in research and teaching. The habilitation also conferred the right to use the title "Privatdozent", which allowed habilitated professors to teach at universities and supervise students.

The role and significance of the habilitation has changed over time. In particular, the introduction of junior professorships and the increasing internationalization of science have triggered discussions about the necessity and form of the habilitation. Nevertheless, it remains an important milestone on the path to professorship in many disciplines and countries.

The habilitation reflects the traditional view of academic excellence and independence and is closely linked to the German university tradition and its influence on the global academic system.

Differentiation from doctorates and junior professorships

In contrast to the doctorate, which is the first academic degree and primarily demonstrates the ability to carry out independent academic work, the habilitation is aimed at a more comprehensive qualification. It includes not only research, but also teaching and often also the ability to lead academic projects.

The introduction of junior professorships offers an alternative way of gaining the qualification for a professorship without following the traditional path of habilitation. Junior professorships are intended to enable younger academics in particular to become independent at an earlier stage.

Excursus: Habilitation at university vs. University of Applied Sciences

The traditional habilitation path at universities aims to confirm the candidate's comprehensive teaching and research skills and is often a decisive step on the path to a professorship.  At universities of applied sciences, on the other hand, where the focus is more on practice-oriented teaching and applied research, the path to a professorship is somewhat different. Traditional habilitations are less common here. Instead, emphasis is placed on practical professional experience outside the academic world and on teaching skills. Some universities of applied sciences have developed their own qualification procedures that meet the specific requirements of applied research and teaching and still offer similar recognition to the habilitation.

Despite these differences, the aim of both routes remains similar: to confirm the ability to work independently in research and teaching and to promote young academics. As the academic sector evolves, the paths to professorship at universities and universities of applied sciences may continue to converge and new, more flexible models for academic careers may emerge.

The habilitation process

The path to habilitation is demanding and requires a number of steps to be completed by the habilitation candidate. The process may vary slightly depending on the subject area and university, but generally follows a set framework.

Requirements and admission to habilitation

In order to be admitted to habilitation, applicants must usually have an outstanding doctoral degree and often several years of academic activity after the doctorate. The exact requirements may vary depending on the subject area and institution, but generally include a list of scientific publications that make a significant contribution to the subject area.

Components of the habilitation

The habilitation typically includes:

• Habilitation thesis : A comprehensive academic work that provides new insights and distinguishes the candidate as a leading expert in their field. The habilitation thesis can be either a monograph or a cumulative habilitation consisting of several publications.
• Teaching sample : A course given by the candidate to demonstrate teaching competence. The teaching sample is usually assessed by a committee.
• Lecture followed by a scientific discussion : This serves to demonstrate specialist knowledge and the ability to engage in scientific debate.

Assessment and evaluation procedure

After submission of the habilitation thesis and completion of the teaching sample, the entire portfolio is reviewed by a committee. This committee is usually made up of professors from the relevant department. The assessment criteria include the academic quality of the habilitation thesis, the teaching competence and the professional discussion. The successful completion of the habilitation procedure leads to the award of the venia legendi, the teaching license that enables the habilitated person to use the title "Privatdozent" and to work independently in research and teaching.

The path to a habilitation

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the dissertation in the field of business at Munich Business School. At Munich Business School, the DBA offers experienced specialists and managers the opportunity to combine their practical experience with a well-founded academic thesis. The program aims to enable participants to systematically analyze complex business challenges and to develop and implement solutions.

Requirements and criteria for a habilitation

The habilitation places high demands on candidates that go far beyond those of a doctorate. It reflects not only research performance, but also teaching skills and the ability to independently manage academic projects.

Scientific achievements and publications

One of the core aspects of the habilitation is proof of outstanding academic achievements. This usually includes:

• Habilitation thesis : a comprehensive academic paper that contributes significant new findings to the field. The requirements for the habilitation thesis are higher than for a doctoral thesis and usually require that the results are published in renowned journals.
• Publication list: A list of publications in scientific journals that demonstrates the candidate's research achievements and contribution to the advancement of the field.

Teaching expertise

In addition to their research achievements, habilitation candidates are expected to have strong teaching skills. This is often demonstrated by:

• Teaching test : a trial lecture or seminar in which candidates demonstrate their ability to convey complex subject matter in an understandable and engaging manner.
• Teaching experience : Proof of previous teaching experience, for example through teaching assignments, seminars or lectures given during the postdoctoral phase.

Third-party funded projects and research networks

The ability to manage research projects and acquire third-party funding is becoming increasingly important:

• Third-party funded projects : Evidence of successful applications for research funding and management of research projects funded by external funding.
• Research networks : Active participation and contributions to scientific networks, working groups and professional societies that promote networking and exchange within the scientific community.

Core requirements for the habilitation

Significance and prospects after habilitation

After the challenging path of the habilitation, academics are at a decisive turning point in their academic career. The habilitation not only opens up traditional paths into teaching and research, but also offers a wide range of prospects in the academic world and beyond. This section looks at the many opportunities available after the habilitation and the considerations involved in choosing a future career path.

Habilitation as a qualification for professorships

In many countries, particularly in German-speaking countries, the habilitation is a recognized prerequisite for appointment to a professorship at a university. It signals comprehensive competence in research and teaching and opens up the opportunity to teach, conduct research and supervise the next generation of academics as a fully-fledged member of the academic community.

Alternatives to the traditional professorship and international perspectives

Not every habilitation leads directly to a university professorship. The academic landscape offers a wide range of career opportunities, from research positions in specialized institutes to leadership roles in industry. In addition, an international academic career often requires adaptation to the respective country-specific qualification paths and career models.

Discussion about the future of the habilitation in the modern academic system

The role of the habilitation in the academic career path is the subject of ongoing debate. In view of the challenges and uncertainties associated with long academic qualification paths, there are increasing calls for reforms and alternative qualification models.

Challenges and future of the habilitation

The habilitation has long been an established route to academic teaching qualifications and professorships. However, it is also increasingly the focus of critical discussions that question its role and significance in the modern academic system.

Critical consideration of the role of the habilitation

The habilitation is often criticized for its long duration, high demands and the associated professional uncertainty. In addition, at a time of increasing internationalization and mobility in academia, the habilitation is not recognized everywhere, which can impair the career opportunities of habilitation graduates in an international context.

• Time commitment and career uncertainty : The habilitation process is time-consuming and can take several years, which means a period of career uncertainty for many academics.
• Research funding : Securing research funding is becoming increasingly competitive and can pose an additional challenge for habilitation candidates.
• International recognition: The habilitation is primarily a German-speaking phenomenon. Its international recognition is limited, which can restrict opportunities for an international academic career.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about habilitation

The habilitation is a complex and sometimes confusing process that often leads to many questions. Whether you are in the early stages of your academic career or actively preparing for a habilitation, here you will find answers to some of the most common questions surrounding the topic. These FAQs should help you to develop a better understanding of the habilitation process and provide you with guidance in your planning.

What is the difference between a doctorate and a habilitation?

The doctorate (Ph.D.) is the first academic degree that represents an independent academic achievement and paves the way into academia. The habilitation, on the other hand, is an additional qualification that is acquired after the doctorate and proves the ability to teach at university level as well as the ability to conduct independent research. It is traditionally regarded as a prerequisite for a professorship at universities in German-speaking countries.

Is a habilitation necessary to become a professor?

In many cases, the habilitation is a traditional requirement for appointment to a professorship in Germany and some other countries. However, there are increasingly alternative paths, such as junior professorships or tenure-track positions, which can enable a professorship without a habilitation.

How long does the habilitation process take on average?

The duration of the habilitation process can vary, but is generally between two and six years after completing the doctorate. This period depends on various factors, including the subject area, institutional requirements and the habilitation candidate's individual situation.

What are the alternatives to a habilitation?

Alternatives to the traditional habilitation include junior professorships, tenure-track positions and the possibility of obtaining a professorship through non-university research experience or significant contributions to a subject area. In some cases, many years of teaching and research activity without a formal habilitation can also lead to a professorship.

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Earning a Doctoral Degree

The Faculty of Biology confers the academic degree “Doctor of Natural Sciences” (doctor rerum naturalium – Dr. rer. nat.) in recognition of an academically significant doctoral thesis (dissertation). If desired, the candidate may alternatively be awarded the title “Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology”. Over the past few years, more than 70 candidates annually have earned their doctorates at the Faculty of Biology after successfully completing their doctoral examinations.

All regulations pertaining to doctoral study are provided in the Doctoral Examination Regulations of the Faculty of Biology. We urge our doctoral students and their respective supervisors to read and follow them carefully!

There is a two-step process for gaining admission to the doctoral programme: 1) First, you must seek admission to the doctoral programme by applying to the Doctoral Examinations Office of the Faculty of Biology (no later than six months after commencing your doctoral project). 2) After the Faculty of Biology grants you admission, you must enrol as a doctoral student with the Student Admissions Office of the University of Münster. Please note: You must be enrolled as a doctoral student for at least six semesters before you can register for the doctoral examination. Your enrolment at the University of Münster can only be processed after you have been officially granted admission by the Faculty of Biology. The requirements for admission to the doctoral programme are:

1. statement by a doctoral committee agreeing to supervise your dissertation 2. proof of the necessary academic skills and cross-disciplinary key qualifications

As a rule, this certificate confirms that you have attained advanced academic qualification (higher than a bachelor’s degree) following completion of a research-oriented degree programme lasting at least eight semesters in a mathematical/natural scientific subject (e.g. biology, biotechnology, biomedicine, biochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science etc.). Candidates who have completed another relevant course of study (e.g. biological or chemical engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, medicine, food chemistry, veterinary medicine, ecotrophology etc.) are also eligible for admission but may be required to complete preparatory doctoral courses prior to commencing their studies.

The doctoral examination board is responsible for admitting candidates to the doctoral programme.

Please visit the website of the Doctoral Examinations Office for important information on:

• admission requirements • doctoral regulations • funding opportunities • proper completion of a doctoral project (e.g. admission)

The Faculty of Biology established the structured doctoral programme (SDP) BioSciences in 2020. All newly admitted doctoral candidates are automatically granted membership to the programme as long as they are not already a member in one of the following thematically oriented structured doctoral programmes:

• Cells in Motion (CiM) Graduate School and International Max Planck Research School - Molecular Biomedicine (IMPRS-MBM)

• Münster Graduate School of Evolution (MGSE)

• Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience (OCC)

• DFG Research Training Group 2220 on “Evolutionary Processes in Adaptation and Disease” (EvoPAD)

• Dynamic Cellular Interfaces CRC 1348

• IRTG Multiscale Imaging CRC 1450

• IRTG CRC 1459 - Intelligent Matter

• IRTG-SFB 1557 "Functional plasticity"

You can find additional professional training seminars and advice services on the pages provided by the faculty coordinator for cross-disciplinary graduate support and career planning .

Click here to view the differences between the old (2007), new (2019) and amended (2020) doctoral examination regulations.

Answers to frequently asked questions about the doctorate can be found here Handbook for international doctoral researchers

We wish you success with your doctoral project!

Habilitieren

Die Habilitation dient der förmlichen Feststellung der Fähigkeit, ein wissenschaftliches Fach selbstständig und verantwortlich in Forschung und Lehre zu vertreten. Mit der Habilitation erwirbt der Habilitand/die Habilitandin die Lehrbefugnis (venia legendi) in dem Fach, für das die Lehrbefähigung ausgesprochen wird und das Recht, die Bezeichnung „Privatdozent/Privatdozentin“ zu führen. (vgl. Habilitationsordnung §1)

Die für eine Habilitation im Fachbereich Biologie notwendigen Unterlagen können Sie hier herunterladen:

Merkblatt zum Habilitationsersuchen (Voranfrage) An update of the information sheet on requests for habilitation will follow shortly Habilitationsordnung

Für Ihr Habilitationsvorhaben wünschen wir Ihnen viel Erfolg!

Apl. Professur

Der Fachbereich Biologie kann habilitierten Angehörigen und Mitgliedern des Fachbereich die Einstellungsvoraussetzungen nach § 36 HG erfüllen und in Forschung und Lehre hervorragende Leistungen erbringen, die Bezeichnung „außerplanmäßige Professorin“ oder „außerplanmäßiger Professor“ verleihen.

Die Ordnung des Fachbereichs 13 Biologie für das Verfahren zur Verleihung der Bezeichnung „außerplanmäßige Professorin“ / „außerplanmäßiger Professor“ vom 21. Februar 2019 finden Sie hier

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Post-doctoral dissertation (Habilitation)

The Habilitation serves as proof of the ability to independently represent a scientific field in research and teaching (venia legendi). The completion of this teaching qualification confers the right to add the suffix “habilitatus” (abbreviated “habil.”) to the academic degree of doctor. All necessary information on Habilitation at the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences can be found on this page.

Doctoral and Habilitation Officer

Mrs. Florence Scholz

Tel.: 0331 977-3419, Building 1, Room 1.28 [email protected]

You can find more information about the Habilitation committee here

The Habilitation procedure

Step 1: check prerequisites.

Admission to the Habilitation procedure requires that the applicant completes

• A doctorate with at least the grade “good” (“cum laude”) from a university or equivalent institution of higher education in the relevant subject area,
• A Habilitation thesis or scientific work equivalent to a Habilitation thesis,
• Evidence of sufficient teaching experience,
• Evidence of relevant scientific work after the doctorate. The applicant must prove that he/she has worked scientifically after obtaining his/her doctorate, in particular in the subject area for which he/she is seeking the teaching qualification. This should be documented by publications, as is customary in the relevant field.

Step 2: Admission to Habilitation

Please submit an application for admission to Habilitation in written form to the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences. The application must identify the intended field of teaching qualification and include the following documents:

• A curriculum vitae outlining the professional career,
• A single copy of the dissertation ,
• The doctoral certificate ,
• A list of other scientific publications ,
• The written Habilitation thesis in at least seven copies ,
• A record of courses taught,
• A statement of ongoing or completed Habilitation procedures .

Please enclose all other scientific publications that are not part of the written Habilitation thesis. These serve only to illustrate the applicant’s scientific work; they will not be subject to review. Receipt of the application for admission will be acknowledged and then reviewed. All submitted documents - except the originals of the certificates and the publications - remain with the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences.

Step 3: Opening of the Habilitation procedure

After the examination, the dean notifies the members of the Habilitation committee about the received application and initiates the opening of the procedure by the Habilitation committee.

The Habilitation committee consists of the full-time professors, the associate professors, and the private lecturers of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Potsdam who have completed their Habilitation at the faculty. Professors and lecturers with a Habilitation who have left this faculty continue to be members of the Habilitation Committee for at least two years after their departure. Professors within the meaning of these Habilitation regulations are tenured professors, employed professors, retired professors, and dismissed professors.

Step 4: Appraisal

The reviewers appointed by the Habilitation committee prepare written reviews. The expert opinions recommend the acceptance or rejection of the written Habilitation thesis. The chairperson of the Habilitation committee shall set a reasonable deadline for the reviewers to submit their reviews.

Step 5: Display

Once the expert opinions have been received, the written Habilitation thesis and the expert opinions are made available to the members of the Habilitation committee for one month (during the lecture period) or for two months (during the non-lecture period).

Step 6: Acceptance

After the expiration of the design period, the Habilitation committee decides on the acceptance of the thesis on the basis of the available expert opinions and the written statements.

Step 7: Presentation and colloquium

After acceptance of the written Habilitation thesis, the applicant proposes three topics for the Habilitation lecture to the chairperson of the Habilitation committee. The topics must be from the field of the intended teaching qualification. They may not be taken from the written Habilitation thesis.

The chairperson of the Habilitation committee will inform the candidate of the selected lecture topic at least three, but no more than four weeks before the date. A shortening of the deadline is in principle possible in agreement with the candidate.

The lecture and the colloquium (max. 45min each) are open to the public. Only the members of the Habilitation committee are entitled to ask questions in the colloquium. Subsequently, the applicant will be informed whether the teaching qualification will be awarded.

Within a reasonable period of time, usually at the inaugural lecture, the dean will present the habilitated person with the certificate of teaching qualification.

Step 8: Publication

The Habilitation thesis must be published no later than two years after the award of the teaching qualification. A copy of the published Habilitation thesis must be submitted to the faculty.

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Faculty of Philology

work Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Beethovenstraße 15 04107 Leipzig

Phone: work +49 341 97 - 37300 Fax: fax +49 341 97 - 37349

Dean Prof. Dr. Beat Siebenhaar

Dean of Studies Prof. Dr. Benjamin Lucas Meisnitzer

Dean of Studies Prof. Dr. Eduard Werner

Dean of Studies Jun.-Prof. Dr. Julia Fuchs

Dean of Studies Prof. Dr. Katja Kanzler

Dean of Studies Prof. Dr. Klaus Grübl

Vice-Dean for Research Prof. Dr. Tinka Reichmann

Deanery Dr. Stephan Thomas

Secretariat Annett Lutschin

Institutes & Facilities

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Habilitation

Are you interested in obtaining a postdoctoral lecturing qualification (Habilitation)?

General information

Habilitation formally establishes the qualification for independent research and teaching in a given field, conferring a postdoctoral teaching qualification in that subject. In many disciplines it is still the primary route to a full professorship (the major alternative being a positive evaluation as junior professor). The details of the qualification procedure are determined in the habilitation regulation of the respective faculty (here the Faculty of Philology). You are entitled to use the title "Dr. habil." after obtaining the postdoctoral lecturing qualification (= "Lehrbefähigung"). You may also apply for the teaching licence ("Lehrbefugnis"; venia legendi ); this licence is connected with the requirement of teaching a course of two semester hours each year at the respective faculty; in this case, you are entitled to use the title "Privatdozent/Privatdozentin" for the respective subject. Please note that many PhD regulations restrict the supervision of doctoral students to professors or researchers with a habilitation degree.

Getting a habilitation degree in Linguistics

If you are interested in getting a postdoctoral lecturing qualification in (General/Theoretical) Linguistics, you should ask yourself whether your habilitation research relates somehow to the research activities of our institute. According to the habilitation regulation of the Faculty of Philology, you have to get the consent of a professor of the Faculty to review your habilitation thesis. With (General/Theoretical) Linguistics as subject, this should be a professor of our institute. Ideally, you have already been in contact with some member of our institute before the start of your habilitation procedure. You have to demonstrate at least three years of research and adequate teaching experience when submitting your application for the postdoctoral lecturing qualification.

Habilitation regulation

The current version of the habilitation regulation of the Faculty of Philology includes the following requirements:

• a habilitation thesis (either a monograph or a cumulative thesis consisting of thematically related published articles)
• a habilitation lecture (for which you have to suggest three topics from your subject, but distinct from the habilitation thesis)
• a teaching demonstration (if you have sufficient experience in teaching, you may submit a teaching concept as alternative)

Completed habilitations

You may also like

Information on habilitation faculty of philology, habilitation leipzig university, research funding.

Universität der Bundeswehr München

Doctorate and Habilitation

The opportunity to earn a doctoral degree at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich is open to anyone with the appropriate qualifications. UniBw M has excellent connections to national and international research networks and cooperates with many renowned industry partners. Doctorates can thus be earned in both basic research and in fields more closely related to industry.

Requirements

A degree such as a Diplom, master’s degree or an equivalent qualification with an overall grade of at least 2.5 or “good” is required to apply for a doctoral program at UniBw M. For a doctorate in law (“Dr. jur.”), the first or second state examination must have been passed with at least a “satisfactory” grade.

Graduates with an above-average master’s degree from a university of applied sciences may also apply for a doctoral program at our university.

For your orientation, we have compiled the most important steps for your promotion here

Opportunities and Doctoral Degrees

Opportunities.

The following departments offer opportunities to study for a doctoral degree:

Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences (BAU)

Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (EIT)

Human Sciences (HUM)

Computer Science (INF)

Aerospace Engineering (LRT)

Social Sciences and Public Affairs (SOWI)

Economic and Management (WOW)

The Departments of Business Administration, of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences cannot independently award doctoral degrees. A cooperative doctorate, however, provides an opportunity to earn a doctoral degree in cooperation with a university department. More information below.

Doctoral Degrees

The following doctorates can be earned at UniBw M:

PhD in Engineering (Dr.-Ing.)

PhD in Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.)

PhD in Philosophy (Dr. phil.)

PhD in Law (Dr. jur.)

PhD in Economics and Management (Dr. rer. pol.)

Cooperative Doctoral Program

The cooperative doctorate enables doctoral students to be jointly supervised by both a university and a University of Applied Sciences professor during their doctoral thesis.

Habilitation

Habilitation is a qualification to conduct university teaching in a scientific discipline. Habilitation is open to candidates with a doctoral degree who have teaching experience and previously published their scientific work. Candidates seeking admission to the habilitation process must not have:

• unsuccessfully attempted habilitation before,
• applied for habilitation elsewhere without completing the process,

had an academic degree revoked or be awaiting a pending decision on such matter.

For additional information on the requirements for and the process of habilitation see “Important Downloads” below.

Important Downloads

Key documents, for example relating to doctoral programs and habilitation, are available on the Examination Office’s page: • Doctoral degree regulations (previous and current versions, English translation, process of earning a doctorate) • Postdoctoral degree regulations and info sheet on habilitation • Fact sheet on enrolment for doctoral degree programs • Framework for doctoral studies at UniBw M Please note that most documents are currently only available in German.

Mr. Weber and Ms. Lützer will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have regarding your doctorate and habilitation. Please check first whether the documents in the download area already answer your question.

Matthias Weber

Carmen lützer.

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Universität Bonn

University and State Library

• First semester students

Publishing a habilitation thesis

Most habilitation theses (postdoctoral theses) are not subject to a publishing obligation, meaning that you will not need to submit printed copies to us or publish your work online on our bonndoc publication server.

However, the Faculty of Medicine does require habilitation theses to be published : in this case, you will have to provide us with two printed copies or publish your work online on bonndoc.

For all other faculties, we are also happy to publish habilitation theses online on bonndoc or accept printed copies on request.

Option a: Publishing online on bonndoc

We can publish your habilitation thesis from the University of Bonn online for free on bonndoc , the University’s publication server.

The procedure is similar to that set out in our guide for publishing doctoral theses online , with the following differences:

• You do not need permission from your faculty.
• If necessary, update the year of publication (i.e. the year you submit it to us) on the title page in your PDF file and add the date of your habilitation on page two.
• When you are registering via our online form (step 3), please select “ Habilitation ” when you get to “Art d. Hochschulschrift” (“Type of thesis”).
• Please note the relevant points of our information on cumulative doctoral theses if your habilitation thesis includes publications (in journals).

Option b: Copies printed yourself

Get your pdf file(s) ready for printing.

• For data protection reasons, we recommend  removing your curriculum vitae  if one is included (however, you are welcome to leave in a list of your academic publications that follows your curriculum vitae).
• Please feel free to send your PDF file as a download link (e.g. via sciebo ) or email attachment (max. 10 MB) to [email protected] so that other formal aspects can be checked out. We will give you feedback on your file, allowing you to avoid potential problems with publication before they occur.

Printing of the copies

Requirements for printed copies:

One copy will be able to be borrowed by USL library users and one will be held permanently at the German National Library. Specific requirements  therefore apply:

• Permanent binding  · high-quality bookbinding glue (e.g. PUR adhesive), thread stitching or impressBIND binding folder. Not all copy shops can meet these requirements. We would be happy to advise you.
• Paperback or hardback cover
• Age-resistant and wood- and acid-free paper
• Printing on both sides  · Single-sided printing is only permitted if it is technically necessary for binding (usually for theses with less than 30 pages).
• Format depending on the layout of the thesis  · Please discuss the format (DIN A4 or A5) with us before you have the thesis printed. Any necessary adjustment of the format (e.g. downscaling to A5 format) takes place during printing, i.e. you do not have to reformat your file.
• Coloured content in colour  · Printing of originally coloured elements (e.g. in figures) in black and white is only permitted if this does not impair comprehensibility.
• Not  permitted: spiral binding and stapling as well as plastic film as cover (i.e. a transparent cover).

Submission of the copies

You have the following options to let us have your copies. In the case of the Faculty of Medicine we will send the  confirmation of receipt  directly to the dean's office after checking the copies (If we have your e-mail address, we will send you a copy).

Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Bonn Abteilungsbibliothek MNL - Hochschulschriftenstelle - Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 4 53115 Bonn

• Handover at the loan desk in the MNL Branch Library : during service hours for borrowing and returning items . You don't need an appointment. N.B.: The colleagues at the loan desk do not send a confirmation of receipt. This is only done after checking by the dissertations department (three times a week).
• Handover at the dissertations department in the MNL Branch Library : If you would like to hand in your copies directly to our office, please make an appointment in advance at [email protected] . Appointments are usually possible on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Final steps

In the case of the Faculty of Medicine you have now fulfilled your publication obligations vis-à-vis the USL.

One printed copy will remain at the USL and be made available for borrowing. The second copy will be sent to the German National Library, where it will be kept permanently.

Your habilitation thesis will be cataloged so that it can be found in the Bonn library catalog bonnus as well as in the catalog of the German National Library.

Dissertations department

We receive all the doctoral theses written at the University of Bonn, publish theses online and help doctoral students through the publication process. Availability by e-mail and phone:  Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.

MNL Branch Library Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 4 53115 Bonn 2nd floor, room 2.013

On-site appointments only by prior arrangement!

[email protected]

+49 228 73-9533

Jaakko Kneissl

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Habilitation

The following provides information on completing a Habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) and obtaining a venia legendi (authority to teach) in the Department of Physics.

The Habilitation is governed by the regulations of the Department of Physics Habilitationsordnung des Fachbereichs Physik der Universität Hamburg vom 29. Januar 2003 (PDF).

If you have any questions about the Habilitation, contact the department advisor, Ms. Irmgard Flick ( email ( irmgard.flick "AT" physik.uni-hamburg.de ) ).

Habilitation requirements

Pursuant to the Hamburg higher education act (Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz, HmbHG), a Habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) or equivalent academic achievement demonstrates that its holder meets the formal requirements for a professorship. Successful completion of a Habilitation in one of the subjects of the Department of Physics proves that the holder of the qualification can:

• carry out original research that advances their field significantly, including in an international academic context.
• successfully oversee entire research projects from the initial planning stage to the final publication of the results.
• competently assess the quality of academic work within their own field during the examination process.

The Habilitation procedure is based on the Habilitation thesis submitted by the candidate. Instead of a dedicated Habilitation thesis, candidates may submit one or more scholarly publications of extraordinary significance or, in exceptional cases, an outstanding dissertation. In cases where the Habilitation work consists of a series of individual publications, candidates are additionally required to submit an extensive appraisal summarizing the cumulative work.

Application for Admission to a Habilitation

You must submit an informal admission application for the Habilitation procedure. Address your application to the head of the Department of Physics and submit it to the department advisor along with the following supporting documents (Section 4 subsection 2 of the Habilitation regulations):

• curriculum vitae
• list of publications
• dissertation
• doctoral degree certificate (submit the original certificate; a copy will be made in the Department)
• Habilitation thesis (ten copies, no spiral binding)
• CD-ROM containing the Habilitation thesis as a PDF file
• an affidavit verifying that all work submitted is your own
• declaration stating whether you have already applied for the Habilitation elsewhere

Formal Habilitation thesis requirements

• formal cover page (PDF)
• affidavit (PDF)

Habilitation examinations board

Upon receiving the application along with the required documents, the standing Habilitation examinations board of the Department of Physics (PDF) (ex officio: physics board) decides whether to initiate the Habilitation procedure and appoints an individual Habilitation committee.

Criteria for the appointment of members of a Habilitation committee

The applicant may suggest members for the Habilitation committee; their proposals are to be accepted wherever possible and reasonable.

Membership of the Habilitation committee is subject to the following criteria:

•  the Habilitation committee must consist of no fewer than five and no more than seven professors or other members of Universität Hamburg who have completed a Habilitation. at least four of those committee members must belong to the Department of Physics.
• the Habilitation committee should include members of no fewer than three department institutes.
• every Habilitation committee must include at least one experimental physicist and one theoretical physicist.
• no fewer than two of the members of the Habilitation committee must be thoroughly familiar with the field of research in which the submitted work was completed.

The Habilitation committee may not include:

• any professor assigned to the research associate applying for the Habilitation procedure.
• the head of a research group to which the applicant belongs.
• any scholars with whom the applicant worked directly during their Habilitation period.

Members of the Habilitation committee cannot be appointed as reviewers.

Habilitation thesis review

The Habilitation committee assesses the Habilitation thesis and appoints at least two independent reviewers. A reviewer must be either a professor or a researcher who has completed a Habilitation. No more than one reviewer may belong to the Department of Physics of Universität Hamburg.

Presentation

The head of department sets a date for the presentation in agreement with the chair of the Habilitation committee and the applicant as per Section 2 subsection 1. S/he invites the members of the Habilitation committee, the reviewers as per Section 7, the members of the extended physics board, and the professors responsible for the subject area. All other members of the department are to be informed of the time and place of the presentation by a notice displayed in their institutes.

Presentations normally take 45 minutes and are followed by a discussion.

Habilitation diploma

You will be notified of the decision in writing and receive your Habilitation diploma. The diploma is signed by the dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences as well as the chair of the Habilitation committee; it also bears the Universität Hamburg seal.

Publication

Upon completion of the procedure, one set of the submitted academic works will be placed in the departmental library of the Department of Physics. Another set will be given to the State and University Library Hamburg.

Good scientific practice

Follow the guidelines for good scientific practice published by the conference of physics departments (Konferenz der Fachbereiche Physik, KFP) and outlined in the Universität Hamburg bylaws and the guidelines of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

• KFP: Good scientific practice for scientific qualification reports and theses in physics (PDF)
• KFP: Gute wissenschaftliche Praxis bei wissenschaftlichen Qualifikationsarbeiten in der Physik, german (PDF)
• DFG: Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice / Sicherung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis (PDF)
• UHH: Bylaws for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice and Avoiding Scientific Misconduct at Universität Hamburg (PDF)
• UHH: Satzung zur Sicherung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis und zur Vermeidung wissenschaftlichen Fehlverhaltens an der Universität Hamburg (PDF)

Umhabilitation (transfer to another institution)

An individual who has been appointed a Privatdozent (senior lecturer with no permanent teaching contract) as a result of completing a Habilitation or an equivalent qualification at another university will usually be given a position as a Privatdozent should they transfer to Universität Hamburg; they will obtain their venia legendi (authority to teach) on the basis of an abbreviated Umhabilitation procedure. They will retain their status as a doctor with a completed Habilitation even after leaving their current university. They merely need to regain their authority to teach at the new university.

Teaching authorization—venia legendi

The venia legendi (authorization to teach) is governed by:

• the Universität Hamburg bylaws on granting teaching authorization, Satzung der Universität Hamburg über die Verleihung der Lehrbefugnis als Privatdozentin oder Privatdozent gemäß § 17 Absatz 2 des Hamburgischen Hochschulgesetzes (Privatdozentursatzung) vom 17.11.2011 (PDF)

For more information, see:

• Procedural regulations of the Department of Physics on awarding the venia legendi, Verfahrensregelung des Fachbereichs Physik für die Verleihung der Lehrbefugnis als Privatdozent/in gemäß § 17 Absatz 2 HmbHG (PDF)

Beginning a university teaching career

German-language study on entering the university teaching career: Der Zugang zur Hochschullehrerlaufbahn im Fach Physik an deutschen Universitäten: Habilitation, Juniorprofessur, Nachwuchsgruppenleitung (PDF). Conducted by the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (December 2010)

Habilitations at the Department of Physics

Dr. roman kogler.

Title of the habilitation thesis

The Coming of Age of Jet Substructure at the LHC – Algorithms, Measurements and Searches for New Physical Phenomen

Field of research: Experimental physics Date of habilitation: 15.11.2021

Dr. Jens Bernhard Reinhold Wiebe

Artificial atomic-spin arrays on solid surfaces.

Field of research: Experimental physics Date of habilitation: 24.04.2020

Dr. Rutger Herman Boels

More loops and legs for perturbative quantum field theory.

Field of research: Theoretical physics Date of habilitation: 18.01.2019

Dr. Arya Fallahi

Terahertz acceleration technology towards compact light sources.

Field of research: Experimental Physics Date of habilitation: 29.04.2019

Dr. Kirsten Tina von Bergmann

Non-collinear magnetism in ultrathin films / nichtkollinearer magnetismus in ultradünnen filmen.

Field of research: Experimental Physics  Date of habilitation: 29.10.2019

Dr. Stefan Mendach

Optical rolled-up metamaterials, spin-wave optics, and tubular micro-resonators.

Field of research: Experimental Physics  Date of habilitation: 06.04.2018

Dr. Christian Kränkel

Halbleiterlaser-gepumpte seltenerddotierte festkörperlaser / semiconductor-laser-pumped rare-earth-doped solid-state lasers.

Field of research: Experimental Physics Date of habilitation: 03.02.2017

Dr. Dirk-Sören Lühmann

Quantum simulation with ultracold atoms – solid-state models and beyond.

Field of research: Theoretical physics Date of habilitation: 24.04.2017

Dr. Antonio Negretti

Ultra-cold atoms meet trapped ions: a new interface for quantum information mprocessing and simulation.

Field of research: Theoretical physics Date of habilitation: 11.05.2017

Habilitations at the Department of Physics from 1978-2016

• List 1978-2016 (PDF)

Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

Habilitation theses & dissertations.

CDE promotes academic careers and young academics. In collaboration with the Institute of Geography at the University of Bern as well as other institutes and partner universities, CDE supervises habilitation theses and dissertation projects in Sustainable Development. For more information on the PhD programme, see International Graduate School (IGS) North-South .

Habilitation theses

Andreas heinimann.

MSc in Environmental Science ETH Zurich; PhD in Integrative Geography and Sustainable Development University of Bern. Habilitation entitled: "Land Use Systems and Sustainable Development: Mesoscale Approaches in Land System Science”, 2017

Sandra Eckert

Msc in Geography, University of Zurich; PhD in Geography, University of Zurich. Habilitation entitled: "Remote Sensing and Geospatial Technologies in Support of Sustainable Natural Resource Management", 2022

Johanna Jacobi

MSc in Geography (minors: Biology and Social Anthropology); PhD in Geography. Habilitaiton entitled: "Transdisciplinary Pathways to Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems: Obstacles and opportunities for co‐creating knowledge and transformative action", 2019

Flurina Schneider

MSc in Geography (minors: law, botany, environmental protection); PhD in Integrative geography and sustainable development. Habilitation entitled “Transdisciplinary and Transformative Research for Sustainable Governance of Natural Resources: Towards Intra- and Intergenerational Justice”, 2016

Theresa Tribaldos

MSc in Geography, University of Zurich; MA in Geopolitics, Territory and Security, King's College London; PhD in International Relations, ETH Zurich. Habilitation entitled: “Food systems and transdisciplinarity: Conceptual and methodological approaches to systemic sustainability transformations", 2024

Dissertations

PhD graduates as of 2019:

Gabi Sonderegger

BSc in Geography, University of Bern, MSc in Sustainable Development, University of Utrecht, Netherlands; PhD thesis: "Governing agricultural land use in an interconnected world: Opportunities and challenges for Voluntary Sustainability Standards"

Markus Giger

Dipl. Ing. Agr. ETH Zurich, Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Post-Universitaire (Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen, Montpellier) ; PhD thesis: „International Land Acquisitions in the Global South: Patterns, Drivers, and Impacts”

Matheus Alves Zanella

BSc in International Relations (University of Brasilia), MSc in Rural Development (Humboldt University of Berlin, Ghent University, and AgroCampus Ouest-Rennes); PhD studies: Between Global Committees, National Policymaking and a Single Kitchen: Governing Food Systems Towards Sustainability in an Era of Multi-Stakeholderism

Patrick Illien

BA in International Relations, MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development; PhD studies: The Bittersweet Taste of "Miracle Growth". A political economy analysis of poverty, labour, and economic growth in the coffee heartlands of Laos and Rwanda

Thea Xenia Wiesli

BSc in Fine Arts (ZHDK Zurich University of Arts), MSc in Sociology and Media Science (University of Basel); PhD studies: Sustainable Quality of Life in Rural Switzerland

Lilian Trechsel

BSc in Sport Science and Geography (University of Bern), MSc in in Geography (University of Bern); PhD studies: Learning for Sustainable Development in Higher Education and Beyond: Finding and Shaping Transformative Spaces

Vong Nanthanvong

Higher diploma in Agronomy, MSc in Geography (University of Bern), Advanced Master in Development Studies (Graduate Institute Geneva); PhD studies: Pathways to sustainable agricultural investments in the Lao PDR: Transformations in natural resource and labour relations through land-based investments and their impacts on human well-being

Mélanie Feurer

BSc in Agriculture, MSc in Life Sciences (Bern University of Applied Sciences), MSc in Geography (University of Bern); PhD studies: Ecosystem services for communities in forest frontiers – An assessment of nature’s benefits to local stakeholders under different land use and tenure systems in a tropical frontier landscape in Myanmar

Lysann Schneider

MA in Interdisciplinary Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Geography (FU Berlin and HU Berlin); PhD studies: Land use change and resource management. Impacts on migration and climate in northeast Tizimín, Yucatán

Onintsoa Ravaka Andriamihaja

Master in Forestry Engineer (University of Antananarivo); PhD studies: Telecoupled land governance: Actors, flows, and institutions in north-eastern Madagascar

Emily Brandão

BSc in Geography; MSc in Environmental Planning; PhD studies: Socioeconomic and productive dynamics of the Brazilian semi-arid agrarian space: analysis on States'interventions

Helen Gambon

BA in Social Anthropology (University of Bern); MA in Anthropology of Transnationalism and the State (ATS) (University of Bern); PhD studies: Constitutionality processes and social-ecological dynamicsin the Pilón Lajas Indigenous Territory and Biosphere Reserve

Jorge Llopis

BA in History (UNED, Madrid); MA in African Studies (University of Copenhagen); PhD studies: Telecoupled land use change in north-eastern Madagascar: trade-offs in ecosystem services supply and implications for local human well-being

Donia Mühlematter

Engineer in Agricultural Science (Carthage University); MSc in Drylands management and Combating Desertification (Carthage University); MSc in Integrated Drylands Management (Chinese Academy of Science); PhD in Desertification, Environment and Climate Change (Carthage University); PhD studies (University of Bern): Towards sustainable land management in degraded ecosystems: Assessments of land degradation and land management in northwest Tunisia

Heliodoro Ochoa

Bachelor in Geography (University of Guadalajara); Master in Regional Environmental and Development Studies (Ibero-American University Puebla); PhD studies: Struggling for sustainable water governance: Social conflicts and alternatives from the bottom up in Mexico

Elena Zepharovich

Bachelor in Development Studies (University of Vienna); Master in Sustainable Development, Management and Policy (MODUL University Vienna); PhD studies: Deforestation and Environmental Justice in the Argentinean Chaco

BSc in Geography (University of Bern); MSc in Environmental Science (University of Geneva). PhD studies: Supply potentials of biomass cooking fuels in East Africa.

Achiba Gargule

BA in Land Economics (University of Nairobi); MA in International Political Economy (Newcastle University, UK). PhD Studies: Renewing disruption: the state, pastoralism discourses and development practices at the margins of Kenya 1965-2015.

Chantal Ingabire

Bachelor in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness (National University of Rwanda); Master in Agribusiness Management and Trade (Kenyatta University); PhD in Agricultural Economics (Egerton University). PhD studies: Market participation and its impact on food security and rural employment among smallholder women farmers in Rwanda.