After nearly 4 years of working on my PhD topic I've nearly finished writing my thesis (FINALLY!). Like some of my colleagues I'd like to try my luck and apply for awards once it's finished.
Do you know of any awards for my thesis (or publications) that i could aim for? I only know of the ESB doctoral award (http://www.esbiomaterials.eu/index.php?cid=Education), but i haven't worked in 2 different countries so i'm not eligible :(. Are there others that are somehow related to the fields: biomaterials, biomaterial coatings, glycobiology or polymer research?
Unfortunately, many awards for academic achievements are not necessarily related to the academic achievement itself, but more to the political influence of the family and mentors - we all know how plagiarist Ex-Dr. Baron von und zu Guttenberg got the "summa cum laude" for his doctorate thesis. And I think, this is a major problem in Germany: I once was invited to seminars of the "Studienstiftung" and the "Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung", but it became clear they mostly looked for "sons" of professors, or of otherwise influencial or rich people, instead of really intelligent students.
Many of the German carreers, especially at universities, appear to depend pretty much on who can support whoms son. This is not restricted to Guttenberg's party in Bavaria.
Yeah, sometimes it feels very suspicious how these decisions are made. Nowadays hard work alone will get you nowhere. You can't allow yourself to be shy and need to connect with people. Which is a shame because i know several PhD students that are outstanding "brainiacs" and also very dedicated and hardworking. But they will stop working in academics the moment they get their PhD degree. So right now it seems to me that in the end it's not the most talented researchers that persist.
And i agree. I did not know how important it can be to choose the right mentor when you start your PhD. At that time i searched for PhD topics that matched my interests and I think i was very lucky that my supervisor is both very supportive and someone recognized in the field. But even when you start out small i think everyone who is determined enough will make it somehow.
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