The Dual Career Network Germany was represented at GAIN 2025 in Boston by Heike Rauer, dual career advisor at the University of Bonn.

 

GAIN is a joint initiative of the three major funding institutions in Germany, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the DAAD, and the DFG. This network supports German researchers working in North America who are considering returning to Germany for professional reasons. This year, there was a noticeable increase in interest among researchers in returning to Germany, particularly in the fields of natural sciences and medicine.

 

The DCND took part in the 3-day Talent Fair, where individual consultations were held at the exhibition stand with individual researchers and couples on the topic of dual careers and questions relating to family relocation. One focus was on presenting the support portfolio of the dual career services established at more than 70 German universities and research institutions. It became clear that the family component is often a very important aspect in the decision to return.​

 

In the workshop Dual Career - Challenges, opportunities, and possibilities for scientists, the examples of three professors affected made it clear how dual career services were able to provide crucial support for their move to Germany. Of particular relevance to workshop participants was when and to whom the family or couple aspect can and should be addressed.

The DCND is responsible for raising awareness of the topic of dual careers in Germany and among returnees in general. Participation in GAIN enables networking with political actors as well as interested colleges, universities, and research institutions.