Dear Research Community,

At the GAIN Annual Conference, you can learn about career perspectives, research institutions, and current science policy developments in Germany. Connect with representatives from German universities, non-university research institutions, funding organizations, and policymakers, and meet potential employers at the Talent Fair.

The diverse GAIN26 program offers discussions on discipline-specific topics, presentations of career strategies, and many opportunities for professional networking in an open and accessible setting.

In the workshops, you will receive practical tips and ideas for your career development, including job opportunities during the postdoc phase, establishing junior research groups, applying for a professorship, alternative research careers, careers at Universities of Applied Sciences, careers in science management, strategies for dual-career couples and families, and much more.

At the Talent Fair, universities as well as research and funding institutions will present themselves. Meet exhibitors for career advice, job interviews, Meet an Expert sessions, or CV checks. This is your opportunity to actively expand your academic network and build valuable professional connections.

Plan your next career step in Germany! Make the most of GAIN26 to meet inspiring and influential stakeholders in person.

Best regards from New York,
Your GAIN Team
Anna Oberle-Brill and Jana Groh

GAIN26 Timeline

March/April
Fellows of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, DAAD, DFG, the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes), the Leopoldina, or German Cancer Aid will receive a personal invitation to the conference. Registration is available here.

May 15
GAIN members and interested researchers who are not currently funded by any of the organizations listed above may apply for a GAIN participation grant via the Converve event tool until May 15.

May 31
Deadline: Hotel reservation

June 15
Application deadline for participation in the Science Slam

tba
Pre-GAIN26 Introduction and Pre-Networking Info Session (online), 12:00–1:30 PM EST

August 21–23
GAIN26 Annual Conference and Talent Fair in San Francisco

September 1
Deadline for submitting travel expense reimbursements for eligible grant recipients

September 17
GAIN26 Digital Workshop Event

Call for Applications: GAIN Participation Grant

Hotel Booking for GAIN Participation Grant Recipients

Postdocs:
Applicants for a GAIN participation grant are kindly asked to book their hotel room only after receiving confirmation of a GAIN participation grant.

For GAIN grant recipients, GAIN covers the conference fee of USD 650, including catering, as well as the costs for two nights at the conference hotel. This also applies to postdocs in the Bay Area who are NOT directly connected to BART.

If you have any questions, please contact info@gain-network.org.

Additional Conference InformationConference language: The conference languages are German and English. Registration: Please complete your binding online registration by May 15, 2026. Online registration takes approximately ten minutes. You will receive a confirmation email. You will then have the opportunity to complete your profile in the event app, connect with other conference participants, and schedule individual consultation meetings. Hotel booking: Please refer to the information sheet you receive with the invitation from your funding organization for details on which nights are covered. Please book your room independently at the conference rate of USD 205 plus tax by May 31, 2026. When booking, you will be asked to provide your own credit card number. This is required solely as a guarantee for so-called incidentals and will not be charged. Travel expense reimbursement: Please refer to the information sheet provided with the invitation from your funding organization for details. Science Slam: All GAIN participants are warmly invited to apply for the Science Slam. More information will follow soon. We look forward to your participation! Cancellation: If you need to cancel your participation, please notify GAIN Program Director Anna Oberle-Brill immediately by email at oberle-brill@daad.de . Please note that registration is binding. In the event of a cancellation without a valid reason after May 15, costs will be charged.

Conference language: The conference languages are German and English.

Registration: Please complete your binding online registration by May 15, 2026.

Online registration takes approximately ten minutes. You will receive a confirmation email. You will then have the opportunity to complete your profile in the event app, connect with other conference participants, and schedule individual consultation meetings.

Hotel booking:
Please refer to the information sheet you receive with the invitation from your funding organization for details on which nights are covered. Please book your room independently at the conference rate of USD 205 plus tax by May 31, 2026.

When booking, you will be asked to provide your own credit card number. This is required solely as a guarantee for so-called incidentals and will not be charged.

Travel expense reimbursement: Please refer to the information sheet provided with the invitation from your funding organization for details.

Science Slam: All GAIN participants are warmly invited to apply for the Science Slam. More information will follow soon.

We look forward to your participation!

Cancellation: If you need to cancel your participation, please notify GAIN Program Director Anna Oberle-Brill immediately by email at oberle-brill@daad.de. Please note that registration is binding. In the event of a cancellation without a valid reason after May 15, costs will be charged.