31 30 Education Doctoral Program Doctoral Program Education ACP’s principal scientists serve as topical supervisors for ASP doctoral researchers. The acquisition of new outstanding doctoral researchers is facilitated by choosing among the most excellent alumni of M.Sc. Physics and M.Sc. Photonics from Jena as well as hundreds of external applications, which we receive each year from the entire world. To attract the best candidates to the program, a modern online application system was established. Currently, a share of 41% of ASP doctoral researchers are of foreign origin, reflecting a continuous increase over the last ten years. Emphasizing its strong engagement in the further internationalization of studies, ASP is dedicated to this important primary aim of the institutional strategy of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. SHAPING FUTURE SCIENTISTS Acornerstone of ASP‘s philosophy is to regard and value our doctoral candidates as scientists in all respects. Most notable is the conscious and deep involvement of our doctoral researchers in ACP‘s top-notch research environments. Providing them with full access to the laboratories, they can more readily contribute their individual scientific contributions to globally prevailing research questions. During the work on their individual research project, a maximum of freedom to develop their own ideas and to follow personal scientific interests is allowed of every doctoral researcher. It is our firm belief that this trust in our doctoral candidates‘ liberties and their abilities to develop is the most distinguished feature in the ACP doctoral program – which in fact renders it most competitive to other comparable optics education schemes worldwide. Our long-term experience has shown that this philosophy translates into a timely advancement in self-reliance and individual responsibility of our graduates, which is essential for the development of their scientific careers at higher levels. To further promote the ASP doctoral candidates‘ scientific skills, participation in international conferences and presentation of their own contributions is encouraged and enabled, whenever possible. In the early stage of the doctoral phase, they can realize their individual professional and personalityforming experiences on international platforms such as, in particular, scientific conferences. Further opportunities to connect with global science communities are offered locally by ASP guest professors. Besides the topical input which doctoral researchers obtain by attending the special lectures of the more than 70 guest professors thus far, these distinguished scientists are available for face-to-face discussions here in Jena, to share their perspectives and expertise directly with our doctoral candidates. Both opportunities and challenges for the doctoral candidates are gained through different, interfaculty and interdisciplinary seminars. At topical sessions and workshops in international conference style, which take place at least once per month, our doctoral candidates present their research to a larger audience encompassing also ASP supervisors and interested guests. Furthermore, in the framework of the Lichtwerkstatt Makerspace, creativity and hands-on workshops as well as photonics hackathons have become part of the game. These schemes offer an ideal platform to receive concentrated constructive feedback from fellow doctoral researchers, professors and external coaches, to possibly shift the perspective on their work disclosing formerly disregarded aspects, and to prepare for competitive, demanding on-stage performances as young academics. During the COVID-19 pandemic and and its related restrictions, digital research training schemes, for instance by incorporating Artificial (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, are significantly gaining in importance with regard to scientific communication, exchange and interaction among our ASP doctoral researchers. Workshop on Quantum Photonics in the ACP auditorium in 2021. Former ASP doctoral researchers Rudrakant Sollapur and Zhanna Samsonova in the Laser Lab of ACP PI Daniil Kartashov (from left to right). Firstly in 2011, ASP doctoral researchers‘ own initiative has led to the advent of a fully self-organized, but highly professional conference series on optical concepts called DoKDoK. It is the purpose of DoKDoK to bring together young researchers from all disciplines of photonics to create networks, stimulate discussions, exchange methodological skills and share fundamental understanding. As a conference„from students for students“, DoKDoK tries to harness the creative power of young researchers, giving them the chance to present and discuss their ideas in a motivating yet relaxed setting. Meanwhile in its seventh edition, DoKDoK has become well established and ultimately a permanent part of ACP‘s doctoral program. As a cornerstone of ASP’s doctoral researchers’ networking, it is handed over as an organizational event from one generation to the next. The latest edition of DoKDoK took place in August 2023 in Luisenthal, Germany. On average, more than 60 young researchers and industry professionals attend DoKDoK every year, the majority of them affiliated with ASP, but many of them also from all over Germany and abroad. Moreover, the organizational committee has proven to be able to continuously acquire reputable international keynote speakers as well as to attract considerable funding from the photonics industry. In exchange, by attending DoKDoK, the industry representatives get the chance to approach their high-potential employees of the future in a quite informal atmosphere. BUILDING PERSONALITY BEYOND SCIENCE Besides the development of high-standard scientific profiles, the ASP doctoral program supplies a sophisticated combination of scientific exchange and teaching of required skills. In particular transferable skills, which are essential both for scientific and industrial careers. Combining complementary foci, ASP in close collaboration with the Graduate Academy Jena of the Friedrich Schiller University offers a dense annual seminar schedule covering, among other aspects, transferable skills such as scientific presentations, career prospects, entrepreneurship and patent law, creativity, extramural funding, or topics on gender equality and family friendliness. Additional methodological courses are organized by the ACP principal scientists. Moreover, vivid participation of ASP doctoral researchers in partner workshops and seminars is actively promoted. Numerous opportunities are available through the regular seminars of the Max Planck School of Photonics, Fraunhofer Institute Jena, the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology and the Helmholtz Institute Jena. Group picture of ASP and external doctoral researchers at the DokDok 2022 conference in Arnstadt, Thuringia.
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