The Graduate School of Advanced Research in Integrative Computational Design and Construction offers its doctoral and postdoctoral members optimal support in pursuing their research ambitions and career goals.
Early career researchers have access to a highly interdisciplinary, IntCDC-specific training programme, various mobility options, measures supporting early academic independence including grants and awards as well as assistance in their future career planning.
Doctoral candidates particularly benefit from dual supervision and a tailored core curriculum.
MEMBERSHIP
All early career researchers working in an IntCDC Research Project are automatically members of the Graduate School IntCDC. Other early career researchers who are supervised by an IntCDC Principal Investigator, Participating Researcher or Independent Junior Research Group Leader are also eligible to apply for membership and thus for full access to the support measures and activities of the Graduate School. This relates particularly to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers working in an IntCDC research project without IntCDC-funding, in an associated project of IntCDC or in research associations involved in ArchIDA.
COMMISSION FOR EARLY CAREER SUPPORT
The Graduate School IntCDC is headed by the IntCDC Commission for Early Career Support, which is responsible for its strategic development, its training programme and further support measures and activities. The current members of the commission are:
- Prof. Dr. Cordula Kropp – Member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Commission
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Manfred Bischoff – Principal Investigator
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr. h.c. Volker Schwieger – Principal Investigator
- Dr. Li Zhang – permanent representative of Prof. Dr. Cordula Kropp
- Gili Ron – Representative of the Early Career Board
- Shermin Sherkat – Representative of the Early Career Board
- Benedikt Strahm – Representative of the Early Career Board
- Karolin Tampe-Mai – Early Career Manager (in advisory capacity)
TRAINING PROGRAMME
The Graduate School’s interdisciplinary training programme offers a range of IntCDC-specific activities and events designed to deepen our early career researchers’ scientific knowledge and professional skills.
To learn more about the core curriculum we put together for our doctoral candidates, please click here.
The seminars convey theoretical and methodological skills central to the IntCDC research programme, complementing and expanding the disciplinary approaches of our early career researchers. Usually they are taught by IntCDC Principal Investigators and Participating Researchers. The seminar topics are conceptualized by the Cluster’s Research Project Areas to guarantee a close fit to our current research questions.
The format Early Career meets Visiting Professor gives early career researchers the unique opportunity to meet our visiting professors, and to exchange ideas with the top researchers in the respective field in an informal setting. The professors briefly present aspects of their work and doctoral students and postdocs present their projects and discuss research questions and career paths, job and funding opportunities in the respective countries of origin of the visiting professors. In the spirit of providing excellent supervision for our doctoral students, we try to facilitate exchanges also for small groups wherever possible.
2023
Early Career meets visiting Professor Chris Harty at LCRL Lab Waiblingen
Dean of Built Environment and Architecture at the London South Bank University (LSBU) and Professor of Technology and Organisation.
21 April 2023, 10:00 – 12:00
Early Career meets visiting Professor Tim Schork
Professor at the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology and co-founder and co-director of the Transformative TechnologieLab. More information here
March 16, 2023
2022
Early Career meets visiting Professor Naoki Uchiyama
Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology. He is also visiting Professor at the Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. More information here.
07 October 2022
Early Career meets visiting Professor Martin Tamke
Associate Professor (CITA - Centre for Information Technology and Architecture, Institute of Architecture and Technology, Royal Danish Academy). More information here.
19 April 2022
Cooperation between Digitize Wood and IntCDC Graduate School
The IntCDC Graduate School was able to place 14 early career researchers exclusively in the Digitize Wood workshop “Tree to product - opportunities in the digital timber value”. Speakers Martin Tamke (CITA, DK), Udo Sauter (FVA Forstliche Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt Baden-Württemberg), Forst BW (Ministry Of Rural Affairs And Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg), Tom Svilans (CITA, DK), Markus Lukacevic (IMWS , TU Vienna), Laura Kiesewetter (ICD).
08 April 2022
Optimization methods in civil engineering
An efficient allocation of resources is one of the key aspects of the engineering profession. For structural problems this might translate into minimizing the material usage subject to given manufacturing or acoustic constraints. Although optimization problems in different fields might be completely different, the general methods to solve them are shared across different disciplines. This series of presentations serves as an introduction to the concept of optimization in engineering and its practical applications. The first part "Introduction to Simulation and Optimization in Civil Engineering" will focus in exploring the key elements of an optimization problem and will present examples that can be solved with a dedicated software solution. The second part "Black-Box Optimization for Architects and Engineers" introduces the concept of "black-box optimization" and considers a practical part where the attendees will learn how to solve diverse problems with this approach.
Part 1: 14th of February 2022
Introduction to Simulation and Optimization in Civil Engineering
Presentation by Jan Grasmannsdorf (Altair)
Part II: 17th of February 2022
"Black-Box Optimization for Architects and Engineers
Presentation by Prof. Thomas Wortmann
The two-day Seminar is organized by Research Project Area A.2.
2021
Early Career meets visiting Professor Mollie Claypool
Associate Professor (The Bartlett School of Architecture). More information here.
16 December 2021
Early Career meets visiting Professor Vernelle Noel
Assistant Professor of Architecture + Interactive Computing (Georgia Tech) & Director, Situated Computation + Design Lab. More information here.
13 December 2021
Co-Design beyond the Demonstrator: Idealistic visions vs. realistic prospects?
Prof. Hans Christian Jünger, Prof. Jan Knippers, Prof. Martin Ostermann
22 April 2021, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. via Webex
The ViNe “Visiting IntCDC Institutes” Networking Program is aimed at early career researchers (ECR) of the Cluster of Excellence, its associated projects (APs) and the SRC ArchIDA. It wants to promote mutual acquaintance, interdisciplinary exchange and cross-disciplinary understanding.
The program takes place as a bi-monthly format rotating at the participating institutes.
The respective heads of the institutes (PI or participating researcher) will give an approximately 30-minutes lecture. They present their institute and research field, explain its disciplinary characteristics, their approaches, and current research questions or their current (DFG) projects.
The lecture is followed by a guided tour of the institute and laboratories.
The goal is for ECRs to be acquainted with the institutes participating in IntCDC and develop an understanding of the differences between the disciplines with their specific research questions, ways of thinking and technical terminology. Early career researchers gain insights into the working methods. This will enable them to identify synergies and options for collaboration (interdisciplinarity) within IntCDC. Networking among early career researchers and with the PIs of the cluster is promoted.
Further information and schedule on Confluence.
Contact person:
Karolin Tampe-Mai (Karolin)
Graduate School & Early Career
2023
IntCDC Personal SWOT-Analysis Workshop
In this workshop, early career researchers reflect on their personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) to gain perspective on their career goals and decisions.
The workshop is offered by the Early-Career and Equal-Opportunity managers.
March 15, 2023
Further information on Confluence
The Cluster’s expert guest lecture series “IntCDC Constructive Conversations” ensures a close interaction with the larger research community by hosting renowned national and international scientists, including IntCDC visiting professors, and industry experts to speak on current topics and challenges in the field of IntCDC.
The lecture series is open to the public.
2021
Building and Habitats object Model: A common language for design and multi-representational computation
Dr. Al Fisher – Technical Director and Head of Computational Development (Buro Happold)
13 December 2021
Intersectional and Resilient: New Forms of Automation for Architecture
Prof. Mollie Claypool (The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL)
4 October 2021
Laserscanner - based deformation analysis
Dr. techn. Corinna Harmening (TU Vienna)
26 July 2021
Rethinking Craft: Situated Computations + Repairing Design
Dr. Vernelle Noel (University of Florida)
19 July 2021, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
The harvested, designed and living
Prof. Martin Tamke (CITA)
10 June 2021, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Components for a robot-aided and space-continuous geometric acquisition
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Berndt Neuner (TU Vienna)
04 February 2021, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
IntCDC „Get Together“ are biannual informal meetings open to all IntCDC members. Aiming at community building they encourage networking, sharing of insights and experiences, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
The format is organized by the IntCDC Graduate School together with the IntCDC Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management.
2022
IntCDC Get Together; we meet for a short hike followed by a stop at the Waldheim Heslach
22 June 2022
IntCDC Get Together; Online exchange
12 January 2022
As of 2022, the format will not continue and will be replaced by IntCDC Get Together
IntCDC Early Career Kaffeeklatsch
The “Early Career Kaffeeklatsch” is a monthly, informal meeting for all doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in IntCDC to share insights, experiences and questions on topics relevant for their work / life as early career researchers.
The format is co-organized by the Graduate School IntCDC and the IntCDC Equal Opportunity and Diversity (EO&D) management. For more information on the EO&D sessions, please click here.
2021
Covid-19 and its impact on early career researchers
Dr. Jule Nowoitnick
22 January 2021, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. via Webex
Book vs paper-based – The Ways and Challenges of Writing Your Thesis
Dr. Jule Nowoitnick
28 April 2021, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. via Webex
Work-Work-Balance? Juggling research, publishing, teaching and administrative tasks
Dr. Jule Nowoitnick
30 June 2021, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. via Webex
Walk & Talk
Dr. Jule Nowoitnick
18 August 2021, time and meeting location tba
The Graduate School IntCDC regularly offers key skills workshops on sets of professional expertise and skills specifically linked to our research programme. These include regular workshops on good scientific practice, in which national and international guidelines and recommendations for research work are conveyed and discussed. Depending on the topic, we collaborate with our industry partners, the University of Stuttgart’s Graduate Academy (GRADUS) or the university’s Language Center to implement these workshops.
2021
What happens to your research grant proposal? A reviewer’s perspective
Prof. Manfred Bischoff, Dr. Katherine J. Kuchenbecker, Prof. Daniel Weiskopf
05 July 2021, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. viaWebex
Good Scientific Practice in the fields of IntCDC
Prof. Tobias Schmohl
17 –18 June 2021, full day via Webex
2020
Working in Multicultural Teams in an English-Speaking Environment
Dr. Ines Böhner
22 July 2020, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. via Webex
In our Career Talks, we give the IntCDC insights into possible career paths in an informal atmosphere. Each Talk focuses on a specific career field and connects our researchers to alumni, who share their experience of successfully working in this area.
2022
Career paths in the industry
Oliver David Krieg is visiting Stuttgart from Vancouver. He is an IntCDC alumnus and Chief Technology Officer at Intelligent City and Founder of odk.design.His topics are #aec, #robotics, #masstimber, #computationaldesign and #constructiontechnology.
20 May 2022, 09:00 – 11:00 am in presence at Seidenstraße 36, Stuttgart, room 2.025 (second floor), Karolin Tampe-Mai, Michaela Mey.
2021
Career paths in the industry
Dr. Johannes Gantner (pom+ Consulting AG), Julian Karl (Herrmann+Bosch Architekten), Michaela Mey, Dr. Jule Nowoitnick
15 June 2021, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. via Webex
NextGen is the Excellence Cluster “Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture” (IntCDC) Leadership Program to support high potential junior academics all the way to an academic leadership position. The program is available until the end of the first funding phase of IntCDC (December 2025) and considers three elements: mentorship, qualification and exchange. This should help our junior academics reach the qualification level needed in positions of higher responsibility, as fast as possible. This program is challenging, requiring taking decisions with a high level of autonomy. Towards the end of this program, the participants should apply to at least one leadership or to a more advanced position (e.g., junior professorship) in Germany or abroad. Through this strategy, we intend to expand our IntCDC network, spread our vision and share it with future generations of young academics in Stuttgart and worldwide.
--> Internal) information on requisites, forms and documents
Contact
IntCDC NextGen Leadership Program is a cooperation between Equal Opportunity & Diversity together with Graduate School & Early Career.
Graduate School & Early Career Consultation hours: Tuesdays in even weeks, Room 10.14, K1 |
Carolina García Johnson (Carolina) Diversity & Equal Opportunity Consultation hours: Thursdays, 11:00 – 12:00 Room 10.14, K1 |
The Cluster promotes an active start-up culture in order to spin off and transfer findings into the industry. In cooperation with the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science and the Cluster of Excellence SimTech, we regularly offer lectures, discussion rounds and workshops on entrepreneurial skills as part of the EXC Start-Up Series.
2021
Talk: From Technology to Innovation
Maximilian Franz (Modugen), Ralf Gulde (sereact), Armin Mechias (Cree Buildings), Dr. Clemens Ackermann (Arena2036)
01 July 2021, 04:00 - 06:00 p.m. via Webex
IntCDC get-together
Philipp Häßler (Technology Scout), Marcel Werle (Start-up Coach)
13 April 2021, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. via Webex
Talk: How to combine first founding activities with your role as a researcher?
Philipp Häßler (Technology Scout), Marcel Werle (Start-up Coach), Moritz Dörstelmann (Founder, FibR), Dr. Sven Benson (Founder, Candidum), Prof. Dr. Alexander Brem (Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science), Dr. Eric Heintze (Start-Up Coach)
21 January 2020, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. via Webex
2020
Lecture: Entrepreneurship at the University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Middendorf (Vice Rector for Knowledge and Technology Transfer), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Knippers (Vice Rector for Research & IntCDC Deputy Speaker), Marcel Werle (Start up Coach), Philipp Häßler (Technology Scout)
02 November 2020, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. via Webex
All early career researchers of the University of Stuttgart have access to the general qualification programme offered by GRADUS as well as to the courses and services offered by the University’s Language Center.
MOBILITY AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
We support our early career researchers in gaining international experience and building worldwide networks through international research stays with our academic partners as well as industry secondments in collaboration with our industry partners.
Furthermore, we regularly host academic workshops with our academic and industry partners and offer mentoring opportunities with our industry partners.
The “Research Network for Advancing Architecture, Engineering and Construction” (AdvanceAEC), of which IntCDC is a founding partner, offers our early career researchers further training and facilitates both guided but also individual networking opportunities. AdvanceAEC brings together national and international researchers in the fields of architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, robotics and social sciences.
IntCDC hosts the AdvanceAEC Autumn School 2022. The very first AdvanceAEC Autumn School will lay the foundation for an annually recurring format. This year’s AdvanceAEC Autumn School is hosted by IntCDC and will be part of the Stuttgart Week of Advancing AEC.
The autumn school 2022 is aimed at early career researchers, e.g. master students, PhD students and postdocs from the partner institutions of the AdvanceAEC network.
In the parallel full-day workshops on Tuesday, organized by members of the partner institutions, young scientists will have the opportunity to explore theoretical concepts, test practical skills and become familiar with manufacturing processes, programming languages or computer programs. The 2022 courses will include social sciences, computer science and computation, concrete design, carbon concrete structures, robotics and manufacturing or participation in the CRC 1244 conference.
The Royal Danish Academy is a partner university of the cluster of excellence IntCDC. Some offers of this partner university are also open to the young scientists. Currently the call for registration for the PhD course "SUSTAINABLE FUTURES III - A CRITICAL FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING ARCHITECTURAL RE-SEARCH INTO THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS." is open to our Early Career Researchers.
The course develops and expands the 2020 and 2021 course with the same title. The course is associated the umbrella event UIA2023 World Congress – Sustainable Futures, Leave No One Behind to be held summer 2023 and for which the Science Track is led by Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen (member of the IntCDC Advisory Board) and Martin Tamke (one of our visiting professors).
Link to the call here.
DOCTORAL STUDIES IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
For most early career researchers, the doctorate is the first large-scale, independent research project of their career. We want to offer our doctoral researchers close support to complete this challenge with excellent success and to set them up ideally for their next career step.
Dual supervision of all doctoral researchers as well as regular Status Seminars and Status Colloquia ensure close, structured guidance and full integration into the IntCDC community. A core curriculum introduces them to the IntCDC research framework and serves as basis for their individual qualification programme. Additional courses and activities allow them to tailor the programme to their specific research and career goals.
For more information on doctoral studies in the Graduate School IntCDC, please read the information below and refer to the Regulations for the Graduate School IntCDC for all details.
We emphasize interdisciplinarity in the training and supervision concept of our doctoral researchers. Therefore, every doctoral candidate is advised by two IntCDC supervisors with complementary disciplinary expertise. One of the two supervisors functions as main supervisor within the Graduate School IntCDC and thus as mentor throughout the doctorate.
All doctoral researchers of the Graduate School IntCDC complete a “milestone presentation” approximately 18 to 24 months into their doctoral studies. Here they can review their achievements and progress so far and discuss and adjust the remaining research plan in conversation with both of their IntCDC supervisors.
Doctoral candidates submit a “milestone report” to their supervisor team in preparation for the milestone presentation, which consists of a thirty-minute public lecture followed by a close-door conversation of approx. 60 minutes with both supervisors.
The “milestone presentation” may be replaced by an equivalent public lecture and the “milestone report” by an equivalent (i.e. a publication), if both the lecture and the publication were preceded or followed by a discussion between the doctoral candidate and her or his two supervisors.
To offer further guidance to our doctoral researchers in their work at the Cluster and beyond, we have formulated the following core curriculum for doctoral studies in the Graduate School IntCDC:
- participation in an IntCDC interdisciplinary early career seminar;
- participation in an IntCDC summer school, an IntCDC conference or an equivalent scientific event in the research field of IntCDC;
- participation in a key skills workshop on “Good Scientific Practice”.
To learn more about the general framework of doctoral studies at the University of Stuttgart, please click here or contact the Graduate Academy (GRADUS).
For more detailed information on doctoral studies in the Graduate School IntCDC, please refer to the Regulations for the Graduate School IntCDC or contact the Cluster’s Early Career Manager, Karolin Tampe-Mai.
POSTDOC SUPPORT
Beyond the general programme of the Graduate School, we offer our postdoctoral researchers specific support in building a network and visibility to reach their individual career goals within or beyond academia.
IntCDC Postdoc Meeting & Info Session “Habilitation – Requirements, Procedures, Prospects”
Dr. Jürgen Hädrich (GRADUS)
09 June 2021, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. via Webex
Info Session “National and EU Funding Opportunities for Postdocs”
Dr. Bettina Ahrens-Diez (Project Office), Heinke Claß (EU Office)
22 June 2021, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. via Webex
In addition, we regularly organize IntCDC Postdoc Meetings to stay connected and discuss and develop further specific measure.
Contact

Karolin Tampe-Mai
Dipl.-Ing.Graduate School & Early Career