A doctorate opens up new perspectives
Many graduates immediately tick off the topic of a doctorate. Perhaps a little too hastily, because who is really interested in it? Jennifer did and is now doing her doctorate in the field of location-based services at the Department of Information Systems. She sees the research, diversity and freedom during her doctorate as great opportunities to develop herself and find her own path.
Jennifer knew exactly what she wanted to study ever since she saw a map of the city of Paderborn that visualised the exact travel time of the fire brigade to individual locations. This simple visualisation of location-dependent data inspired her and from then on she knew: "I want to do that one day. Topics such as data analysis are often complex. Visualisations in maps help to make expert knowledge accessible to everyone." The Paderborn native found out that the relevant degree programme is the subject area of geoinformatics. "It's not often available in Germany and unfortunately not at Paderborn University either. That's why I went to Hamburg to study. Otherwise I would have liked to stay here."
First work experience, then back to university
She completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the Hanseatic city within the standard period of study in order to return to East Westphalia to start her career. Finding a job with her degree was no problem, but the 27-year-old had imagined it would be easier to familiarise herself with her new job. "You're fresh out of university, full of knowledge and want to apply it straight away. But structures and working methods that have been in place for years don't change overnight and you don't have the standing in a company to change everything straight away."
The motivated young professional stays with the company for two years until her sister sees a call for proposals for a doctoral position. "The job description was a great fit for me and I applied straight away." Even though Jennifer hadn't thought about doing a doctorate. "After my Master's degree, I didn't feel like studying any more! But after two years in business, I was drawn back to university. And the reputation of business informatics at Paderborn University is excellent. I probably wouldn't have gone to another university."
Why the doctorate?
"I see my doctorate as an opportunity to try myself out again and discover new perspectives and opportunities." She is not doing a doctorate for the money, but to develop herself further. "I would compare it to a semester abroad. You don't do it for your CV, but for yourself. So I'm also working for my own personal development."
And what do you actually do there?
She has now been doing her doctorate for a year at the Chair of Information Systems, in particular Business Information Systems under Prof Dr Daniel Beverungen, where she is researching in the field of location-based services. But what exactly does a doctorate actually involve? Writing a doctoral dissertation for ages and then eventually receiving a doctorate? Or is there perhaps more to it than that?
"A doctorate is really varied and I work on many different projects with many different people from research and business." What's more, it doesn't last forever; on average, it takes four years, during which you are employed at the university. In addition to the most well-known component of the academic dissertation, the doctoral dissertation, the scope of a doctorate also includes doctoral studies, teaching, projects, conferences, publications and networking.
Depending on the requirements of the chair, the doctoral dissertation can either be written as a monograph and then deal with an independent topic of everyday work. Or - and many people are not yet familiar with this - it can be structured cumulatively. In this case, several publications are included in the thesis and placed in an overarching scientific context. The publications should fit together thematically, but the choice of topic is much more flexible, as the context can expand and change with each new publication.
In the doctoral programme, which comprises 30 ECTS credits, you learn methods for the doctorate and the focus is on scientific work. With their knowledge, doctoral candidates are good supervisors for theses, accompany seminars and lead exercises. "I particularly enjoy working with students. I already have experience as a tutor from my own degree programme." In the next semester, Jennifer will be accompanying the Smart Service project seminar and the Project Management & IT Consulting lecture, where students will take part in a simulation game as part of the associated exercise in which a geoinformation system is to be introduced at the fire service.
In addition to teaching, research is of course also a large part of the doctorate. "I work on various projects and try to contribute my knowledge and skills to them. The topics are often very different." On the one hand, she is involved in the SICP project FLEMING and contributes her knowledge of location-based data and geoinformation systems in the context of energy supply.
Realising her own research project
Her own project came about through a networking conversation with a colleague from another chair in the department. Together they are working on the prediction of house prices. They want to be able to tell how much a house is worth by analysing its (geographical) location and using Street View images. An exciting topic in the ongoing debate about affordable housing and a great contribution to their doctoral dissertation.
The results from projects are then often published in conference papers or journals and presented at conferences. On the one hand, it's good feedback, and on the other, it's an opportunity to get to know people and network. "You get around and discuss a lot of topics. For example, about the fact that there are still very few women in business informatics and how this could be changed."
All doors open
Jennifer doesn't yet know exactly what she wants to do after her doctorate. "I now have another chance to reorient myself. I could also imagine becoming a professor. You can only take this path after a successful doctorate and I enjoy teaching." But she hasn't ruled out returning to the world of business either. What is clear, however, is that Jennifer wants to stay in the Paderborn area.
Do you want that too?
We are one of the few faculties in Germany to offer a structured doctoral programme. This enables you to deepen your specialist knowledge to the tune of 30 ECTS credits and thus acquire the tools for your research activities.
