July 10, 2015 | News | Save The Date

10th birthday of the European Doctoral School of Demography

On September 1, 2015, the European Doctoral School of Demography (EDSD) celebrates its 10th birthday. The program will include a symposium on education as well as opportunities for young scholars to meet with eminent demographers and other participants to discuss their research plans and scientific career development.

The European Doctoral School of Demography is an eleven-month program in demography intended for young researchers in the first year of their doctoral education. The School opened its doors on September 1, 2005. The EDSD aims to prepare students to pursue a PhD in demography afterwards. Most EDSD graduates complete their PhD at one of the 17 EDSD sponsoring organizations. A career in academia is an option for some, but it is not for everyone. Many PhDs are switching into careers outside academia.

On the occasion of the school’s 10th birthday, the MPIDR organizes a Symposium at the Institute:

Non-Academic Career Options for PhDs in Demography

Sept. 1, 2015, 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the MPIDR, Rostock, Germany

This symposium discusses career paths for recent PhDs in demography, emphasizing careers outside academia. The symposium will bring together (i) representatives from potential employers, (ii) EDSD alumni and demography PhDs in non-academic jobs, and (iii) academic “educators” in demography, i.e., senior scientists heading doctoral programs in demography. In the first round of presentations, representatives from potential employers will describe career options for demography PhDs at their respective institutions/firms, with a focus on the skills and the knowledge the PhDs are expected to bring to the job. In the second round of presentations, EDSD alumni and demography PhDs working in non-academic settings will report on their experiences. In the third round of presentations, “educators” (EDSD and otherwise) will describe how their programs prepare students for a career in- and outside of academia.

For registration information, please see the Conference Website. Registration deadline is August 2.

Please note that one day prior to the symposium, another event is scheduled that might be interesting for you: The 3rd Conference of the Rostocker Ring, an initiative that helps friends, alumni, and current members of the MPIDR stay in touch, will take place on August 31, 2015. For further information and registration, please see the Conference Website.

About the EDSD
The European Doctoral School of Demography was founded in 2005 on the initiative of the European Association for Population Studies (EAPS). It is an 11-month program open to students with a master's degree, and who are enrolled in the first year of a European PhD program. Students acquire a solid knowledge base on the causes and consequences of demographic change, population data, statistical and mathematical demography, modeling, simulation, and forecasting. It currently receives the support of 12 universities (Groningen, Lund, Roma, Rostock, Stockholm, Tallinn, Warsaw School of Economics, London School of Economics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Université catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, University of Southampton, University of Southern Denmark) and 5 research institutions (CED, INED, MPIDR, NIDI, VID).