Career Talk with Carolina Bonmassar
SAVE THE DATE: July 06, 2025 (2:00 pm, online)
#13 Career Talk with CAROLINA BONMASSAR (Project Coordinator for the Female Scientists Network (FSN) & for the FDIBA Project, OVGU Magdeburg)
Topic: “ Beyond the Lab: Transferable Skills and Global Career Transitions. Navigating new beginnings after the PhD through international experience and adaptive skills ” (ENGL.)
About the SPEAKER:
Carolina Bonmassar was born in Italy and studied Cognitive Science and Psychology – Neuroscience at the University of Trento. From 2018 to 2023, she pursued her PhD here at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN) in Magdeburg in the field of developmental psychology and auditory cognition in children. Her thesis topic was: The effects of emotion on involuntary attention in children and adults. In addition to her scientific work, she took on a variety of organizational and coordinating roles early on in international research projects and science communication, and served as a PhD representative at the LIN, among other roles.
After completing her doctorate, Carolina Bonmassar made a conscious decision to pursue a personal and professional reorientation: Together with her partner, she traveled through Latin America, South-East Asia and Australia for a year before gradually transitioning into science management. Since February 2025, Carolina Bonmassar has been working as a project manager on the FDIBA project at Otto von Guericke University (OVGU) Magdeburg. There, she coordinates the development of an international dual-degree program in computer science and doctoral training in collaboration with partner institutions in Germany and Bulgaria. Since June 2025, she has also served as coordinator of the Female Scientist Network at OVGU and is committed to networking and supporting female scientists.
About the CAREER TALK:
In the Career Talk, Carolina Bonmassar will discuss her personal career path—from her studies in psychology and neuroscience in Italy, through her doctoral research at the LIN, to her current work in science and project management at OVGU. She will also discuss her deliberate career break after completing her PhD: Together with her partner, she traveled through Latin America, South-East Asia and Australia for a year before reorienting her career and entering the field of science management.
Another focus of the talk is the so-called transferable skills gained from her PhD and her travels: Which skills from the PhD are valuable not only within academia but also beyond? Why was that year-long break so beneficial, and why was it necessary after completing her PhD? What skills help one navigate new professional contexts, build networks, and “make a good impression”? Carolina Bonmassar will share insights into her experiences spanning research, international collaboration, project coordination, and science communication, and will speak openly about transitions, uncertainties, and new opportunities after the PhD."
After 20-40 minutes, you can take the opportunity to ask Carolina the questions that are burning on your mind. The ONLINE CAREER TALK lasts a total of one hour.
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Access:
https://eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/67863613745?pwd=DZ2JiEMWoZ0Ici0RYAyj8ruygtgNBW.1
Meeting-ID: 678 6361 3745
Kenncode: 252531
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