WINTER SCHOOL: SCIENTIFIC BRANDING OF EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS AND POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITIES (SDG 4 – Quality Education)

Zhandos Tauanov, PhD, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Chemical Physics and Materials Science at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, participated as an experienced speaker in the Winter School for professional development of young specialists held at Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, where he shared his academic and research experience.

Within the framework of the Winter School, conducted under the theme “Promoting Research Outcomes,” more than 50 early-career researchers, PhD candidates, and master’s students took part in the sessions. The speaker-led modules focused on strategic academic career development, increasing research visibility, and effectively engaging with international research opportunities.

The first module was dedicated to “Building a Personal Scientific Brand for Early-Career Researchers.” The session addressed the concept of scientific branding, researcher positioning within the academic ecosystem, identifying a focused research direction, and aligning it with global scientific trends. Practical approaches were discussed, including active engagement at scientific conferences, asking impactful questions, participation in workshops, professional communication with leading authors, and involvement in review papers and special issues of international journals.

The second module focused on postdoctoral programs and career pathways after the PhD. This part highlighted postdoctoral opportunities available in Kazakhstan, including university-based and grant-funded programs, as well as international postdoctoral positions. Participants were introduced to key requirements for postdoctoral applications, preparation of competitive academic portfolios, publication strategies, and building sustainable international research networks.

PhD, ass. prof., Tauanov Zh.T.