Night Writers Club: Productive writing in a co-working space

03/03/2026

On March 12, the JMU Graduate Academy is once again inviting doctoral candidates and postdocs to the Night Writers Club, which offers a space for co-working, exchange of peers and time to work on a project.

The next Night Writers Club for doctoral candidates and postdocs from all disciplines will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the University of Würzburg. From 3 to 9 p.m., an inspiring co-working space will be available in the Graduate Schools building on the North Campus. Participants can work on dissertations, scientific articles or other projects. Registration is not required – just drop by and get started.

In addition to a shared workspace, the Night Writers Club also offers space for exchange in a relaxed atmosphere. Snacks and coffee breaks encourage conversation among participants.

Similar challenges across disciplines

“Many appreciate the mutual exchange because it can be very motivating”, says Dr. Natalie Rauscher, managing director of the JMU Graduate Academy, which organises the event. Although everyone works on their own individual topics, they face very similar challenges: for example, finding the time to start writing alongside teaching commitments and everyday institute work, staying focused in the final phase of the dissertation or meeting self-set writing goals.

Career prospects are also a topic of discussion at the Night Writers Club, for example questions such as “What qualifications are useful for my academic career?” or “What happens after the doctorate?” Natalie Rauscher is on hand to help with advice and tips.

The club is open every second Thursday

The Night Writers Club originated from the “Long Night Against Procrastination”, which the Graduate Academy offered for the first time in autumn 2025 in collaboration with the Graduate School of Life Sciences and which will also take place again in 2026. “The feedback from participants clearly showed that they want a regular event of this kind”, says Natalie Rauscher.

And so the Night Writers Club now takes place every two weeks. Specific dates are available on the Graduate Academy's website

Umbrella structure for interdisciplinary qualifications

The Night Writers Club is part of the JMU Graduate Academy’s interdisciplinary programme. The Graduate Academy, which was founded at the end of 2024, is as an umbrella structure for doctoral candidates and postdocs of all faculties and graduate schools.

More formats are in the planning stage. For example, the Academy team will organise events and workshops on good research practice and science communication.

Informative website

The JMU Graduate Academy also offers comprehensive support online: its website provides information for prospective doctoral candidates from all over the world on how to obtain a doctorate at JMU (“Earning your doctorate in ten steps”).

Researchers who supervise doctoral candidates will also find helpful information, as will young researchers looking for guidance on their career path after completing their doctorate.

Interested parties can sign up for the mailing list or follow the Graduate Academy on Instagram