Excellent supervision in the doctoral process guarantees high-quality research and teaching in the long term. In the context of the progressive quantification of academic achievements, however, particular commitment to doctoral support is not always recognized. That is why the University of Graz launched the Seraphine Puchleitner Award in 2013, an award for doctoral candidate support that is still unique in Austria.
Seraphine Puchleitner (1870-1952) enrolled in the academic year 1898/99 at the University of Graz. She studied geography as a major and history as a minor and on July 1, 1902 she became the first woman to receive a doctoral degree in philosophy at the University of Graz. The title of her dissertation was: „Versuch einer kartographischen Darstellung der Territorialverteilung Krains unter französischer Verwaltung mit einer Einteilung über die Civilorganisation der illyrischen Provinzen". Seraphine Puchleitner eventually received the teaching qualification and worked as a lyceal teacher.
Criteria for excellent supervision of doctoral candidates
The supervisor
- assists in the preparation of a detailed time and work plan for the dissertation
- provides support and counseling regarding the funding of research projects (research trips, materials, ...)
- imparts rules of good scientific practice (working lege artis, documenting results and critically questioning results, strict honesty, avoiding scientific misconduct)
- is available for questions and help, has sufficient time for regular (at least twice per semester) supervisory talks
- provides coherent and adequate methodological and subject-specific support
- encourages completion of the dissertation within a reasonable time frame
The supervisor
- focuses his/her doctoral seminars/privatissima/doctoral colloquia on the academic development of doctoral researchers
- motivates to regularly participate in doctoral colloquia/privatissima/seminars
- creates a positive climate for productive feedback on thesis presentations
- supports the subject-specific exchange of his/her doctoral candidates
The supervisor
- supports active participation in conferences/summer schools/workshops, etc.
- promotes the exchange with scientific networks/with international experts on the topic of the dissertation
- supports publications by his/her doctoral candidates in journals, proceedings, etc.
- points out academic and non-academic job opportunities and supports doctoral candidates who want to stay in academia
The supervisor
- supports the work-life balance and/or (mental) well-being of doctoral candidates
- treats doctoral candidates as equals and is open to suggestions and contributions to discussions from the doctoral candidates
- takes into account the role of non-academic factors (employment, care responsibilities, linguistic diversity, social and cultural background) for academic careers
Previous award winners
The Seraphine-Puchleitner Prize 2023 was awarded on June 14, 2023 in the ballroom of the auditorium.
The recognition prizes were awarded to Peter BanzerInstitute of Physics and Ursula Renz, Institute of Philosophy.
The main prize went to Walter Doralt (Institute of Civil Law, Foreign and Private International Law).
Here you can find a report on the ceremony.
| Main prize | Prof. Dr. Leonhard Grill (Chemistry) |
| Recognition prizes | Ass.-Prof. Dr. Mathias Benedek (Psychology) |
| Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulla Kriebernegg (Aging and Care Research) | |
| Prof. Dr. Thomas Garber (Civil Procedure and Insolvency Law) |
| Main prize | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Astrid Veronig (Physics) |
| Recognition prizes | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weirer (Catechetics/Religious Education) |
| Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matthias Klatt (Philosophy of Law) |
Main prize | Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Rupert Baumgartner (Systems Science, Innovation and Sustainability Research) |
|---|---|
Recognition prizes | Prof. Dipl.-Psych. Dr. Katja Corcoran (Psychology) |
| Univ.-Prof. Robert Hill, PhD (Economics) | |
| Ao.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Ulrich Hohenester (Physics) |
| Main prize | Prof. Dr. Manuela Paechter (Psychology) |
|---|---|
Recognition prizes | Dr. Tina Ehrke-Rabel (Financial Law) |
| Ao.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl (Philosophy) | |
| Em.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karl Acham (Sociology) |
| Main prize | Prof. Dr. Renate Hansen-Kokoruš (Slavic Studies) |
|---|---|
Recognition prizes | Ao.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Peter Hofmann (Sports Science) |
| Univ.-Prof. Dr. Renate Ortlieb (Personnel Policy) | |
| Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karl Stöger (Austrian, European and Comparative Public Law, Political Science and Public Administration) | |
| O. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Friedrich Zimmermann (Geography and Spatial Research) |
| Main prize | Associate Professor Dr. Christian Fleck (Sociology) |
|---|---|
| Recognition prizes | O. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Renate Pieper (History) |
| Prof. Dr. Michaela Stock (Business Education) | |
| Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Storr (Austrian, European and Comparative Public Law, Political Science and Public Administration) |