ACADEMIC FUTURES
Profile
Academic Futures is the platform of Dr. Thomas Koch for consulting and training at universities
and research institutions.
International Research Experience and Institutional Perspective
Dr. Thomas Koch
Thomas Koch is the founder of Academic Futures and is responsible for the platform’s substantive and conceptual direction.
As a physical chemist with a doctorate, he brings his own international research experience together with many years of work in research management and strategic development contexts at universities and research institutions.
This combination continues to shape Academic Futures today: in strategy-related consulting as well as in training programmes that support academic careers.
Thomas Koch combines long-standing experience in research, research management and strategy development at universities and research institutions. Trained as a physical chemist, he completed his doctorate in the United Kingdom and worked for more than ten years in international research environments, including in the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
From 2002 to 2015, he held senior positions in research management and university administration at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and LMU Munich. During this period, his work covered strategy processes, research funding, transfer and early-career researcher support. At LMU Munich, he headed the department for research funding and early-career researcher support and was responsible for a unit of more than 50 staff. At Ruhr-Universität Bochum, he worked in senior and coordinating roles closely connected to institutional development and strategy.
Since 2016, he has worked independently through Academic Futures. Through this platform, he combines strategy-related consulting with tailored workshop and development formats for universities and research institutions.
Extended Where Appropriate
Complementary Expertise
Complementary expertise is brought in selectively where it adds substantive value.
Dr. Anke Soemer
Science Management and Transfer
Anke Soemer contributes additional expertise in science management, transfer-related development and institutional planning in major German research organisations.
Anke Soemer has many years of experience in science management in major non-university research organisations. Since 2015, she has worked at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, currently as Senior Advisor in the Presidential Office with a focus on research strategy and digital policy.
Before that, she spent fifteen years at the Max Planck Society, most recently as head of a unit for early-career support, International Max Planck Research Schools and equal opportunities.
Within Academic Futures, her expertise is particularly relevant for strategy processes, transfer-related development and contexts that benefit from a strong understanding of the German research and innovation system.
Dr. Brigitte Weiss-Brummer
European Research Council
Brigitte Weiss-Brummer contributes additional expertise in European research funding, particularly in ERC-related proposal consultation, interview preparation and mock panels.
Brigitte Weiss-Brummer combines extensive experience in European research funding with particular expertise in the preparation of ERC proposals. Originally trained in biology and genetics, with both a doctorate and a habilitation, she also brings broad international research experience and a strong background in research management and higher-education administration.
From 2008 to 2017, she headed the EU Office at LMU Munich. Since the introduction of the ERC in 2007, she has supported more than 100 successful ERC proposals and has worked independently since 2018 as a consultant, trainer and expert.
Within Academic Futures, her expertise is particularly relevant for ERC proposal preparation, interview training, mock panels and selected formats in the field of European research funding and EU-related research support.
Further Information
Further insights into institutional contexts, implementation experience and possible formats can be found under Track Record, Strategy & Organisational Development and Training Programmes & Workshops.