In this special episode, Lisa Straetmans and Maren Bertheau engage in a reflective conversation about their experiences of becoming mothers while pursuing academic careers. Drawing on their perspectives as both researchers and parents, they discuss the challenges of balancing doctoral studies with pregnancy and early motherhood, including managing thesis writing, manuscript submissions, and the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy. The discussion addresses a central question faced by many academics: whether there is an optimal time for parenthood within academia. Lisa and Maren also examine practical considerations such as attending conferences with a child, establishing support networks, and redefining productivity and academic success after becoming parents. We hope that this episode offers a thoughtful and reassuring perspective for researchers who are navigating, or considering, parenthood alongside academic life. This episode was created with the support of the Science Communication of Psychology team, and we extend special thanks to the Media Technology and Production team at the University of Oldenburg for their technical support.

Fun fact: Maren was also the very first guest in this podcast!

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast yourself or know someone who should be a guest, please contact us!

• E-Mail: iamscientistpodcast@gmail.com
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In this special episode, Mareike Daeglau (Postdoc, Neuropsychology ) and Ilona Gerbsomer (Master’s student in Clinical Audiology) talk openly with each other about what it really means to become a mother during academic training. They share honest reflections on fears, timing, asking for help, and the everyday balancing act of studying, working, and caring for young children. This conversation makes space for uncertainty, flexibility, and the moments where things don’t go as planned and shows that there isn’t one “right” way to combine family and academia. This episode was created with the support of the Science Communication of Psychology team, and we extend special thanks to the Media Technology and Production team at the University of Oldenburg for their technical support.

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast yourself or know someone who should be a guest, please contact us!

• E-Mail: iamscientistpodcast@gmail.com
• X/Twitter: @i_am_scientist_
• Instagram: i_am_scientist_podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shownotes

Bei unserem heutigen Gespräch haben wir es bereut, dass wir keinen Videopodcast machen. Annika Schiefner nimmt uns mit in ihre Forschung im Bereich der Gebärdensprache und zeigt uns dabei manchmal bildlich, wie „ikonisch“ manche Wörter tatsächlich sind. Wir sprechen aber auch viel über Sprache und darüber, wie viel wir über die Gebärden über unser Verständnis der gesprochenen Sprache lernen können. Aktuell macht sie ihren Post-Doc in Amsterdam, bei dem sie ihre Forschung zur Gebärdensprache mit digitalen Lernprogrammen für junge Menschen verknüpft.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Start

(00:01:53) Wo bist du aufgewachsen? Was ist Schlonztorte?

(00:08:30) Wie und was hast du studiert? Wie bist du zur Gebärdensprache gekommen?

(00:17:45) Wie bist du zur Promotion gekommen?

(00:21:12) Woran hast du geforscht? Was ist Ikonizität?

(00:35:04) Wie funktioniert Gebärdensprache? - Sprache ist ein tolles Thema!

(01:00:48) Post-Doc in Amsterdam

(01:14:58) Engagement Junge Sprachwissenschaftler*innen

(01:18:20) Teil des Zia-Netzwerk der Zeit

(01:21:06) Over / Under / Richtig

Weiterführende Infos:

• Transkript zur Folge: https://cloud.uol.de/s/4FJNj9KegSDg3ps
• Junge Sprachwissenschaften: https://www.junge-sprachwissenschaft.de
• Zia Netzwerk: https://zeitfuerx.de/forschung/zia-fellows-kennenlernen/

Wenn ihr selbst mal im Podcast zu Gast sein wollt oder jemanden kennt, der zu Gast sein sollte, dann kontaktiert uns gerne!

• E-Mail: iamscientistpodcast@gmail.com
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/i-am-scientist.bsky.social
• Instagram: i_am_scientist_podcast
• X/Twitter: @i_am_scientist_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.