Before you start/ the very first week

Getting your Contract (PhD, postdoc)

1. Lena will initiate the employment process. The HHU HR office will reach out to you via e-mail and send several forms to fill in and sign. Have your BSc, MSc PhD transcripts, certificates, CV, birth certificate etc. at hand.
2. Request a certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis nach §30 Abs. 5 BZRG zur Vorlage bei einer deutschen Behörde) in the local town hall where you are currently registered or using the online platform, and send it directly to the university/ HR office. If arriving from outside Germany, an equivalent police clearance certificate needs to be obtained from your country of residence: contact local authorities.
3. For getting access to the facilities, be in contact with Lena several weeks before you start. You'll need a transponder. To get them, sign the "Schließberechtigung" forms.  Lena will organize this for you - see your Schließgruppe here.
4. If suggested by HR, you will need to have a medical check-up at the Betriebsarzt, contact betriebsarzt@med.uni-duesseldorf.de or visit their website. Register for an appointment as soon as possible after receiving your contract, since there can be waiting times of several months. 

1. Lena will add you to Slack and prepare your contract. Check with her whether you should come by before your official starting date to pick up keys. 
2. Once you have your contract, you will receive your IDM (Identity Management Number or university username) via post - this letter will contain all information about activation and what to use it for. This also gives you access to the university email server. Find more information here.
3. You can start now the registration process (PhD applicable only).
4. Create a Google Account/ Email. Contact Rachel from your university email account (to avoid being classified Spam), explaining that you are starting in the group, when your will start, what your future role will be and stating that you need permissions and if applicable, a laptop. Include the adress of your new Google Account in the email and your IDM. You don't need to add more information, Rachel will know what to do. 
   It is recommended to create a new Google Account/ Email adress for work-related purposes to ensure a work-life-balance.
5. Rachel will also have set up your new laptop and you can collect it from her on the first day. Inform her when you will want to do this. 
   Please note that this laptop is only intended for work-related usage and does not replace a private laptop!
6. Check with Kora for the Website. Make an appointment for a photo and write a little introduction to yourself (check under Team for examples).
7. Before you are allowed to start any experimental work, you need to get a safety introduction from Guido Reiß - there is a form to sign at the end, only then is the lab insurance valid. Get in touch with Guido directly to make an appointment. You cannot do any lab work until this form is signed. Further, if you are going to work in the S1 (biosafety) lab, speak to Lena about the required safety introduction.

8. Visit the Anything Google section and assemble a list of the google calendars you will need access to. Send the complete list to Rachel and specifically ask to be added to all relevant calendars. Sending multiple requests will heavily increase the workload for Rachel!

9. If your already have the IDM - go to the Wiki pages on IT-Setup. Read through them and install whatever is required for your work. 

10. Make yourself familiar with Chemotion, our electronic lab notebook software and DaMaRIS, our chemical inventory. 
11. You can apply for the HHU card online at IDM, but only once you have student status (i.e. for reduced price food in the cafeterias). As a postdoc or permanent employee, you can get a Mensacard. Please update here if you have gone though the process of getting a non-PhD HHU card.