​F*ck Up Night – When Failure Makes You a Better Scientist

Failure is part of science, but it rarely makes it into publications, conference talks, or CVs. On September 24, researchers from different career stages and scientific backgrounds came together at the International Club of the University of Bonn for the 4th edition of our “F*ck Up Night – When Failure Makes You a Better Scientist.” As part of Postdoc Appreciation Week, three speakers shared very different and personal stories about setbacks, difficult decisions, and the lessons they learned along the way.

Paula Schrage, PhD researcher at the University of Bonn, opened up about a challenging period during her doctoral research in her talk “A story about losing joy and finding it again.” She described finding herself caught in a cycle of anxiety, self-doubt, stress, and increasing pressure during one year of her PhD. Most importantly, however, she talked about how she managed to break that cycle and gradually rediscover the curiosity and joy that had originally drawn her to research. Her perspective offered an honest insight into a side of doing a PhD that is often difficult to talk about openly.

Prof. Daphne Soares, a neuroethologist from the New Jersey Institute of Technology who is currently spending a sabbatical at our institute, focused on another challenge in science: Our own ego. Drawing on experiences from her research career, she reflected on moments when being too invested in a hypothesis or expected outcome influenced the way she approached a scientific question, sometimes costing valuable time and research funding. Her message was a reminder that experience does not make scientists immune to mistakes. Staying curious, remaining open to unexpected results, and being willing to let go of one's own assumptions are essential parts of good science.

Prof. Michael Roßbach took the audience on a journey through the many stages and turns of his career, spanning academia, industry, entrepreneurship, and investment. Rather than presenting a straightforward success story, he spoke about projects and decisions that worked and others that did not, about changing direction, taking risks, and also losing corporate money along the way. His career story highlighted how rarely professional paths develop exactly as planned and emphasized the importance of being courageous in making decisions while remaining honest with yourself about what you actually want.

Despite their very different stories, all three talks shared a common message: Careers in science are rarely straightforward, and setbacks can take many forms. Sometimes they are failed experiments or wrong decisions, sometimes they involve questioning your own assumptions, and sometimes they mean losing sight of why you enjoyed science in the first place.

Following the talks, the audience had plenty of time to continue the conversation over pizza and drinks. The relaxed atmosphere at the International Club once again encouraged open discussions about failure, resilience, career choices, and the realities behind scientific success.

The event was organized by us as part of Postdoc Appreciation Week, in collaboration with NeurotechEU. A big thank you to Paula Schrage, Daphne Soares, and Michael Roßbach for sharing their experiences so openly and to everyone who joined us, asked questions, and contributed their own perspectives. The evening once again showed how valuable it can be to talk not only about what worked, but also about everything that happened along the way.