About me

Being closely connected to research and research careers has been a defining theme throughout my own professional journey.

After finishing my studies in physics and a PhD in Biomathematics, I initially worked as a scientist in this field, experiencing both the challenging and the joyful sides of academic life.

During my second postdoctoral position, I decided to change careers and work with people instead of equations. I moved to a large funding agency, where I spent more than 16 years advising and training international researchers to get funding for their research. I was supporting several European research funding programmes, among others as National Contact Point for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, a funding scheme with focus on the career development of researchers. I was also actively involved in multiple European projects as trainer, facilitator, and project manager, always enjoying the internationality and diversity within these projects.

My own pathway and many encounters and conversations with researchers eventually led me to the decision to bring my support for researchers to a new level. In 2021, I started my own business as an independent systemic coach, and since 2023, I've been fully self-employed, offering training and systemic coaching to researchers.

Qualifications

Certifications:

Personality Profiler Coach (LINC GmbH, 2025)
Visual Communication (Visuals for Business, 2023)
Systemic Solution-Focused Coaching (seminar consult Prohaska, 2020)
Trainer for Adult Education (wba – Austrian Academy of Continuing Education, 2012)

In addition, I have completed numerous trainings on specific topics, such as career coaching, leadership coaching, facilitation, moderation and communication. I enjoy learning new things and regularly attend further training and supervision to ensure quality.

What my clients say

"We have been working successfully with Dr. Yasmin Dolak-Struss for several years, both in coaching and training, to support the individual career development of our pre- and post-doctoral researchers. We particularly appreciate the professional, co-operative and creative exchange with Yasmin. Thanks to her own professional experience in and outside academia, Yasmin has a special understanding of the issues and challenges faced by (young) researchers. The tailor-made training formats are particularly characterised by her expertise and interactivity. The positive feedback from our participants speaks for itself."

Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft Career Center

Dipl. BW (FH) Susanne Leeb, MSc
Director LBG Career Center

"Yasmin was the right coach at the right time! With her calm, attentive and friendly manner, she accompanied me on the way to my first desired career change and gave me very helpful reflection tasks on the topics of self-perception and perception of others, assessment of strengths and weaknesses and criteria for the next career choice, which strengthened me in my decision-making processes regarding applications and job changes."

H.B., Researcher and Project Manager

"We've been working with Yasmin Dolak-Struss since the establishment of the PostDoc Office at the University of Graz in 2022. She has been instrumental in shaping the PostDoc Peer Mentoring Programme and is a valued, often-used coach for the 1:1 external coaching sessions we offer to postdoctoral researchers. From talks and co-facilitation we organized with her we can also state that she is a creative and engaging public speaker and facilitator. Researchers especially value her background in research management. Apart from her subject matter expertise, Yasmin is easy to work with, reliable, and responsive."

Dr. Johanna Stadlbauer
Head of the Research Career Campus Universität Graz

"It was a wonderful and constructive learning environment. Putting what we learned into practice with colleagues immediately was great."

"I loved the workshop and I am really grateful for it! It inspired me and gave me a lot of encouragement!"

"The interactive activities were great and very engaging, and I really liked the exchange of experiences and the friendly and intimate atmosphere."

Workshop Feedback

"Dr. Yasmin Dolak-Struss is professional, knowledgeable, wise, and human. A very rare combination. Let the fact that her academic expertise is in math and physics not mislead you, she understands people on a deep psychological level. Her positive attitude is contagious and a great asset when working towards solutions to tough problems. Her broad experience provides fresh and diverse perspectives. I cannot recommend working with her enough."

V.S., Postdoctoral Researcher