As a junior research group leader, you can initiate and implement your own research projects by leading an independent junior research group and thus qualify for a professorship or other leadership position.
Four central topics for Junior Research Group Leaders
What is the leadership of a junior research group?
Junior research group leaders apply for their position (usually 5 years) and the additional funds for doctoral and/or postdoctoral positions themselves. In addition, the research projects are provided with good equipment and their own budget so that you and your team can implement your specific research project. The programs thus offer very attractive conditions, so the competition is correspondingly strong. Therefore, please take advantage of the advice offered by the Research Funding Office at the University of Tübingen regarding applications for the various funding programs.
In recent years, these positions have become highly sought after in order to qualify for a professorship. The university legislation provides for habilitation and junior professorship as well as other scientific activities, including the leadership of a junior research group. However, there are great differences between the individual departments.
In order to apply for a junior research group program, a doctorate with above-average grades, other relevant publications, international research experience, at least two years of postdoctoral experience and a research project are required. The most important funding programs in Germany are the Emmy-Noether Program of the DFG and, at EU level, the ERC-Starting-Grants. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research also supports junior research groups and regularly announces research programs. In addition, foundations also offer a variety of funding programs and prizes. Many universities also set up their own junior research groups and advertise corresponding positions as part of their excellence strategy or state programs.
The tasks of a junior research group leader may include, in addition to research and leading their team, supervising doctoral students' dissertations and theses, as well as teaching. In order to fill this leadership position well, it is essential to address the topics of supervision and leadership at an early stage. The Graduate Academy regularly offers courses in both areas.
Depending on the funding program, an interim evaluation, similar to the junior professorship, is scheduled after half of the funding period. In this process, reviewers check whether the junior research group will be continued and whether the funds will be approved for the remaining term.
Researcher Development Program
In addition to these funding formats, the Graduate Academy offers a broad workshop program in the Researcher Development Program in the areas of intercultural skills, career, funding programs and leadership.
Funding opportunities
There are various information and counseling opportunities for the financial support of young researchers at the university. Are you a doctoral student, postdoc or habilitant and would like to find out about financing options?
Focus: dependent on the research facility Target group: Postdocs, three years after their graduation Features: No central program, but regular career stage. Positions are advertised via the respective institutes. If possible, the positions should be provided with a tenure option.
Focus: energy, our globe and environment; health, key technologies, materia, Aeronautics, space and transport Target group: 2 to 6 years after graduation with a stay abroad of at least 6 months Duration of funding: 5 years Financial Framework: 250.000 Euro per annum minimum Features: Tenure-option, accompanying qualificationprogram and mentoringprogram, junior research group leaders are to be appointed jointly by the center and the university.
Focus:Industry-oriented and application-oriented research Target group: Postdocs and Professors Duration of funding: 5 Jahre Financial framework: 2,5 Mio. Euros maximum Features: Two application rounds per year, up to 8 groups are accepted annually. Candidates and institutes develop the application together. Institutes bear 50 percent of the funding, headquarters the other 50 percent. Group should generate its own income in the second part of the funding phase. Tailor-made training program, perspective for own group at Fraunhofer Institute.
Focus: No special focus Target groups: 2-7 years after graduation Duration of funding: 5 years Financial framework: up to 1,5 Mio. Euros (in exceptional cases up to 2 million euros) Features: EU-wide funding instrument. For the application you need a "Host Commitment Letter" from your host institution that it is the "applicant legal entity" and offers you adequate research conditions. Application via the European Commission's electronic submission system, should be in English.
Focus: Institute-oriented Target groups:up to 7 (Medicine: 9) years after graduation, experience abroad is preferred Duration funding: 5 + 2 + 2 years Financial framework: open financing: W2 (civil servant status) Features: There are institute-owned research groups (advertised by the individual Max Planck Institutes), open-topic research groups (advertised centrally), and Minerva groups (exclusively for female scientists); application and letters of recommendation in English; application in electronic form; for central applications, contact the desired institute beforehand.
Focus: No special focus Target groups: 2 to 4 years after graduation, at least 12 months research-related stay abroad Duration of funding: 5 years, in exceptional cases: 6 years
Finanzieller Rahmen: no cap Features: Research institution to which one wishes to join must enter into a model contract. Application possible at any time; assistant professors can apply for group funding.
Target groups: Graduation within the last four years; Affiliation with a research institution in Germany; successful change of academic environment; stay abroad
Duration of : max. 5 (+3) years or 6 (+2) years
Features: Funding is provided for exceptional, high-risk science between established research fields; funding for science outreach and communication; special family-related benefits; additional funding for scientists who have fled the country; continuing education measures.
