Junior research group leaderships at Paderborn University
The leadership of a group of junior scientists/academics as a career step enables research-focused junior scientists/academics to work independently and assume management responsibility at an early stage. Junior research group leaders independently conduct research and teach in certain areas and lead their own research group. In doing so, they gain qualifications for executive scientific and academic positions, i.e. in particular for an appointment as professor.
Junior research group leaderships play an important role in the research profile of Paderborn University: They act as a temporary supplement or expansion of existing research focuses and enable the probing of new fields of research.
A junior research group leaderships is awarded at UPB with a formal, official and standardised status within the university. The corresponding procedure is regulated in the Junior Research Group Leader Regulations at Paderborn University. The Tenure-Board is in charge of the quality assurance of the processes involved.
Prerequisites for a junior research group leadership are a completed doctoral degree (not later than 5 years ago as a rule) as well as excellent scientific achievements (post-doc) and teaching experiences.
External funding programmes for junior research group leaders
Apart from scientific/academic excellence, funding programmes aiming at the set-up and leadership of a group of junior scientists/academics also demand international research experience. In general, the funding period comprises at least five years.
Selected external funding programmes for junior research group leaders
- Emmy Noether Programme of the DFG
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The aim of the Emmy Noether Programme is the funding of an own research project plus an own research team. Postdocs with two to four years of research experience can apply for a scholarship after completion of their doctoral degree and gaining experience aboard.
- ERC Starting Grants
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The ERC Starting Grants support scientists and academics in all disciplines between two and seven years after completion for their doctorate. The grants serve to develop and own, independent career and workgroup for a period of max. five years.
- Heisenberg Programme
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The primary objective of the Heisenberg programme is to promote young researchers, who are eligible for appointment to a professorship and have demonstrated excellence in their research achievements. There are four different types of funding granted (Heisenberg position, Heisenberg rotation position, Heisenberg professorship and Heisenberg). For a Heisenberg position, funds are granted from the HR fund category "Junior scientists/academics leader/Heisenberg Programme."