Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz Vice Rector for International Affairs and Young Researchers Career...

Prof. Dr. Cornelia DenzVice Rector for

International Affairs and Young Researchers

Career Opportunitiesat German Universities

Research in Germany: Opportunities for Postdocs, Young Investigators,and Junior Faculty in Germany

GAIN 2014, 05.-07.09.2014, Boston

GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany

German Universities – C. Denz

> Research Careers at German Universities – shall I go for?

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• German stereotypes (Spiegel Online, June 24, 2011 ):

•Germans drive fast cars, wear “Lederhosen”, love beer, sausages, and soccer

•Germans are hard-working, efficiently organized, always in time•Germans are stiff, lack sense of humor, and spontaneity

> … but only 35% estimate themselves as “typically German”(Welt online, September 25th, 2012)

Is this the place where to start a research career?How do universities in Germany work?

How can I make my career in a German university?

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/photo-gallery-what-german-stereotypes-do-the-british-hold-fotostrecke-69605-10.html



> Overview – opportunities in German universities

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· An example of a large traditional university– University of Muenster – a university in Westphalia

· How to make the first steps – Opportunities and strategies for career development

· Structure of German Universities – How are German universities today? – an overview in a nutshell



> How German universities work

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• 350 universities offer the entire range of disciplines (see German’s rectors conference: www.hrk.de or www.daad.de)

•‘Volluniversitäten’: humanities, economics, law, natural sciences, medicine (e.g. www.german-u15.de)

•‘Technische Universitäten’: engineering & natural sciences, humanities (e.g. www.tu9.de/)

•‘Fachhochschulen’: applied research for professional careers (e.g. www.uas7.de)

•Unified, integral concept of research and teaching: Humboldt’s principle

•Wide variety of disciplines · Well-equipped research facilities•Strong education (Bachelor, Master, PhD) · Linked to centres,

cities, states, …•Concept of self-organization and -administration•Framework by government, but board-oriented university

leadership• Rectorates, faculties, institutes are headed by balanced

groups including professors, “wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter”, students, and staff

howuniversitieswork



> German Universities at the dawn of the 21st century: innovation dynamics

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•Internationalization > Germany‘s universities are international !

•Language barriers grow smaller: international education (English), international master and PhD programmes, international research teams• Welcome centres: support for living in Germany: visa,

employment, housing (networks with cities, government)•Active international recruiting: universities, institutions,

government (GAIN)

> easy access and tremendous career opportunities for foreign young researchers

•Globalized education > Germany‘s education system is global !

•Bachelor (3 years), Master (2 years), PhD schools / graduate centres (teaching programmes, career and skill development, supervision concept)• PostDoc careers: Habilitation vanishes, junior professors,

research leader positions grow immensely



> German Universities at the dawn of the 21st century: unique and different

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•University campus > living in German universities•Universities typically are located in large to medium-sized cities•Student‘s accomodations are in the city („Studentenwerk“ or

private)•Student‘s life and activities are organized around self-

administration: AStA, Fachschaft, sports and music groups, ...

•University positions and employment > funding life in Germany

•PhDs in part-time, PostDocs and above in full-time •by university positions (teaching duties!), positions of funding

organizations, both with employment contracts (12 month / year, vacations, insurances)•by grants of university („Stipendium“), or of funding

organizations, of political or social support organizations, …•Numerous funding opportunities, e.g. DFG, BMBF, Humboldt-

Foundation




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· Structure of German Universities – How are German universities today? Are stereotypes right?



> Example University of Muenster : the university in the city of Muenster

•~300,000 inhabitants•City of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648•Most liveable city in the world (LivCom-Award 2007)•Capital of climate protection (2006)•Most bicycle-friendly city in Germany:

2.5 bicycles per inhabitant•Third place nationwide in the development

of economic power between 2006 and 2015 •Administrative center: total of 8 universities,

Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Fraunhofer Institute for Biology & Applied Ecology, Helmholtz Institute of Ionics in Energy Storage

·Close connection between the city and the University of Münster: the city as campus

BerlinMünster

NRW

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German Universities – C. Denz 9

> Example University of Muenster : the university in the city of Muenster



> Example University of Muenster: a large, integral university

•15 faculties· 250 degrees · 42.000 students (4th rank Germany)

• 550 professors, 4.100 research staff, 1.700 other staff + 7.000 UKM staff

• 7.500 graduations / year (2nd rank Germany)

•800 PhD’s / year (3rd rank Germany)

•700 guest researchers/ year •4.000 foreign students

from 125 countries / year

Münster ResidenzschlossUniversity administration &

Installation by Nam June Paik



> Example WWU Münster: An Overview of Research Highlights

•Cluster of Excellence Religion & Politics•Cluster of Excellence Cells in Motion•8 Collaborative Research Centers (DFG)•10 + 9 Graduate Schools / IRTGs (DFG)•8 winners of Leibniz Award (mathematics)•3 Research Groups, 2 Focus Programs (DFG)•EU FP7 NoEs, e.g. Biophotonics, > 15 ERC‘s•BMBF projects on planetology,

particle physics, education· 15 University Research Centres > strong interdisciplinary research profile



> Example WWU Münster: Research Institutions

•Center for Nanotechnology (CenTech)•MEET - Electrochemical Energy Center

& Helmholtz Centre for Ionics in Energy Storage•MPI for Molecular Biomedicine•FHI Molecular biology & Oecology



•University Museums•Archeology Museum•Museum of Geoscience•Bible Museum

•Botanical Garden•University Hospital•Music Conservatory

> Example WWU Münster: Facilities



> Example: WWU Münster: Cultural Life

•University Library · University Computer Facilities•University Students Organization (meals, housing, social care)•Music, theatre, dance and arts: 9 Chorus, 7 Orchestras, 2 Theaters,

1 Cinema more than 50 university cultural groups•University sports: more than 100 disciplines, around 18.000

participants / week

Central university library Computer facilities – 24 h service



•International Office with Welcome Centre, International Centre “Die Brücke”•Activities for every member of the university

•Outgoing / Incoming: students and young researchers, staff•Research Cooperations: focus on South America, Asia,

East Europe•Internationalisation at home > international mission

for everybody

> Example WWU Münster: Support Structure for Internationals

•Support throughout stay in University•WWU Hospitality Program – Integration program for guest families•Post-university career development: international career fair

CONNECTA International



> Example WWU Münster: WWU Graduate Centre

• Support of PhD Students and Junior Professors • Graduate schools, Graduate funding programs (DFG, county of NRW)• Structured PhD programs in faculties · Support of foreign PhD students• Grants for final PhD year · Career support, soft-skills development

New! House of young researchers

• Young researchers career development•Center for Teaching •Career Service Center•Career mentoring programs •SAFIR - Support of funding applications,

mentoring events, individual consulting•Dual career support •Child care facilities




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· Structure of German Universities – How are German universities today? Are stereotypes right?


German Universities – C. DenzSitzung „Haus des Nachwuchses“ Graduiertenschulen und Promotionseinrichtungen 18

> How to start a career in German universities after the PhD

•Positions•Postdoc (1-2 years)

(by professors, institutes)•Akademische/r Rat/Rätin

(academic higher education staff; „lecturer“ /“fellow“, by faculties)

•Junior research group, Junior professor (by universities, funding organizations)

•Position for habilitation – old model (universities, funding organizations)

•Why not go for a full professurship? (by universities)> read university advertisements / journal advertisements (ZEIT / nature)


German Universities – C. DenzSitzung „Haus des Nachwuchses“ Graduiertenschulen und Promotionseinrichtungen 19

•Structure and Responsabilities•PostDocs or academic senior position („lecturer “ /

„teaching / research felllow“) (working in a professor‘s team & teaching; evtl. own responsability in subgroup; apply at university; positions also funded by DFG („eigene Stelle“) > select university)

•Independent junior group leader (own group ~ 5 years, teaching, research; position by university or state programs, also by DFG, BMBF > select university)

•Juniorprofessor W1 (independent group leader ~6 years, start-up budget, evtl. tenure track; apply at university, or DFG, BMBF > select university)

•Full Professor W2,W3 (life-long positions, salary & equipment budget; apply at university)

•Funding for junior research groups / Juniorprofessor•Alexander von Humboldt foundation: grants, awards,

professorships•State NRW / Bavaria Programs / BMBF: call per year with focus

topics•DFG Programm „Eigene Stelle“: open application•DFG Emmy-Noether Nachwuchsgruppe: open application•Junior research groups with grants from foundations, ESF grants,

…

> How to start a career in German universities after the PhD



… at the very end – summary and tipps how to suceed

•Check open calls: web sites and journals advertise open positions

•Service institutions : www. elfi.info (foundations, funding organization with topical focus, …) ... and many universities web sites

•Government research foundations: www.dfg.de, www.vw-stiftung.de, www.avh.de , www.bmbf.de

•Journals: „die ZEIT“, nature jobs

•Best practise – how to proceed?•Find a mentor > tailored support and advice•Building networks: contact professors, service institutions, faculties, …•Find best-fitting university/ies: contact them early, make visits!•Apply on your own - be active: ask foundations for support of own

ideas• Built today your own career of tommorow: Ask for best conditions! Dare thinking big! > Identify advantages of life and careers in Germany!

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz Vice Rector for International Affairs and Young Researchers Career...

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