Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz Vice Rector for International Affairs and Young Researchers Career Opportunities at German Universities arch in Germany: Opportunities for Postdocs, Young Investigat and Junior Faculty in Germany GAIN 2014, 05.-07.09.2014, Boston
20
Embed
Prof. Dr. Cornelia Denz Vice Rector for International Affairs and Young Researchers Career Opportunities at German Universities Research in Germany: Opportunities.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
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?
2
• 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?
•‘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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz
> German Universities at the dawn of the 21st century: innovation dynamics
5
•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 !
> German Universities at the dawn of the 21st century: unique and different
6
•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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz
> Overview – opportunities in German universities
7
· 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? Are stereotypes right?
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz
> 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
8
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz 9
> Example University of Muenster : the university in the city of Muenster
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz 10
> 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
> 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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz 12
> 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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz 13
•University Museums•Archeology Museum•Museum of Geoscience•Bible Museum
•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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz 15
•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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz 16
> 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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz
> Overview – opportunities in German universities
17
> Overview – opportunities in German universities
· 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? Are stereotypes right?
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. DenzSitzung „Haus des Nachwuchses“ Graduiertenschulen und Promotionseinrichtungen 18
> How to start a career in German universities after the PhD
(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)
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
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
GAIN 2014Opportunities in Germany
German Universities – C. Denz 20
… 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!