Support of junior researchers

Improving career opportunities

Heidelberg University offers its junior scientists clearly structured career paths aimed at attracting and retaining young talent from the international marketplace. Junior scientists at Ruperto Carola can choose from three equivalent career tracks: traditional habilitation, junior professorship, and independent junior research group leader.

During the second round of the Excellence Initiative, postdocs and junior research group leaders have the opportunity to be appointed junior professors within the so-called “ten-year track” model. After an international call for proposals, the best junior researchers will receive a 6-year appointment. This gives them the chance to enhance their research and teaching profile, enabling them then to apply for full professorships. Research and teaching at the university profit greatly from this model since the junior researchers work at Heidelberg University during a highly productive phase of their careers.

During Excellence Initiative I, Heidelberg University had already successfully introduced the position of start-up professor, closing the gap until appointment to a full professorship. Eleven start-up professors have been appointed thus far, with five having successfully joined the tenure track during the first phase of the Excellence Initiative.

Continuing education

With its “Auf dem Weg zur Professur” management programme, Heidelberg University offers selected young scientists a broad spectrum of educational opportunities that prepare them for university leadership and management responsibilities and support them in personal career planning and interdisciplinary network-building.

Furthermore, young researchers at Heidelberg University can take advantage of a wide range of opportunities within the framework of the educational programme, which could be enhanced considerably through the Excellence Initiative.