Current News

17. September 2025: Career Professorship

3:00 - 5:00 pm | Language: German | Online

 

Keynote speech and panel discussion

Doctorate and then what? Become a professor? At a university of applied sciences or a university?
We cordially invite you to the information event “Career Path: Professorship” on September 17, 2025, from 3 to 5 p.m.
During this afternoon event, you will learn about the advantages of a professorship, the paths that lead to this career goal, and the requirements for appointment.
We have invited the following professors to speak with you. They will share their personal experiences from various stages on their path to becoming professors and will be happy to answer your questions:

Prof. Dr. Frank Beyrau, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg |  Chair of Technical Thermodynamics

Prof. Dr. Kathrin Gnoth, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences  | Molecular Biotechnology

Prof. Dr. Sevasti Trubeta, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences | Childhood and Migration

 

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to ask the professors all your questions. Ask them what motivated them to choose this path and what obstacles or detours they had to overcome. We look forward to your participation!

 

If you would like to attend, please register by ONLINE FORM

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Application Phase for the Hector Research Career Development (RCD) Award 2025 Now Open

We are pleased to announce that the application phase for the Hector Research Career Development (RCD) Award of the Hector Fellow Academy (HFA) is now open. From September 1 to October 30, 2025, outstanding early-career researchers are invited to apply for this prestigious award.

Supporting Excellence in a Key Career Transition

Since 2020, the Hector RCD Award has been presented annually to support exceptional researchers in the fields of natural and engineering sciences, medicine, or psychology during the crucial stage between postdoc and professorship. The award is aimed specifically at W1 professors and junior research group leaders and comes with funding of €25,000.

So far, 17 scientists have been honored with the award, advancing both their research projects and their academic visibility.

👉 Call for Applications

About the Hector Fellow Academy

The Hector Fellow Academy was founded in 2013 by Hans-Werner Hector, co-founder of SAP, with the mission to strengthen Germany as a hub for cutting-edge research, foster interdisciplinary exchange, and contribute to solutions for global challenges.

The Academy unites the recipients of the Hector Science Award—renowned researchers from the natural and engineering sciences, medicine, and psychology. Besides supporting collaborative projects, the Academy is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers. Alongside its PhD funding program for outstanding master’s graduates, the Hector RCD Award is a central element of this mission.

Spread the Word

We kindly invite you to share the call for applications within your networks and encourage eligible candidates to apply. Detailed information and the application portal can be found directly on the Hector Fellow Academy website.

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Open Call: Max Planck Research Group Leader Positions – Apply by October 14, 2025

The Max Planck Society (MPG) invites applications for its Max Planck Research Group Leader (MPRGL) positions.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to establish and lead their own independent research group at a participating Max Planck Institute of their choice for an initial term of six years. An extension of up to three additional years is possible.

👉 Important: Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Max Planck Institute(s) of their choice before submitting an official application, in order to clarify whether the institute is interested and able to provide the necessary space and resources.

Funding Package

The support includes:

  • a W2 position (equivalent to Assistant Professor or non-tenured Associate Professor),

  • funding for scientific staff,

  • and a budget for equipment and consumables.

In total, the package amounts to up to €2.7 million for the initial six years.

Career Prospects

The position as Research Group Leader comes with strong career development opportunities:

  • participation in the MPG/TUM Career Program with the option to apply for a Tenure Track Assistant Professorship at the Technical University of Munich (TUM),

  • potential tenure track options with other universities on a case-by-case basis,

  • and the possibility of being considered for a Director position at a Max Planck Institute in the future, for outstanding leaders.

Application Deadline

🗓️ Deadline: October 14, 2025

More information can be found on the official MPG websites:

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Effective Research Network Management: Training for Leaders of Inter- and Transdisciplinary Collaborations

Wie gelingt es, in einem interdisziplinären Forschungsverbund nicht nur administrativ den Überblick zu behalten, sondern auch die wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit zielführend zu gestalten? Diese Frage stellt sich vielen Verantwortlichen von DFG- oder BMBF-geförderten Verbundprojekten ebenso wie Leitungen von Graduiertenkollegs, Exzellenzclustern oder Forschungszentren. Die Leitung solcher Verbünde erfordert mehr als organisatorisches Talent – sie verlangt die Fähigkeit, komplexe Prozesse der Zusammenarbeit über Disziplingrenzen hinweg zu moderieren und zu gestalten.

Ein zentrales Thema dabei ist, wie sich die Arbeit im Verbund auf ein gemeinsames Ziel hin koordinieren lässt – und welche Rahmenbedingungen förderlich sind, um echte Kooperation und gemeinsame wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse zu ermöglichen. Das Interview "Am Lagerfeuer der Forschung" in den Forschungswelten von DIE ZEIT bietet dazu spannende Einblicke.

Workshop Forschungsverbundmanagement: Interdisziplinäre Prozesse gestalten

Seit 2001 bietet die Forschungsgruppe Inter-/Transdisziplinarität (Universitäten Basel & Freiburg i.Br.) eine praxisnahe Weiterbildung zum Thema Forschungsverbundmanagement an. Mehr als 600 Verbünde und Zentren haben seither von diesem Angebot profitiert.

Der nächste zweitägige Präsenz-Workshop findet statt:

🗓 19./20. November 2025
📍 GSI Bonn
📌 Follow-Up-Treffen: 8. Mai 2026
📝 Anmeldefrist: 15. Oktober 2025
🔗 Jetzt anmelden und informieren

Die Veranstaltung richtet sich an Sprecherinnen, wissenschaftliche Koordinatorinnen, Geschäftsführer*innen sowie weitere Schlüsselpersonen, die interdisziplinäre Verbundprojekte leiten oder begleiten. In einem geschützten Rahmen bietet der Workshop die Möglichkeit zur strukturierten Reflexion über Ziele, Rollen, Zusammenarbeit und Kommunikation im Verbund.

Zielgruppe: Wer sollte teilnehmen?

Der Workshop richtet sich insbesondere an Verantwortliche von:

  • Sonderforschungsbereichen (SFB)

  • Schwerpunktprogrammen (SPP)

  • Graduiertenkollegs und -schulen

  • Exzellenzclustern

  • DFG- oder BMBF-Verbundvorhaben

  • Interdisziplinären Forschungszentren und Netzwerken

Die Teilnehmendenzahl ist auf 15 Personen begrenzt, um einen intensiven Austausch zu ermöglichen.

Mehr als Organisation: Forschung gemeinsam gestalten

Forschungsverbundmanagement bedeutet heute mehr als effizientes Projektmanagement – es ist eine wissenschaftsnahe Moderation komplexer Prozesse. Eine Publikation von Di Giulio & Defila (2024) beleuchtet das Zusammenspiel von Technikfolgenabschätzung und transdisziplinärer Forschung näher:
📘 Technology assessment as transdisciplinary research (in: Grunwald A. (Hg.): Handbook of Technology Assessment)
🔗 Zum Beitrag

Weitere Informationen & Kontakt

Alle Details zum Workshop, zum Anmeldeprozess und zu weiteren Publikationen rund um das Thema finden Sie unter:
🌐 www.forschungsverbundmanagement.net

📩 Bei Fragen:
info@forschungsverbundmanagement.net
📞 +41 61 207 04 12 / 15 (Basel)
📞 +49 761 203 2499 (Freiburg i.Br.)

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Apply Now: Fully Funded PhD Positions at the Hector Fellow Academy

The Hector Fellow Academy (HFA) is currently offering three outstanding PhD positions in the fields of Biology, Medicine, Neuroscience, and History of Science in STEM. Young researchers with an excellent Master's degree are invited to apply for a fully funded PhD position by October 15, 2025.

The advertised projects not only provide an excellent research environment but are also supervised by leading scientific experts in Germany:

1. Prof. Dr. Katrin Amunts

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf & Jülich Research Centre
Research Area: Brain Research
Topic: Apply with your own innovative research idea in the field of neuroscience and biology.
Read the full job description →

2. Prof. Dr. Magdalena Götz

LMU Munich, Helmholtz Center Munich & Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry
Research Area: Medicine/Biology
Topic: Modelling human adult brain injury environment for repair – an exciting project focused on brain regeneration after injury.
Read the full job description →

3. Prof. Dr. Matthias H. Tschöp

Helmholtz Center Munich & Technical University of Munich
Research Area: Medicine/History of Science
Topic: The Role of Individuals vs. Teams in Transformative Scientific Breakthroughs – an interdisciplinary project combining medicine and the sociology of science.
Read the full job description →

What does the Hector Fellow Academy offer?

  • Fully funded PhD positions

  • Interdisciplinary research environment at the highest level

  • Close supervision by internationally renowned scientists

  • Access to a network of excellence in research and science funding

Application Deadline: October 15, 2025

All details regarding the application process and specific requirements can be found on the Hector Fellow Academy's official website:
👉 www.hector-fellow-academy.de (please update the link if necessary)

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Last Modification: 11.09.2025 -
Contact Person: Webmaster