Promoting Young Researchers

During the doctorate

The aim of a doctorate is to enable students to carry out independent academic work and make an original contribution to research. It serves as proof that a person can work independently on complex scientific issues and opens up academic careers as well as various responsible roles and careers in business and society.

TheJMU Graduate Academy is the central point of contact for information about doctoral studies at the University of Würzburg.

At the University of Würzburg, you have the opportunity to do a doctorate at a specialised graduate school (GS Humanities,GS Law, Economics and Society,GS Life Sciences,GS Science and Technology) or at one of the tenfaculties.

Professional Development provides support during this phase through a wide range of interdisciplinarytraining and further education programmes, management programs andindividual interdisciplinary advice.

Doctoral programmes & networks

Doctoral programs and research training groups offer doctoral candidates a structured environment for their academic work. They combine individual research projects with a qualification programme that teaches methodological, subject-specific and interdisciplinary skills.

• Doctoral programmes (Bavarian Elite Network) at the University of Würzburg
• Research Training Groups (DFG) at the University of Würzburg
• Doctoral programme of the Professional School of Education

International doctoral networks promote exchange among doctoral students through doctoral programmes with partners from a wide range of organisations. In this way, highly qualified doctoral students are trained, their creativity is encouraged, their ability to innovate is strengthened and their employability is improved in the long term.

• "Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions" doctoral networks (MSCA) with the participation of JMU

Postdoc phase

The postdoctoral phase is characterised by in-depth research and the development of academic independence. The university offers targeted funding formats and networks all relevant players in order to establish a university-wide postdoc network.

For example, postdocs receive support in acquiring third-party funding, establishing collaborations and developing their academic identity.

• to the landing page for postdocs at the University of Würzburg

Paths to a professorship

JMU regards junior research group leaders and junior professorships with tenure track as equivalent career paths to professorships, which enable early academic independence and profile development . The university thus offers both groups structured institutional integration and clearly defined development prospects.

• BMBF/BMFTR and Emmy Noether junior research groups
• Researchers with an ERC Starting Grant
• Information on Tenure Track at the University of Würzburg
• to the Junior Professorship Forum (for W1 professorships and junior research group leaders)

Career development programmes

The university offers structured career development programmes with different focuses and for different target groups:

• LEAP 4 Early Career ResearchersDevelopment programme for future leaders in science (doctoral candidates and postdocs)
• SCIENTIA Career Development: one-year career development programme for female scientists; two tracks for doctoral candidates and postdocs
• MENTORING medONE to ONE (1 year for female doctoral candidates and postdocs); PEER (2 years for female doctoral candidates and postdocs)
• Women's Leadership ProgrammeLeadership training for junior professors, professors and experienced research group leaders

Research funding

• The Research Advancement Centre (RAC) assists researchers at the University of Würzburg with project applications and supports them in collaborative projects. The RAC also supports internal research funding programmes:
  JMU Mobility Fellowship from doctorate to junior professorship; JMU Seed Grant for early career researchers who have completed their doctorate.
• The Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research supports scientists at various career stages as an internal research funding instrument of the Faculty of Medicine:
  Career I for Clinician Scientist Programme, rotation programme; Career II as a bridging and habilitation programme for female doctors; Career III for Advanced Clinician Scientists.