Junior Researchers & Postdocs
Germany offers junior researchers excellent research opportunities. Universities and other higher education institutions as well as public- and private-sector non-university research institutions and large research funding organisations support international researchers with postdoctoral jobs and fellowships. Interesting development opportunities for junior researchers also exist in research-intensive industry and with small and medium-sized enterprises. Many companies also work closely with universities and research institutions in application-oriented research and development.
Whether you are seeking a job at a higher education institution or a research institute or are aiming for a career in industry, the essential requirements are an outstanding doctorate, commitment, motivation and a research project that is relevant for your future employer. Read more about your career and research opportunities in Germany on the following pages.
There are many good reasons for a research stay in Germany. The country is one of the world’s leading research nations – particularly in future-oriented fields. Its universities and research institutions are considered among the best in the world.
Germany offers junior researchers many opportunities to undertake research and improve their qualifications – at universities, non-university research institutions and in industry.
Germany offers many opportunities for junior researchers to improve their qualifications. They can become eligible for appointment to a professorship by completing the habilitation process, working as a junior professor or leading a junior research group. Industry also offers alternative career opportunities.
Researchers who come directly to Germany after completing their doctorates can gain research experience at a higher education institution or a research institute with a research fellowship or job. Industry also needs junior researchers.
Working as head of a junior research group gives outstanding young researchers the opportunity to manage their own research group and conduct research on their own project.
Junior researchers can research and teach as junior professors from the age of 30.
As a high-tech nation, Germany has a great demand for applied research. Many German companies – whether well known global players or specialised small and medium-sized companies that are often world market leaders – offer attractive career opportunities for junior researchers.
In addition to grants for research stays and projects, there are also a large number of smaller support programmes that offer, for example, travel scholarships, summer and language courses, mentoring programmes and prizes for excellent research work.
German research is international. The use of English as the language of research is usually taken for granted at research institutes, in internationally oriented companies and also at universities.
Many German organizations support highly qualified international Postdocs. Here you find a wide selection of funding programmes for international Postdocs by various funding organisations.
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