Junior Research Groups

The junior research groups at the Alfred Wegener Institute are funded by the Helmholtz Association, German Research Association and the European Research Council. There are currently 10 such groups at the institute.

Helmholtz Junior Research Groups

With the Helmholtz Junior Research Groups, the Helmholtz Association supports the early independence of young scientists and offers them a reliable career perspective. This programme is designed to provide outstanding working conditions in a research-oriented environment for the best foreign and domestic junior researchers. It is aimed at junior employees who have completed their doctorates within the past two to six years.

Further information can be found here.

Emmy Noether Junior Research Goup

The Emmy Noether Programme of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) offers outstandingly qualified young researchers the opportunity to qualify for a university professorship by independently leading a junior research group over a period of six years. Postdocs and temporary junior professors in an early phase of their academic career (usually up to 4 years after the doctorate) can apply. Holders of a junior professorship who have been positively evaluated in the interim are no longer part of the programme's target group.

Further information can be found here.

ERC Starting Grant Research Groups

ERC Starting Grants support aspiring research group leaders who want to establish a well-equipped research team and conduct independent research in Europe. The programme is aimed at promising researchers with proven potential to become independent leaders of a new and excellent research team. It is aimed at junior employees who have completed their doctorates within the past two to seven years.

Further information can be found here.