Scientific careers at Forschungszentrum Jülich | From postdoc to professorship

Postdocs | Leaders and junior research group leaders | Professors

As a postdoc, scientific leader or junior research group leader, or professor, you will work on topics that matter to our society: from a digitalised society and climate-friendly energy systems to sustainable economic models. We offer excellent research conditions, state-of-the-art infrastructure and an international environment where interdisciplinary collaboration is a given.

With a background in natural sciences, engineering or computer science, you bring expertise and curiosity. At Forschungszentrum Jülich, we support you in turning your research ideas into reality and advancing your career.

Postdocs

At Forschungszentrum Jülich, postdoctoral researchers find an environment that equally fosters scientific excellence and personal development. State-of-the-art infrastructure, international visibility and a highly connected research landscape create outstanding opportunities – whether for a continued academic career or for attractive positions beyond academia.

Our postdocs conduct research on pressing challenges of the future while at the same time being in a crucial phase of qualification. We support you in a targeted way – from advancing your academic expertise to shaping your individual career path.

Career development for postdocs

At this important stage of your career, you are positioned between further academic qualification and your next professional steps. We support you with tailored programmes that provide orientation, strengthen networks and open up new perspectives.

• Career Center & Leadership Development: Advice and support on all career-related matters
• Excellence programmes: Targeted support for outstanding postdocs with ambitions for leadership roles, for example through the Young Excellent Scientist Program (YESP)
• Mentoring:  Individual mentoring by experienced research leaders to develop strategies, competencies and professional networks

Postdoc guidelines

Our guidelines for supporting and advancing postdoctoral researchers provide orientation for your time at Forschungszentrum Jülich. They outline key framework conditions and offer guidance for your individual career planning.

• Guidelines for the Support and Promotion of Postdocs (PDF)
• Guideslines for the Postdoc Phase in the Helmholtz Association (PDF)
• Personal Development Plan (PDF)

Explore our current postdoctoral opportunities:

Research leaders and junior research group leaders

Are you looking to take on a leadership role in science? At Forschungszentrum Jülich, you will find a wide range of opportunities: from leading a team or research group to heading a department or institute. Junior research group leaders – funded by us or through external programmes – are also part of this pathway.

We are looking for leaders who take responsibility and actively contribute to our leadership culture. And if you would like to combine a leadership role with a professorship, we also offer opportunities for joint appointments with a university.

Junior research groups at Forschungszentrum Jülich

Outstanding international postdoctoral researchers have the opportunity to lead their own junior research group at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Those who successfully complete the multi-stage selection process benefit from clear career prospects and close ties to our university partners.

Here’s how junior research groups in Jülich benefit:

• Funding: Through resources provided by Forschungszentrum Jülich or external programmes (e.g. Helmholtz Investigator Groups, Emmy Noether Programme, BMBF, ERC)
• Professorship: In some cases, combined with a junior professorship
• Support: Guidance for junior research group leaders from the application phase through to establishing themselves in an academic career
• High visibility: Within and beyond the research centre

As a junior research group leader, you take on a leadership role for the first time – with responsibility for staff and budget, while also further developing your own research profile. We support you along the way with targeted programmes:

• Training & development: Internal programmes on leadership, staff development and strengthening individual competencies
• Networking & exchange: Annual meetings of junior research group leaders, dialogue with the Executive Board and close integration into the centre
• Individual support: One-to-one discussions with dedicated contact persons to reflect on opportunities and challenges in a confidential setting
• External input: Additional programmes offered by the Helmholtz Academy for Leadership

Would you like to establish your own junior research group and are looking for the right framework conditions? Discover current funding opportunities and find out how we support you in setting up your junior research group.

Prof. Dr. Sarah Genon is a group leader at the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine – Brain and Behaviour.

In the video, she shares insights into her day-to-day work in brain research, explains why diversity in science is so important to her, and highlights what she particularly values about collaborating with her team.

Note: You can also watch the video with German or English subtitles. To do so, please select your preferred language under “Subtitles” in the settings.

Does Sarah Genon’s perspective resonate with you? She is one of many who shape working life at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Discover the experiences of other colleagues:

Professors at Forschungszentrum Jülich

As a professor at Forschungszentrum Jülich, you combine two strong worlds: you lead an institute or department with access to unique research infrastructure while also shaping academic teaching at a university. Discover the opportunities this distinctive combination offers for your career.

Joint appointments

At Forschungszentrum Jülich, joint appointments are used to fill institute director positions (W3 professorships) as well as, in some cases, department and group leadership roles (W2 and W1 professorships). In this way, we create a close personal and strategic link between Forschungszentrum Jülich and its partner universities. As a result, around 150 Jülich researchers hold joint appointments.

Joint appointments at Forschungszentrum Jülich can follow different models.

Current vacancies:

• Director at the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences –Biotechnology (IBG‑1)

As a professor, you benefit from a wide range of advantages and opportunities:

• Civil servant status: Professorship with integration into the respective faculty or university
• Teaching & early career support: Reduced teaching load combined with mentoring early career researchers
• Leadership responsibility: Leading an institute division, department or team at Forschungszentrum Jülich
• Research: Access to extensive resources for excellent research
• The best of both worlds: Combining university teaching and cutting-edge research
• Embedded in the system: An integral part of the German science system

Career development and support at Forschungszentrum Jülich

With a joint appointment, you take on responsibility for an institute division or department. Many of our jointly appointed professors also assume prominent roles in national and international committees or coordinate large-scale projects and alliances with partner institutions.

In addition, a joint appointment opens up a wide range of opportunities for personal development. To support you in successfully meeting these responsibilities, we offer tailored programmes – from individual coaching and training in key leadership and management competencies to intensive German language courses for internationally appointed professors. You also benefit from the opportunity to participate in the comprehensive staff development programmes at Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Helmholtz Academy for Leadership.

Prof. Dr. Ruth Schwaiger, institute director at Forschungszentrum Jülich and professor at RWTH Aachen University, provides insights into her day-to-day work in this video.

Note: You can also watch the video with German or English subtitles. To do so, please select your preferred language under “Subtitles” in the settings.

Like Ruth Schwaiger, many other colleagues also share their experiences in videos and interviews. Discover more insights into everyday working life.

Dual Career support at Forschungszentrum Jülich

The Dual Career service at Forschungszentrum Jülich is aimed at applicants for leadership positions in science as well as their partners. Its goal is to enable couples to successfully balance careers, partnership and family life. The service is also available to jointly appointed professors and is delivered in close cooperation with the dual career services of our partner universities.

_{Copyright images on this page: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Sascha Kreklau}