Joint appointments
Joint appointments are used at Forschungszentrum Jülich to fill institute directorships (W3 appointments) and in some cases department and group directorships (W2 and W1 appointments). Joint appointments create a close personnel and strategic link between Forschungszentrum Jülich and its partner universities. For this reason, around 150 Jülich scientists are jointly appointed.
Current vacancies
Information on the Helmholtz Association's programme for initial university appointments (W2/W3) of excellent female scientists can be found here.
Advantages of joint appointments
As a professor, you are usually employed as a civil servant in the respective faculty or university. You participate in teaching to a reduced extent and can accompany young researchers, for example on their way to a doctorate. At the same time, you will head an institute area, a department or a team at Jülich with the associated extensive opportunities for intensive research. Joint appointments thus combine the best of both worlds and are an integral part of the science system in Germany.
You can gain insights into the everyday work of an institute director in this video:
Note: You can also watch the video with German or English subtitles. To do so, please select the appropriate language in the settings under "Subtitles.
Appointment models
There are different appointment models. The most common models are described here .
Development and support opportunities
With a joint appointment, you have responsibility for an institute area or department. Often our joint appointees also have prominent roles in national and international committees or they coordinate large projects and alliances with many other partner institutions.
A shared vocation thus also offers you many other personal development opportunities. We offer you tailor-made support services for the fulfilment of these responsible tasks. These include individual coaching opportunities, qualification offers for important leadership and management skills, as well as intensive German language training for those appointed from an international environment. It is also possible to participate in comprehensive personnel development programmes of Forschungszentrum Jülich or the Helmholtz Academy for Executives.
Dual career counselling
The Dual Career Counselling service at Forschungszentrum Jülich is aimed at applicants for leadership positions in science and their partners. With the help of this service, we would like to make it possible for these couples to combine career, partnership and family. The Dual Career Counselling Service is also open to jointly appointed persons and works closely with the Dual Career Offices of our partner universities.