If you are interested in starting a research group at Jülich, we are happy to help you with your application process or finding the right programme for your external funding. We will also support you in preparing your proposal.

To give you some general ideas on external funding, here is an (incomplete) list of YIG programmes that might be of interest to you:

Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups

Emmy Noether Group (DFG)

ERC Starting Grant

Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (Humboldt Foundation)

To ensure a smooth start at Jülich, we offer you as a new YIG an individual onboarding programme within the first month of your stay at Jülich. You will receive relevant information about the institution and the YIG programme and you will get in touch with relevant people who may be helpful throughout your time as a YIG leader.

During the onboarding talk we not only will give you information, but also want to get to know your needs for a successful career at Jülich and beyond to shape an individual support programme for you and your peers.

To give you broad opportunities to build up your own network at Forschungszentrum Jülich, we offer several different networking events.

Once a year the Board of Directors invites all YIG leaders to lunch. Here you have the opportunity to get in touch with the board directly and present your research project to them and your peers.

To share the details about your project among Jülich’s scientific community, the Scientific and Technical Council invites all YIG leaders within their first year to present their project and first findings in an open lecture.

To connect with your peers we offer networking lunches several times per year, beginning with a brief input workshop on relevant topics or project issues by peers and ending with a broad discussion amongst each other. You can also attend seminars offered by your peers.

To keep you informed on all the relevant things going on with your peers and at Jülich, we coordinate an interactive mailing list, where information is shared.

Because needs change over time, you will have plenty of opportunity to state your needs throughout your time as a YIG leader. We offer annual talks where you can discuss your progress and needs (including any changes) for the coming year(s).

Information relevant to you and your peers will be spread via a mailing list where you can also for instance share your success story or invite your peers to lectures and seminars.

Additionally, we are able to coordinate your evaluation process.

We encourage you to take your personal development seriously – because we do! We offer courses and seminars on all topics that are relevant to being a successful YIG leader during the programme as well as beyond.

Whether you want to develop your leadership skills before taking over responsibility for a research group or to be trained in periodically arranged sessions, we will help you to become the best you can be.

Further trainings: List of relevant training courses

Since we would love to stay in touch with you even after you leave Jülich or to get you in touch with former YIG leaders, we are also working to create a lively alumni network.