JUMPA 2.0 launched - Collaboration with University of Melbourne expanded

19 June 2023

The cooperation between Forschungszentrum Jülich and the University of Melbourne in the Jülich-University of Melbourne Postgraduate Academy (JUMPA) has now been extended during a delegation visit to Australia. The JUMPA programme offers PhD students the opportunity to carry out a joint PhD project at the University of Melbourne and the Forschungszentrum Jülich, as well as Jülich’s partner universities in Aachen, Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf and Wuppertal.

"We can already look back on JUMPA as a very successful partnership", said Prof. Justin Zobel, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate & International Research) at the University of Melbourne. "Since JUMPA was established, 14 joint PhD candidates have been recruited, of whom one has already completed and another seven are close to graduation. By committing to growing the program over the next 5 year, together we will make a significant contribution to the training of the next generation of outstanding globally minded researchers."

After a successful evaluation, the two partners Forschungszentrum Jülich and the University of Melbourne decided to continue the programme. For this purpose, an agreement was signed in mid-March, paving the way for "JUMPA 2.0", with commitment to support up to 60 joint PhD candidates over the next 5 years.

Delegation trip consolidates partnership

As part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers' (HGF) major delegation trip, Prof. Wolfgang Marquardt, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich, travelled to Australia. During the visit, the Helmholtz Association delegation visited universities in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. This exchange on future cooperation opportunities provided just the right setting for the signing of the contract for the continuation of the JUMPA programme with Prof. Justin Zobel and Prof. Stefan Bode, one of the two scientific coordinators of JUMPA.

At the JUMPA networking dinner, Prof. Andrea Benigni, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Energy Systems Technology (IEK-10) at Forschungszentrum Jülich, and Prof. Pierluigi Mancarella, Chair of Electrical Power Systems, The University of Melbourne, presented their 2022 selected project. Two candidates are already working on the project, titled "Flexible operation / Techno-economic modeling of local energy communities and multi-energy microgrids".

Australia is a strong partner and has excellent institutions and scientists to offer. For example, Australian institutions are well positioned in energy and climate research, but also in computer sciences and life sciences. Forschungszentrum Jülich therefore already maintains collaborations in various fields. The University of Melbourne is an essential international partner of Forschungszentrum Jülich for the training of young scientists. Both institutions are looking forward to enabling further PhD students to make the jump between Jülich and Melbourne.

Press release of the University of Melbourne: https://about.unimelb.edu.au/news-resources/awards-and-achievements/announcements2/university-of-melbourne-renews-joint-phd-program-with-forschungszentrum-julich